Macintosh: System Software Version History

This article contains a history of all the Macintosh System Software versions through System 7.5.3.
Below is a table containing version numbers for all Macintosh System Software releases. Beneath the table is a brief description of the changes that were made with each successive release of the System Software.

Macintosh System Software Releases:
System Software
Release
System
Version
Finder
Version
MultiFinder
Version
LaserWriter
Version
Mac System Software
1.0
1.0
N/A
N/A
Mac System Software (0.1)
2.0
1.1g
N/A
N/A
Mac System Software (0.3 & 0.5)
2.0
4.1
N/A
N/A
Mac System Software (0.7)
3.0
5.1
N/A
N/A
System Software 1.0
3.1
5.2
N/A
1.1
System Software 1.1
3.2
5.3
N/A
3.1
System Software 2.0
3.3
5.4
N/A
3.1
System Software 2.0.1
4.0 or 4.1
5.4 or 5.5
N/A
3.3 or 4.0
System Software 5.0
4.2
6.0
1.0
5.0
System Software 5.1
4.3
6.0
1.0
5.1
System Software 6.0
6.0
6.1
6.0
5.2
System Software 6.0.1
6.0.1
6.1.1
6.0.1
5.2
System Software 6.0.2
6.0.2
6.1
6.0.1
5.2
System Software 6.0.3
6.0.3
6.1
6.0.3
5.2
System Software 6.0.4
6.0.4
6.1.4
6.0.4
5.2
System Software 6.0.5
6.0.5
6.1.5
6.0.5
5.2
System Software 6.0.6
6.0.6
6.1.6
6.0.6
5.2
System Software 6.0.7
6.0.7
6.1.7
6.0.7
5.2
System Software 6.0.8
6.0.8
6.1.8
6.0.8
7.0
System Software 7.0
7.0
7.0
Built-In *
7.0
System Software 7.0.1
7.0.1
7.0.1
Built-In *
7.0
System Software 7.0.1P
7.0.1P
7.0.1P
Built-In *
7.0
System Software 7.1
7.1
7.1
Built-In *
7.1.2
System Software 7.1P **
7.1P
7.1P
Built-In *
7.1.2
System Software 7.1.1 (Pro)
7.1.1
7.1.3
Built-In *
7.1.2
System Software 7.1.1
7.1.1
7.1.3
Built-In *
7.1.2
System Software 7.1.2
7.1.2
7.1.4
Built-In *
7.1.2
System Software 7.1.2P
7.1.2
7.1.4
Built-In *
7.1.2
System Software 7.5
7.5
7.1.4
Built-In *
7.2 & 8.1.1
System Software 7.5.1
7.5
7.5.1
Built-In *
8.2
System Software 7.5.2
7.5.2
7.5.3
Built-In *
8.2.2
System Software 7.5.3
7.5.3
7.5.5
Built-In *
8.3.3 & 8.3.4
* Beginning with System 7.0, MultiFinder was no longer a separate piece of software.
** Peforma versions also include (System 7.1P2 - 7.1P6)

System Software History: Brief Description of Changes Between Versions:
System Software Release
CPU Release Information
Mac System SoftwareReleased for Macintosh 128K (1984)
Mac System Software (0.1)Maintenance Release, Added Mountain scene, About box, Clean Up Command (1984)
Mac System Software (0.3 & 0.5)Finder Update (1984)
Mac System Software (0.7)Release for Macintosh 512K (1984)
System Software 1.0Release for Macintosh 512Ke (1985)
System Software 1.1Release for Macintosh Plus (1986)
System Software 2.0Release for Macintosh II & SE (1987)
System System Software 2.0.1Update to System Software to include AppleShare Client Features
System Software 2.0.1Maintenance Release of System Software. Updated LaserWriter Driver
System Software 5.0Added Updated LaserWriter Driver, Easy Access, Color CDEV, etc.
System Software 5.1Updated LaserWriter Driver. Also added new version of Apple HD SC Setup
System Software 6.0Update to System Software to include: Updated Multifinder, SuperDrive Support.
System Software 6.0.1Release for Macintosh IIx (1988)
System Software 6.0.2Maintenance Release of System Software
System Software 6.0.3Release for Macintosh IIcx (1989)
System Software 6.0.4Release for Macintosh Portable and IIci (1989)
System Software 6.0.5Release for Macintosh IIfx (1990)
System Software 6.0.6Not ever officially released. Intended for Macintosh LC, IIsi and Classic (1990)
System Software 6.0.7Official release for Macintosh LC, IIsi and Classic (1990)
System Software 6.0.8Updated Printing software to match Printing software of System 7.0
System Software 6.0.8LLimited maintanence release for Pacific customers
System Software 7.0Major Update to System Software to include TrueType, FileSharing and other Features
System Software 7.0.1Release for Macintosh Quadra 700/900 & PowerBook 100/140/170 (1991)
System Software 7.0.1PReleased for Macintosh Performa Computers (1992)
System Software 7.1Update to System Software to include Fonts Folder, System Enablers, WorldScript and other Features
System Software 7.1P **Version of 7.1 for Performa Computers
System Software 7.1.1 (ProUpdate to System Software to include AppleScript, PowerTalk and updated Quicktime
System Software 7.1.1Subset of System 7 Pro for PowerBook 250, 270c, 280, 520, 520c 540 and 540c
System Software 7.1.2Release for Power Macintosh 6100/7100/8100 (1994)
System Software 7.1.2 PRelease for Performa/LC/Quadra 630 (1994)
System Software 7.5Major update to System Software to include QuickDraw GX and over 50 New Features
System Software 7.5.1System 7.5 Update 1.0 released to fix several issues (1995)
System Software 7.5.2New release specifically for the new Power Macintosh 7200/7500/8500/9500 computers, includes first version of Open Transport (1995)
System Software 7.5.3System 7.5 Update 2.0, System 7.5.3 Revision 2, System 7.5 Version 7.5.3. Fix of several issues (1996)

Note: Information about later versions of the Macintosh operating systems can be found in the Knowledge Base by searching on the operating system version, for example: Mac OS 8.6.

Additional information may be found in the Knowledge Archive by searching on the operating system version, for example: Mac OS 7.5.
Published Date: Feb 19, 2012