Beta 3 of MacOS 11.3 Released for Testing

Apple has released the third beta version of macOS Big Sur 11.3 to users enrolled in the beta testing program for Mac system software.

Even if you’re not running beta builds, following the beta build schedule can help to inform when a major update to macOS (or iOS/iPadOS) is in the works and may be available.

Thus far, macOS 11.3 beta includes a variety of smaller features and improvements to macOS Big Sur, likely with bug fixes and security enhancements as well. Some of the more notable changes in macOS 11.3 beta include a new control panel for setting touch alternatives when using iOS and iPadOS apps on the Mac, Reminders regains a list and ability to print again (why this was removed from earlier versions is unclear), support for Playstation 5 and Xbox X controllers, some minor changes to the Apple Music app, and presumably macOS 11.3 will include the new emojis included in the betas for iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5

Beta testers who are participating can download the latest macOS 11.3 beta 3 update from the System Preferences > Software Update control panel. A reboot is required to install as usual.

Beta system software is less reliable than final builds and is thus only appropriate for advanced users to run, though technically anyone can download and install the public beta builds.

The macOS Big Sur 11.3 betas are chugging along with betas of iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, though they’re not being released quite simultaneously at the moment. Nonetheless a new beta of iOS 14.5 beta 3 and iPadOS 14.5 beta 3 arrived today as well.

Apple usually goes through several betas before releasing a final version to everyone, suggesting we’re still some weeks away from the final version of macOS 11.3 being available to all Mac users who are running Big Sur.

The latest stable build of macOS Big Sur is the recently released macOS Big Sur 11.2.2 update, which aims to prevent an issue with some USB-C docks and new M1 Macs.