- Not to be confused with macOS 10.12 (Sierra).
macOS Monterey (version 12) is the eighteenth major release of macOS, developed by Apple Inc.[1] It was released on October 25, 2021 at 10 a.m. PT (Cupertino time) to succeed MacOS Big Sur (version 11).[2]
Development[]
The forthcoming existence of macOS 12 was discovered within the source code of a WebKit update from February 2021.[3][4] It was announced on June 7 at the 2021 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2021), with the first beta version being released to developers on the same day.[5]
New features[]
New Features in macOS Monterey You'll ACTUALLY Care About!
New features announced at WWDC 2021 include:[5][6]
- Live Text for machine recognition of selectable text within images and photos.[7]
- Low Power Mode is introduced for the first time to supported Mac models.[8]
- 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.[7]
- 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 was delayed and released as part of the macOS 12.3 update on March 14, 2022.[9][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)[2][12]
Release history[]
| Version | Build | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12.0 beta 1 | 21A5248p | 2021-06-07 | 1st developer beta. |
| 12.0 beta 2 | 21A5268h | 2021-06-28 2021-07-01 |
2nd developer beta. 1st public beta. |
| 12.0 beta 3 | 21A5284e | 2021-07-14 | 3rd developer beta. |
| 12.0 beta 4 | 21A5294g | 2021-07-27 | 4th developer beta. |
| 12.0 beta 5 | 21A5304g | 2021-08-11 | 5th developer beta. |
| 12.0 beta 6 | 21A5506j | 2021-08-30 | 6th developer beta. |
| 12.0 beta 7 | 21A5522h | 2021-09-21 | 7th developer beta. |
| 12.0 beta 8 | 21A5534d | 2021-09-28 | 8th developer beta. |
| 12.0 beta 9 | 21A5543b | 2021-10-06 | 9th developer beta. |
| 12.0 beta 10 | 21A5552a | 2021-10-13 | 10th developer beta. |
| 12.0 | 21A344 | 2021-10-?? | Pre-installed on early Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max-based MacBook Pros. SharePlay and Universal Control not yet functional. |
| 12.0.1 | 21A559 | 2021-10-25 | First public release. |
| 12.1 | 21C52 | 2021-12-13 | Adds support for the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT GPU and re-enables SharePlay.[13] |
| 12.2 | 21D49 | 2022-01-26 | Addresses scrolling issues in Safari on MacBook Pros with M1 Pro or Max processors and 120 Hz displays.[14][15] |
| 12.2.1 | 21D62 | 2022-02-10 | Addresses a battery drain issue when using Bluetooth.[16][17] |
| 12.3 | 21E230 | 2022-03-14 | First public release of Universal Control. Apple Pay and StoreKit are updated. Python 2.7 support is dropped.[18] |
| 12.3.1 | 21E258 | 2022-03-31 | Addresses performance issues with GPU cards in external PCIe enclosures.[19][20] |
| 12.4 | 21F79 21F2092 |
2022-05-16 2022-06-16 |
Bug fixes, including refinements to Universal Control. Adds support for Macs with Apple M2 chips.[21] |
| 12.5 | 21G72 | 2022-07-20 | Bug fixes. The TV app adds the option to pause, rewind, or restart a live sports game in progress.[22] |
| 12.5.1 | 21G83 | 2022-08-17 | Security fixes.[23][24] |
| 12.6 | 21G115 | 2022-09-12 | Security fixes.[25] |
| 12.6.1 | 21G217 | 2022-10-12 | Security fixes.[26] |
| 12.6.2 | 21G320 | 2022-12-12 | Security fixes.[27] |
| 12.6.3 | 21G419 | 2023-01-23 | Security fixes.[28] |
| 12.6.4 | 21G526 | 2023-03-27 | Security fixes.[29] |
| 12.6.5 | 21G531 | 2023-04-10 | Security fixes.[30] |
| 12.6.6 | 21G646 | 2023-05-18 | Security fixes.[31] |
| 12.6.7 | 21G703 | 2023-06-21 | Security fixes.[32][33] |
| 12.6.8 | 21G725 | 2023-07-24 | Security fixes.[34] |
| 12.6.9 | 21G726 | 2023-09-11 | Security fixes.[35] |
| 12.7 | 21G816 | 2023-09-21 | Security fixes.[36] |
| 12.7.1 | 21G920 | 2023-10-25 | Security fixes.[37] |
| 12.7.2 | 21G1974 | 2023-12-11 | Security fixes.[38] |
| 12.7.3 | 21H1015 | 2024-01-22 | Security fixes.[39] |
| 12.7.4 | 21H1123 | 2024-03-07 | Security fixes.[40] |
| 12.7.5 | 21H1222 | 2024-05-13 | Security fixes.[41] |
| 12.7.6 | 21H1320 | 2024-07-29 | Security fixes.[42] |
Gallery[]
Monterey includes dynamic desktops, which change according to time and lighting conditions.
Bright desktop background (6K)
Dark desktop background (6K)
References[]
- ↑ macOS Monterey will be released on October 25 by William Gallagher, AppleInsider. 2021-10-18.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 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.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 New features available with macOS Monterey., Apple Inc. 2021-06-07. Archived 2021-06-09.
