macOS Monterey

macOS Monterey (version 12) is the current major release of macOS, developed by Apple Inc.^[3] It was released on October 25, 2021 at 10 a.m. PT (Cupertino time) to succeed MacOS Big Sur.^[4]

Development

The forthcoming existence of macOS 12 was discovered within the source code of a WebKit update from February 2021.^[5]^[6] It was announced on June 7 at the 2021 Worldwide Developers Conference, with the first beta version being released to developers.^[7]

New features

New features announced at WWDC 2021 include:^[7]^[8]

Live Text for machine recognition of selectable text within images and photos.
Privacy features protect Mail activity from being detected by email spammers.
Quick Notes to jot down ideas store links while using any application.
Safari is updated with a new more compact user interface that takes on the color of the visited webpage and introduces tab groups to consolidate and organize tabs.
Shortcuts supersedes Automator for automating workflows.
Spatial audio support during FaceTime calls with AirPods Max and Pro headphones, or built-in speakers on selected Mac models (2018 and later).
Split view will be enhanced with the ability to swap out apps or return to a single full screen. Users can also opt to keep the menu bar visible in full-screen apps.^[9]
Universal Control allows users to have a single keyboard and mouse setup move between macOS and iPadOS devices for a more seamless workflow. However, this specific feature is still in development and has been delayed to be released as part of an update in Spring 2022.^[10]

Features that require Apple Silicon

The following features require an Apple M1 or newer processor from Apple:^[11]

Portrait Mode in FaceTime
Interactive globe and additional 3D surface detail in Apple Maps
Object Capture AR
On-device keyboard dictation
Additional Text-to-Speech languages in Siri

Supported models

iMac (late 2015 or later)
iMac Pro (2017 or later)
MacBook (early 2016 or later)
MacBook Air (early 2015 or later)
MacBook Pro (early 2015 or later)
Mac mini (late 2014 or later)
Mac Pro (2013 or later)^[4]^[12]

Gallery

Monterey includes dynamic desktops, which change according to time and lighting conditions.

References

↑ macOS 12.1 (21C52), Apple Developer. 2021-12-13.
↑ macOS 12.2 beta 2 (21D5039d), Apple Developer. 2022-01-11.
↑ macOS Monterey will be released on October 25 by William Gallagher, AppleInsider. 2021-10-18.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Here's When You Can Download macOS Monterey Today by Eric Slivka, MacRumors. 2021-10-25.
↑ WebKit code leaks Apple's next OS names as macOS 12, iOS 15 by Malcolm Owen, AppleInsider. 2021-03-29.
↑ Apple references unreleased iOS 15 and macOS 12 updates in WebKit code by Chance Miller, 9to5Mac. 2021-03-29.
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 macOS Monterey introduces powerful features to get more done, Apple Inc. 2021-06-07.
↑ The best new features in macOS Monterey that you'll actually use by Andrew O'Hara, AppleInsider. 2021-06-17.
↑ New features available with macOS Monterey., Apple Inc. 2021-06-07. Archived 2021-06-09.
↑ Apple Officially Delays macOS Monterey Universal Control Until Spring 2022 by Sami Fathi, MacRumors. 2021-12-13.
↑ macOS Monterey: Here Are All the Features Your Intel Mac Won't Support by Tim Hardwick, MacRumors. 2021-10-23.
↑ macOS Monterey is compatible with these Macs; drops support for older Macs, AppleInformed. 2021-06-07.

External links

macOS Monterey at Apple
- New features available with macOS Monterey.
- macOS Monterey Preview (archived 2021-06-07)
- macOS at Apple Developer
  - macOS Monterey 12 Beta Release Notes (archived 2021-10-10)
  - macOS Monterey (build 21A559)
Download the new macOS Monterey Wallpaper at AppleInformed
macOS Monterey roundup at MacRumors
macOS Monterey at the BetaWiki
macOS Monterey at Wikipedia

Articles

What’s new in macOS Monterey beta 2? Safari tweaks, new screensavers + wallpapers, more by Chance Miller at 9to5Mac (2021-06-28)
macOS Monterey: Universal control, Shortcuts, Safari, and more by Roman Loyola at Macworld (2021-06-13)
macOS 12 Monterey new features, release date, beta and compatibility by Alex Wawro at Tom's Guide (2021-06-07)

