College Board has raised the minimum operating systems for Bluebook, the app used to take the digital SAT, for the 2026-27 school year. A laptop or tablet that worked last year may not work now.
Key facts
- What New Bluebook minimum versions
- From 2026-27 school year (August 2026 SAT)
- Windows Windows 11 24H2
- Mac / iPad macOS 15 / iPadOS 18
- Chromebook ChromeOS 144, verified mode, school-managed
The new minimums
- Windows: Windows 11 version 24H2 or later. College Board says Bluebook now needs Windows 11 because Microsoft no longer supports Windows 10, and it links this to the August 2026 SAT Weekend.
- Mac: macOS 15 or later.
- iPad: iPadOS 18 or later.
- Chromebook: ChromeOS 144 or later, with verified mode switched on. Bluebook runs only on school-managed Chromebooks.
College Board also publishes a recommended maximum version for each system, which rises as new versions are certified. Updating to a brand-new release just before test day can cause problems if that version has not yet been approved.
Chromebooks and verified mode
Verified mode is set by a school’s IT administrator in the Google Workspace Admin console. Students cannot turn it on themselves. If you plan to use a school Chromebook on a weekend test date, ask your school well in advance to confirm it is configured.
What this means
Check your device’s operating system version now, not the night before. Install Bluebook, sign in and complete the exam setup in good time, then take a full practice test on the same device. If your laptop cannot run Windows 11 or your iPad cannot update to iPadOS 18, you can borrow a device from College Board for weekend testing, but you must request it when you register, at least 30 days before test day. Students outside the US should allow extra time for this.