Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 update to developers, one day after releasing the macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 update focusing on security improvements.

The new macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 beta can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center or through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store with the proper profile installed.

macoshighsierra10134beta
It's not yet clear what improvements the fourth official update to macOS High Sierra will bring, but it's likely to include bug fixes and performance improvements for issues that weren't addressed in macOS High Sierra 10.13.3. It may also include some of the features that are coming in iOS 11.3, such as support for Business Chat and unlimited ad-free access to music videos in Apple Music, which Apple says will be the new "home" for music videos.

According to Apple's release notes, macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 will begin sending warning notes when you open up a 32-bit app in preparation for phasing out 32-bit apps on the Mac. At this time, you'll see one warning letting you know that a Mac app is 32-bit, and it will popup when you open the app after installing the macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 update.

macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 also introduces the new smoke cloud wallpaper that was previously exclusively available on the iMac Pro.

The previous macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 update included security fixes and performance improvements, with no obvious outward-facing changes introduced.

Related Forum: macOS High Sierra

Top Rated Comments

macsba Avatar
105 months ago
Well, Preview is screwed up. Displays images as scrambled.

Also noticed something new after installing like below.

Attachment Image
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tywebb13 Avatar
105 months ago
Build number is 17E139j.

You can disable the 32 bit apps like this in terminal:

Boot to Recovery OS by restarting your machine and holding down the Command and R keys at startup.

Now in terminal use this:

nvram boot-args="-no32exec"

Then restart computer.

You can re-enable them like this:

nvram boot-args=""

(again in Recovery OS)

Then restart computer.



Looks like there will cease to be separate special builds for the iMac Pro now. They can use the same installers (including combos) the other macs can use for 10.13.4. Previously for 10.13.3 betas and the final release of 10.13.3 the iMac Pro got their own special builds and no combo.

The 10.13.4 installer also now has a new component called Secure Boot:



EDIT: The commands for enabling and diabling 32 bit apps have been corrected thanks to GDP3.

Attachment Image
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yamahamusicians Avatar
105 months ago
Well, Preview is screwed up. Displays images as scrambled.

Also noticed something new after installing like below.
Same issue although I'm just getting a blue box when using preview. Has no one else noticed this?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lunarworks Avatar
105 months ago
Still no APFS on Fusion Drives? They're having quite some difficulty with that. :/
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
casperes1996 Avatar
105 months ago
Same thing going on here, and I too am running an old version of iStat Pro haha. I hope that doesn't go way.
Yeah - I like having it in Dashboard, and I'm a cheapskate who doesn't want to pay for iStat Menus :P.
But if it goes I'll be fine. I'll just use htop for my quick system overview, and MacsFanControl for sensor readings.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
petsounds Avatar
105 months ago
I remember the days when there were reasons to be excited about macOS releases. Even the lowly tvOS got new features, but the Mac just gets maintenance mode now.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...