Apple today began releasing the fifth beta of macOS Sonoma to registered developers with build number 23A5312d. The new macOS Sonoma beta comes one week after the company seeded an updated fourth developer beta build of the next major Mac software update. Apple today also released new betas for iOS 17 and watchOS 10.
macOS Sonoma includes some noteworthy new features and changes, including new widgets on the desktop, new screen savers, an updated Safari with profiles and more, Game Mode, new features for video conferencing, and more. See our macOS Sonoma article for more.
We will keep this article updated with any additional changes found in macOS Sonoma beta 5, including references to new features or unreleased products. Find something new in this beta? Send us over an email or just tag us on Twitter!
How to download macOS Sonoma
With macOS Ventura 13.4 released in April, Apple introduced a new method to install developer betas. Now, devices enrolled with a linked Apple Developer Program account or those who signed up with their Apple ID on Apple Developer will see a new menu within System Settings on the Mac. Betas will be viewable by heading to General -> Software Update -> Beta Updates to download and install any new macOS Sonoma beta.
Devices that aren’t enrolled and linked to an Apple Developer account won’t see the menu and therefore aren’t able to install the upcoming versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS before their public debut.
Last month, it was revealed that Apple changed how to get access to developer betas. Previously, only those who enrolled as part of the Apple Developer Program were able to get their hands on developer betas after paying a $99 annual program fee. The changes made last week mean anyone who signs up on the Apple Developer website also gets access to developer betas. Signing into the Apple Developer website without enrolling in the Developer Program is free, effectively opening up developer betas access to everyone.
macOS Sonoma Public Beta
Apple also does a public beta program, which is free and open to anyone who wishes to join. Apple released the second public beta of macOS Sonoma last week which coincided with the release of an updated developer beta 4 build. The third macOS Sonoma public beta should be made available a few days from today and will likely carry the same build number as today’s developer beta.
