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Touch Bar MacBook Pro Q&A
Update Published December 11, 2020
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What version of macOS is pre-installed on the "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro models?
The original "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro models first shipped with a version of macOS Sierra, subsequent models initially shipped with later versions of the macOS.
Specifically, these notebooks first shipped with these versions and builds:
| Touch Bar MacBook Pro | Original macOS | Build |
| 13-Inch (2016 No Touch Bar) | Sierra (10.12) | 16A2323a |
| 13-Inch (2016 Touch Bar) | Sierra (10.12.1) | 16B2657 |
| 15-Inch (2016 Touch Bar) | Sierra (10.12.1) | 16B2659 |
| 13-Inch (2017 No Touch Bar) | Sierra (10.12.5) | 16F2073 |
| 13-Inch (2017 Touch Bar) | Sierra (10.12.5) | 16F2073 |
| 15-Inch (2017 Touch Bar) | Sierra (10.12.5) | 16F2073 |
| 13-Inch (2018 Touch Bar) | High Sierra (10.13.6) | 17G2112 |
| 15-Inch (2018 Touch Bar) | High Sierra (10.13.6) | 17G2112 |
| 13-Inch (2019 Touch Bar) | Mojave (10.14.5) | 18F132 |
| 15-Inch (2019 Touch Bar) | Mojave (10.14.5) | 18F132 |
| 13-Inch (2019 Touch Bar, 2 TB 3) | Mojave (10.14.5) | 18F2058 |
| 16-Inch (2019) | Catalina (10.15.1) | 19B2093 |
| 13-Inch (2020, 2 TB 3) | Catalina (10.15.4) | 19E2265 |
| 16-Inch (2020, 4 TB 3) | Catalina (10.15.4) | 19E2269 |
Regardless of the version pre-installed, all "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro notebooks are compatible with the latest version of macOS.
How do you install software on the "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro without an optical drive?
Of course, you always can install software downloaded directly from the Internet. Increasingly, Apple wants you to only use their own app store so they can receive a commission on the purchase.
Nevertheless, to install software still compatible with recent versions of the macOS from an increasingly vintage CD or DVD to your "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro, you need to either purchase an external optical drive (and use an adapter) or use the "Remote Disk" function. Essentially, you just install the "Remote Disk" software on a nearby Mac or Windows machine that has an optical drive, and then "borrow" its optical drive to install software or alternately transfer files via CD or DVD.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (SuperDrive - Left), OWC (Blu-ray Options - Right)
For software that must be installed via CD or DVD, more information regarding "Remote Disk" is available on the Apple Support Site. It also is worth noting that this cannot be used to re-install the operating system. Some copy-protected CDs, DVDs, and games also cannot be installed using this method.
Site sponsor Adorama has the official external Apple SuperDrive for US$79 and Other World Computing has a variety of third-party external optical drive options, too, including some that write to Blu-ray media for only a bit more.
How do you transfer data from an older Mac to a "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro? Are adapters required?
Apple explains that it is possible to transfer data from an older Mac to a new Touch Bar MacBook Pro one of three ways:
- Connect both systems to the same Wi-Fi network, which is straightforward, but the transfer may take hours depending on the amount of data involved and the speed of your network connection.
- Connect a USB hard drive that stores the Time Machine backup of your older Mac to your new "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro using the inexpensive Apple USB-C to USB adapter (MJ1M2AM/A) or via either of the much more expensive, but more versatile, Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (MJ1K2AM/A) or Apple USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (MJ1L2AM/A). These USB-C adapters are all compatible with the Thunderbolt 3 ports on the "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro models.
- Connect both notebooks to each other using an Ethernet cable and adapters. This might work reasonably well if (1) your older Mac has Ethernet built-in or (2) you already have an Apple USB-to-Ethernet Adapter (MC704LL/A) or Apple Thunderbolt-to-Ethernet Adapter (MD463LL/A) for your older Mac, and (3) you don't mind buying a compatible third-party USB-C to Ethernet adapter for your new MacBook Pro, too.
Apple's own support site provides specific instructions that should be read before attempting to transfer data. Be absolutely sure to also create an extra backup of your older Mac before attempting to transfer any data between the two notebooks.
Site sponsor Adorama sells each of these adapters as well as the Touch Bar MacBook Pro models themselves with free shipping throughout the United States.
How do you restore the operating system on the "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro models?
Apple does not include a physical restoration option like a DVD disc or a USB stick for the "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro models.
Instead, the operating system has a hidden "restore" partition containing an "OS X Utilities" application that is only accessible upon startup by holding down Command-R. Additional details about "OS X Recovery" is available on the Apple Support Site.
Can the "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro run iPad apps?
No, not directly. The "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro and various earlier MacBook Pro models as well as various iPad devices all have "Retina" displays, but this refers to the display rather than application compatibility.
The "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro uses macOS whereas the iPad models uses iOS (dubbed iPadOS starting with iOS 13). At least for now, there is no direct application compatibility between these two operating systems, but starting with macOS Mojave (10.14) and Catalina (10.15), Apple made it easier for the company and independent developers to port iOS apps to the macOS.
Can the "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro run Windows or Linux?
Yes. Like all other Intel-based Macs, the "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro models can run a number of versions of Windows and a variety of Linux distributions via Apple Boot Camp or by using "virtualization" software.
For more information regarding Windows on the Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's extensive Windows on Mac Q&A.
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