- ↑ Apple brings low power mode to Mac and iPad by Christian Zibreg, iDownloadBlog. 2021-06-11.
- ↑ Apple Officially Delays macOS Monterey Universal Control Until Spring 2022 by Sami Fathi, MacRumors. 2021-12-13.
- ↑ Apple updates macOS Monterey to version 12.3 with Universal Control by Mike Peterson, AppleInsider. 2022-03-14.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ macOS 12.2 (21D49), Apple Developer. 2022-01-26.[DEAD LINK]
- ↑ Apple Releases macOS Monterey 12.2 With Safari Vulnerability Fix by Juli Clover, MacRumors. 2022-01-26.
- ↑ macOS 12.2.1 (21D62), Apple Developer. 2022-02-10.[DEAD LINK]
- ↑ Apple Releases macOS Monterey 12.2.1 With Bluetooth Battery Drain Bug Fix by Juli Clover, MacRumors. 2022-02-10.
- ↑ macOS 12.3 (21E230) Apple Developer. 2022-03-14.[DEAD LINK]
- ↑ macOS 12.3.1 (21E258) Apple Developer. 2022-03-31.[DEAD LINK]
- ↑ The macOS 12.3.1 update fixed bugs affecting PCI-E GPU performance by Darryl Boxberger, AppleInsider. 2022-04-01.
- ↑ macOS 12.4 (21F79), Apple Developer. 2022-05-16.[DEAD LINK]
- ↑ macOS 12.5 (21G72), Apple Developer. 2022-07-20.[DEAD LINK]
- ↑ macOS 12.5.1 (21G83), Apple Developer. 2022-08-17.[DEAD LINK]
- ↑ macOS Monterey 12.5.1 now available with important security patches by Wesley Hilliard, AppleInsider. 2022-08-17.
- ↑ macOS 12.6 (21G115), Apple Developer. 2022-09-12.[DEAD LINK]
- ↑ MacOS Monterey 12.6.1 & MacOS Big Sur 11.7.1 Released, OS X Daily. 2022-10-24.
- ↑ Big Sur 11.7.2 and Monterey 12.6.2 bring a slew of security updates to older Macs by Michael Simon, Macworld. 2022-12-14.
- ↑ Apple gives some older iPhones OS updates, going back to iPhone 5s by Wesley Hilliard, AppleInsider. 2023-01-23.
- ↑ iOS 15.7.4, macOS Monterey 12.6.4, macOS Big Sur 11.7.5 all get security updates by Andrew Orr, AppleInsider. 2023-03-27.
- ↑ Apple releases macOS Big Sur 11.7.6 and Monterey 12.6.5 with critical security updates by Roman Loyola, Macworld. 2023-04-10.
- ↑ macOS Monterey 12.6.6 and Big Sur 11.7.7 by Adam Engst, TidBITS. 2023-05-19.
- ↑ [Pre release] macOS Monterey 12.6.7 by atuneddu, InsanelyMac. 2023-05-19.
- ↑ macOS Monterey 12.6.7 & macOS Big Sur 11.7.8 Updates Released, OS X Daily. 2023-06-22.
- ↑ macOS Monterey 12.6.8 & macOS Big Sur 11.7.9 Updates Released, OS X Daily. 2023-07-27.
- ↑ iOS 15.7.9, iPadOS 15.7.9, macOS Monterey 12.6.9, & macOS Big Sur 11.7.10 Released, OS X Daily. 2023-09-11.
- ↑ MacOS Ventura 13.6 & MacOS Monterey 12.7 Updates Released, OS X Daily. 2023-09-21.
- ↑ MacOS Ventura 13.6.1 and MacOS Monterey 12.7.1 Released, OS X Daily. 2023-10-26.
- ↑ MacOS Ventura 13.6.3, MacOS Monterey 12.7.2, & Safari 17.2 Released for Macs, OS X Daily. 2023-12-12.
- ↑ MacOS Ventura 13.6.4 & MacOS Monterey 12.7.3 Released with Security Fixes, OS X Daily. 2024-01-23.
- ↑ MacOS Ventura 13.6.5 & macOS Monterey 12.7.4 Updates Available, OS X Daily. 2024-03-08.
- ↑ MacOS Ventura 13.6.7 & macOS Monterey 12.7.5 Updates Available, OS X Daily. 2024-05-14.
- ↑ MacOS Ventura 13.6.8, MacOS Monterey 12.7.6, Safari 17.6 Released with Security Fixes, OS X Daily. 2024-07-30.
See also[]
External links[]
- macOS Monterey at Apple (archived 2021-10-18)
- macOS Monterey Preview (archived 2021-06-07)
- New features available with macOS Monterey (archived 2021-10-18)
- What's new in the updates for macOS Monterey at Apple Support (2024-07-29)
- macOS - High powered meets “Hi, everyone.” at Apple Developer (archived 2022-06-02)
- Download the new macOS Monterey Wallpaper at AppleInformed
- macOS Monterey 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)
