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When does the iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) stop getting updates?

Each figure is from the source marked1 unless it carries its own number.

Quick look

Newest macOS it runs
macOS 27 Golden Gate2newest macOS Apple lists it for
Current macOS
macOS 27 Golden Gatecurrent macOSReleased 14 September 2026
Security updates
Not available3Security updates until
Feature updates
Not available3Feature updates until
Released
May 20214Release date, month onlyOrderable online from 30 April 2021.
Releases since launch
6macOS releases since May 2021 (month only)
Releases newer than its newest macOS
Nonenewer than its newest macOSIt runs the current macOS.

Software support

Basis
our inference from history5
Security support for Golden Gate, as endoflife.date lists it
Not available6

Earlier iMac 24-inch models

Earlier iMac 24-inch models
Not available7

Apple’s pattern

New macOS
One a year
Patched in recent years
The two releases before the newest8
Older releases
Sometimes patched for longer8

More on this Mac

Sources

  1. endoflife.date — Apple macOS · Default for iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) · third-party figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  2. Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  3. Not published by Apple. Apple has never published a date when a Mac stops getting macOS or security updates, and this site does not invent one. Checked: endoflife.date. Read 22 Sep 2026

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  4. Apple Newsroom (UK) — iMac features all-new design in vibrant colours, M1 chip, and 4.5K Retina display · Apple’s figure · read 3 Oct 2026

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  5. Apple’s macOS 27 Golden Gate compatibility list names this Mac. endoflife.date says Apple usually provides security updates for the latest three macOS releases, but that this isn’t consistently applied; Apple publishes no end date. Source: endoflife.date. Read 22 Sep 2026

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  6. endoflife.date records no end to security support for Golden Gate. Checked: endoflife.date. Read 2 Oct 2026

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  7. No earlier iMac 24-inch model has a recorded end to its security updates yet, so there is no precedent to show for the iMac M1 (24-inch, 2021).

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  8. An inference from Apple’s past releases, not a commitment from Apple, which publishes no date when a Mac stops getting macOS or security updates. A Mac missing from a new macOS compatibility list is not supported by that release; this page changes when that list does.

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