Editing System 7 (section)

{{short description|Seventh major release of the classic Mac OS (1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Multiple issues|{{More citations needed|date=December 2023}}
{{Original research|date=December 2023}}}}
{{About|the seventh major release of the classic Apple Macintosh operating system||}}
{{Infobox OS|
| name =
| logo = 
| family = [[Macintosh operating systems|Macintosh]]
| screenshot = Mac_OS_7.6.1_emulated_inside_of_SheepShaver.png
| caption = Screenshot of Mac OS 7.6.1
| version of = [[classic Mac OS]]
| developer = [[Apple Computer]]
| source_model = [[Closed source]]
| released = {{Start date and age|1991|05|13}}
| latest_release_version = 7.6.1
| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|1997|04|07}}
| preceded_by = [[System 6]]
| succeeded_by = [[Mac OS 8]]
| supported platforms = [[Motorola 68000 series|Motorola 68k series]], [[PowerPC]] (since 7.1.2)
| kernel_type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]] (68k),<br>[[nanokernel]] (PowerPC)
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| working_state = Historic
| tagline = It's powerful, it's easy to use-it's the new operating system for your Macintosh.
| support_status = Historical, unsupported as of May 2001
| website = {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970412143953id_/http://macos.apple.com:80/macos/releases.html |date=April 12, 1997 |title=Mac OS Releases}}
}}
{{classic Mac OS sidebar}}
'''System 7''' (later named '''Mac OS 7''') is the seventh major release of the [[classic Mac OS]] [[operating system]] for [[Mac (computer)|Macintosh]] computers, made by [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer]]. It was launched on May 13, 1991, to succeed [[System 6]] with [[virtual memory]], personal [[file sharing]], [[QuickTime]], [[TrueType]] fonts, the [[Force Quit]] dialog, and an improved user interface.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Norton |first1=Peter |title=Inside System 7 |date=1992 |publisher=Brady Publishing |isbn=0-13-656273-6 |pages=215 |edition=1st |url=https://archive.org/details/insidesystem70000nort |access-date=3 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Danuloff |first1=Craig |title=The System 7 Book |date=April 6, 1991 |publisher=Ventana Press, Inc |isbn=0-940087-58-8 |edition=4th |url=https://archive.org/details/mac_The_System_7_Book_1991 |access-date=3 March 2024}}</ref>

It was [[codename|code-name]]d "Big Bang" in development and the initial release was named "The System" or "System" like all earlier versions. With version 7.5.1, the name "Mac OS" debuted on the boot screen, and the operating system was officially renamed to Mac OS in 1997 with version 7.6. The Mac OS 7 line was the longest-lasting major version of the Classic Mac OSes due to the [[Development hell|troubled development]] of [[Copland (operating system)|Copland]], an operating system intended to be the successor to OS 7 before its cancellation and replacement with [[Mac OS 8]].