List of built-in macOS apps

This is a list of built-in apps and system components developed by Apple for macOS that come bundled by default or are installed through a system update. Many of the default programs found on macOS have counterparts on Apple's other operating systems, most often on iOS and iPadOS.

Apple has also included versions of iWork, iMovie, and GarageBand for free with new device activations since 2013. However, these programs are maintained independently from the operating system itself. Similarly, Xcode is offered for free on the Mac App Store and receives updates independently of the operating system despite being tightly integrated.

Applications

App Store

The Mac App Store is macOS's digital distribution platform for macOS apps, created and maintained by Apple based on the iOS version, the platform was announced on October 20, 2010, at Apple's "Back to the Mac" event. First launched on January 6, 2011, as part of the free Mac OS X 10.6.6 update for all current Snow Leopard users, Apple began accepting app submissions from registered developers on November 3, 2010, in preparation for its launch. After 24 hours of release, Apple announced that there were over one million downloads.

Automator

Automator is an app used to create workflows for automating repetitive tasks into batches for quicker alteration via point-and-click (or drag and drop). This saves time and effort over human intervention to manually change each file separately. Automator enables the repetition of tasks across a wide variety of programs, including Finder, Safari, Calendar, Contacts and others. It can also work with third-party applications such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop or Pixelmator.

Books

Books, previously known as iBooks, is an eBook reading application first released with OS X Mavericks. It allows users to read and purchase digital books, as well as listen to audiobooks. Reading goals can be set which encourage users to read for an amount of time each day.

Calculator

Calculator is a basic calculator application made by Apple and bundled with macOS. It has three modes: basic, scientific, and programmer. Basic includes a number pad, buttons for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing, as well as memory keys. Scientific mode supports exponents and trigonometric functions, and programmer mode gives the user access to more options related to computer programming.

The Calculator program has a long history going back to the very beginning of the Macintosh platform, where a simple four-function calculator program was a standard desk accessory from the earliest system versions. Though no higher math capability was included, third-party developers provided upgrades, and Apple released the Graphing Calculator application with the first PowerPC release (7.1.2) of the Mac OS, and it was a standard component through Mac OS 9. Apple currently ships a different application called Grapher.

Calculator has Reverse Polish notation support, and can also speak the buttons pressed and result returned.

Calendar

Calendar, previously known as iCal before OS X Mountain Lion, is a personal calendar app made by Apple, originally released as a free download for Mac OS X v10.2 on September 10, 2002, before being bundled with the operating system as iCal 1.5 with the release of Mac OS X v10.3. It tracks events and appointments added by the user and includes various holidays depending on the location the device is set to as well as birthdays from contacts. Users are also able to subscribe to other calendars from friends or third-parties.

iCal was the first calendar application for Mac OS X to offer support for multiple calendars and the ability to intermittently publish/subscribe to calendars on WebDAV servers. Calendar also offers online cloud backup of calendars using Apple's iCloud service, or it can synchronize with other calendar services, including Google Calendar and Microsoft Exchange Server.

Chess

Chess is a 3D chess game for macOS, developed by Apple as a fork of GNOME Chess (formerly "glChess"). Its history dates back to OpenStep and Mac OS X 10.2. It supports chess variants such as crazyhouse and losing chess. Apple redistributes the source code under its own Apple Sample Code License, after a special permission has been granted from the original authors of GNOME Chess (which is licensed under GPL3). Apple also ships the game with the Sjeng chess engine (GPL).

Clock

Clock is a timekeeping app first made available in macOS Ventura. It allows users to view the current time in locations around the world, set alarms and timers, and use their phone as a stopwatch. Alarms and timers will play a chime once completed, which the user can choose from their ringtone library.

Contacts

Contacts, previously known as Address Book before OS X Mountain Lion, is a computerized address book. Contacts can be synchronized over iCloud and other online address book services and allows for the storage of names, phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, job titles, birthdays, and social media usernames.

Dictionary

Dictionary is an application introduced with OS X 10.4 that provides definitions and synonyms from various sources, serving as a built-in dictionary and thesaurus. The program also includes definitions for a list of Apple-related terms as well as access to Wikipedia articles. Dictionary supports several languages and currently provides American-English definitions from the New Oxford American Dictionary and Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus.

FaceTime

FaceTime is a videotelephony app introduced in Mac OS X 10.6.6, replacing the video and audio calling functionality of iChat on Mac. Users can also make standard phone calls through the FaceTime app if a connected iPhone under the same Apple ID is nearby. In 2018, Apple added group video and audio support to FaceTime which can support up to 32 people alongside the release of MacOS Mojave.

With the release of MacOS Monterey, Apple introduced a feature called SharePlay, which allows users to simultaneously watch videos, listen to music together, or share their display.

Find My

Find My is an app and service that enables users to track the locations of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, AirPods and AirTags via iCloud. First introduced in macOS Catalina, it replaces Find My Mac and Find My Friends from previous versions. Missing devices can be made to play a sound at maximum volume, flagged as lost and locked with a passcode, or remotely erased. Users are also able to share their GPS locations with friends and family who own Apple devices of their own and can set notifications for when a person arrives or leaves a destination.

Font Book

Font Book is a font manager first released with Mac OS X Panther in 2003. It allows users to browse and view all fonts installed on device, as well as install new fonts from .otf and .tff files. A font can be selected to see its alphabets, complete repertoire of characters, and how it sets a sample text of the user's choice.

Freeform

Freeform is a virtual brainstorming app first made available on alongside MacOS 13.1. It allows users to create canvases called "boards", which can display a range of inputs including text notes, photos, documents, and web links. The app offers real-time collaboration between users, with support for FaceTime and iCloud syncing.

Home

Home is a smart-home management app released with macOS 10.14 Mojave, that serves as the front-end for Apple's HomeKit software framework. It lets users configure, communicate with, and control their HomeKit enabled smart appliances from a single application. Appliances can be divided into separate rooms and access to home controls can be shared with others.

Image Capture

Image Capture is an application that enables users to upload pictures from digital cameras or scanners which are either connected directly to their computer or network. It provides no organizational tools like Photos but is useful for collating pictures from a variety of sources with no need for drivers.

Mail

Mail is an email client first originating in NeXTstep, before being carried over to Mac OS X. It is preconfigured to work with popular email providers, such as Yahoo! Mail, AOL Mail, Gmail, Outlook and iCloud (formerly MobileMe) and supports Exchange. Mail includes the ability to read and write emails, file emails into folders, search for emails, automatically append signatures to outgoing emails, filter out junk mail, and automatically unsubscribe from newsletters.

Maps

Maps is a web mapping app and service introduced to macOS with OS X Mavericks. It provides directions and estimated times of arrival for automobile, pedestrian, cycling and public transportation navigation. Apple Maps features a Flyover mode that enables a user to explore certain densely populated urban centers and other places of interest in a 3D landscape composed of models of buildings and structures, as well as Look Around, which allows the user to view 360° street-level imagery.