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Mac OS X / macOS versions
Mac OS X Server :	Server 1 (Rhapsody / Hera)
Mac OS X Developer Preview :	DP1 \| DP2 \| DP3 \| DP4
Mac OS X Public Beta :	Public Beta (Kodiak)
Mac OS X 10.0 (Cheetah) :	10.0.0 \| 10.0.1 \| 10.0.2 \| 10.0.3 \| 10.0.4
Mac OS X 10.1 (Puma) :	10.1.0 \| 10.1.1 \| 10.1.2 \| 10.1.3 \| 10.1.4 \| 10.1.5
Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar) :	10.2.0 \| 10.2.1 \| 10.2.2 \| 10.2.3 \| 10.2.4 \| 10.2.5 \| 10.2.6 \| 10.2.7 \| 10.2.8 (6R73) · 10.2.8 (G5)
Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) :	10.3.0 \| 10.3.1 \| 10.3.2 \| 10.3.3 \| 10.3.4 \| 10.3.5 \| 10.3.6 \| 10.3.7 \| 10.3.8 \| 10.3.9
Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) :	10.4.0 \| 10.4.1 \| 10.4.2 \| 10.4.3 \| 10.4.4 \| 10.4.5 \| 10.4.6 \| 10.4.7 \| 10.4.8 \| 10.4.9 \| 10.4.10 \| 10.4.11
Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) :	10.5.0 \| 10.5.1 \| 10.5.2 \| 10.5.3 \| 10.5.4 \| 10.5.5 \| 10.5.6 \| 10.5.7 \| 10.5.8 \| 10.5.9 (PPC)
Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) :	10.6.0 \| 10.6.1 \| 10.6.2 \| 10.6.3 \| 10.6.4 \| 10.6.5 \| 10.6.6 \| 10.6.7 \| 10.6.8
Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) :	10.7.0 \| 10.7.1 \| 10.7.2 \| 10.7.3 \| 10.7.4 \| 10.7.5
Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) :	10.8.0 \| 10.8.1 \| 10.8.2 \| 10.8.3 \| 10.8.4 \| 10.8.5
OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) :	10.9.0 \| 10.9.1 \| 10.9.2 \| 10.9.3 \| 10.9.4 \| 10.9.5
OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) :	10.10.0 \| 10.10.1 \| 10.10.2 \| 10.10.3 \| 10.10.4 \| 10.10.5
OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) :	10.11.0 \| 10.11.1 \| 10.11.2 \| 10.11.3 \| 10.11.4 \| 10.11.5 \| 10.11.6
macOS 10.12 (Sierra) :	10.12.0 \| 10.12.1 \| 10.12.2 \| 10.12.3 \| 10.12.4 \| 10.12.5 \| 10.12.6
macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) :	10.13.0 \| 10.13.1 \| 10.13.2 \| 10.13.3 \| 10.13.4 \| 10.13.5 \| 10.13.6
macOS 10.14 (Mojave) :	10.14.0 \| 10.14.1 \| 10.14.2 \| 10.14.3 \| 10.14.4 \| 10.14.5 \| 10.14.6
macOS 10.15 (Catalina) :	10.15.0 \| 10.15.1 \| 10.15.2 \| 10.15.3 \| 10.15.4 \| 10.15.5 \| 10.15.6 \| 10.15.7
macOS 11 (Big Sur) :	11.0 · 11.0.1 \| 11.1 \| 11.2 · 11.2.1 · 11.2.2 · 11.2.3 \| 11.3 · 11.3.1 \| 11.4 \| 11.5 · 11.5.1 · 11.5.2 \| 11.6 · 11.6.1 · 11.6.2 · 11.6.3
macOS 12 (Monterey) :	12.0 · 12.0.1 \| 12.1 \| 12.2

[1] OS 12.1 (21C52), Apple Developer. 2021-12-13.

[2] OS 12.2 beta 2 (21D5039d), Apple Developer. 2022-01-11.

[ai-macos-monterey-released-3] OS Monterey will be released on October 25 by William Gallagher, AppleInsider. 2021-10-18.

[mr-monterey-today-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Here's When You Can Download macOS Monterey Today by Eric Slivka, MacRumors. 2021-10-25.

[ai-apple-next-os-5] WebKit code leaks Apple's next OS names as macOS 12, iOS 15 by Malcolm Owen, AppleInsider. 2021-03-29.

[9to5mac-apple-unreleased-updates-6] Apple references unreleased iOS 15 and macOS 12 updates in WebKit code by Chance Miller, 9to5Mac. 2021-03-29.

[apple-macos-monterey-features-7] 7.0 ^7.1 macOS Monterey introduces powerful features to get more done, Apple Inc. 2021-06-07.

[ai-macos-monterery-features-8] The best new features in macOS Monterey that you'll actually use by Andrew O'Hara, AppleInsider. 2021-06-17.

[apple-macos-monterey-new-features-9] New features available with macOS Monterey., Apple Inc. 2021-06-07. Archived 2021-06-09.

[10] Apple Officially Delays macOS Monterey Universal Control Until Spring 2022 by Sami Fathi, MacRumors. 2021-12-13.

[11] OS Monterey: Here Are All the Features Your Intel Mac Won't Support by Tim Hardwick, MacRumors. 2021-10-23.

[12] OS Monterey is compatible with these Macs; drops support for older Macs, AppleInformed. 2021-06-07.

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