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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 Software Released 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 1.0 Release for Macintosh 512Ke (1985)
System Software 1.1 Release for Macintosh Plus (1986)
System Software 2.0 Release for Macintosh II & SE (1987)
System System Software 2.0.1 Update to System Software to include AppleShare Client Features
System Software 2.0.1 Maintenance Release of System Software. Updated LaserWriter Driver
System Software 5.0 Added Updated LaserWriter Driver, Easy Access, Color CDEV, etc.
System Software 5.1 Updated LaserWriter Driver. Also added new version of Apple HD SC Setup
System Software 6.0 Update to System Software to include: Updated Multifinder, SuperDrive Support.
System Software 6.0.1 Release for Macintosh IIx (1988)
System Software 6.0.2 Maintenance Release of System Software
System Software 6.0.3 Release for Macintosh IIcx (1989)
System Software 6.0.4 Release for Macintosh Portable and IIci (1989)
System Software 6.0.5 Release for Macintosh IIfx (1990)
System Software 6.0.6 Not ever officially released. Intended for Macintosh LC, IIsi and Classic (1990)
System Software 6.0.7 Official release for Macintosh LC, IIsi and Classic (1990)
System Software 6.0.8 Updated Printing software to match Printing software of System 7.0
System Software 6.0.8L Limited maintanence release for Pacific customers
System Software 7.0 Major Update to System Software to include TrueType, FileSharing and other Features
System Software 7.0.1 Release for Macintosh Quadra 700/900 & PowerBook 100/140/170 (1991)
System Software 7.0.1P Released for Macintosh Performa Computers (1992)
System Software 7.1 Update 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 (Pro Update to System Software to include AppleScript, PowerTalk and updated Quicktime
System Software 7.1.1 Subset of System 7 Pro for PowerBook 250, 270c, 280, 520, 520c 540 and 540c
System Software 7.1.2 Release for Power Macintosh 6100/7100/8100 (1994)
System Software 7.1.2 P Release for Performa/LC/Quadra 630 (1994)
System Software 7.5 Major update to System Software to include QuickDraw GX and over 50 New Features
System Software 7.5.1 System 7.5 Update 1.0 released to fix several issues (1995)
System Software 7.5.2 New release specifically for the new Power Macintosh 7200/7500/8500/9500 computers, includes first version of Open Transport (1995)
System Software 7.5.3 System 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