macOS Monterey Released, Download Now

Apple has released macOS Monterey, versioned as macOS 12.0.1, to the general public. The build number is 21A559.

Any Mac that is compatible with macOS Monterey can download and install the update right now if they choose to. Users can also stay on their current macOS version if they prefer by simply ignoring the update. If interested, you can learn a bit more about preparing a Mac for MacOS Monterey.

MacOS Monterey includes various new features and changes to the Mac operating system, including a redesigned Safari experience with a new tab grouping feature and updated interface, FaceTime group chat grid layout, Quick Notes for jotting down notes quickly from an app, Live Text which allows for selecting and copying text from images, Notes tags, FaceTime screen sharing functionality, the ability to invite Windows and Android users to a FaceTime call via a web link, Universal Control for using a single mouse and keyboard across multiple Macs or iPads (coming in a later update), the inclusion of Shortcuts app on Mac, and updates to Photos, Music, Podcasts, Notes, and other built in apps, along with many smaller changes scattered around the operating system.

Separately, Apple also released updates for iOS 15.1 update and iPadOS 15.1 update for iPhone and iPad.

How to Download & Install MacOS Monterey

Always backup the Mac with Time Machine before installing any system software update. A lack of backups could result in data loss if the update goes awry for some reason.

1. Go to the  Apple menu and select “System Preferences”
2. Choose the “Software Update” preference panel
3. Choose to update to “macOS Monterey”



4. Follow the instructions on screen when the “Install macOS Monterey” splash screen appears to update and install macOS Monterey onto the current Mac *

* If you intend on creating a macOS Monterey bootable USB installer drive you will want to quit before proceeding with the installation.

Users can also choose to start the download of macOS Monterey update from the Mac App Store.

The installation of macOS Monterey can take a while to complete, and the Mac will reboot several times during the update process. When finished it will startup as usual.

MacOS Monterey Installer Direct Download Link

Some advanced users like to have the full package InstallAssistant for MacOS Monterey 12.0.1, available using the link below from Apple servers:

• InstallAssistant.pkg for 12.0.1

Running InstallAssistant.pkg will place the full “Install macOS Monterey.app” into your Applications folder.

How do I update to the final macOS Monterey update if I’m in the beta program?

If you’re currently in the macOS Monterey beta program and want to update to the final version, you will find the update for the final macOS Monterey release available in Software Update.

The final version of macOS Monterey is technically macOS Monterey 12.0.1.

Upon completion of the macOS Monterey final install, you may want to remove the beta profile to no longer receive beta updates on the Mac.

Which Macs are compatible with macOS Monterey?

The list of Macs compatible with macOS Monterey 12 include: iMac (2015 and later), Mac Pro (late 2013 and later), iMac Pro (2017 and later), Mac mini (late 2015 and later), MacBook (2016 and later), MacBook Air (2015 and later), and MacBook Pro (2015 and later).

macOS Monterey Update & Download Problems & Errors

Some Mac users have discovered that the update is not available right away, or they may get an error message when attempting to download the update. If this happens, typically waiting until Apple servers are less overloaded will resolve the download issue.

Another common issue is not having enough storage available on the Mac to install MacOS Monterey. The update itself requires at least 16.65 GB of free storage, but having at least 20GB available is recommended. You will see an error stating “Your disk does not have enough free space” if this happens to you.

Some users are reporting issues with web apps and some websites in the latest Safari for MacOS Monterey. If you experience this, using Chrome or an alternate browser is a workaround until those issues are resolved.

If you have any particular problems with macOS Monterey update or install, be sure to share those experiences in the comments and we will work on investigating and documenting troubleshooting steps for them.

Where is Universal Control in MacOS Monterey?

Universal Control, which allows a Mac to control several other Macs and iPads with a single mouse and keyboard, is perhaps the most anticipated feature of MacOS Monterey. The feature will not be available until later in the fall, according to Apple.

MacOS Monterey Release Notes

Release notes for macOS Monterey 12 are:

FaceTime
– Spatial audio makes voices sound like they come from the direction of a speaker on the screen in a Group FaceTime call
– Voice Isolation blocks background noises so your voice is crystal clear
– Wide Spectrum brings every sound in your space into the call
– Portrait mode puts the focus on you by blurring your background on Mac computers with the M1 chip
– Grid view displays people in same-size tiles and highlights the active speaker
– FaceTime links for inviting friends to calls on Apple, Android, or Windows devices

Messages
– Shared with You displays content shared over Messages in your Mac apps
– New Shared with You section in Photos, Safari, News, Podcasts, and the TV app
– Multiple photos display as collages or stacks in Messages

Safari
– Tab Groups help you save and organize your tabs and sync across devices
– Intelligent Tracking Prevention prevents trackers from viewing your IP address
– Compact tab bar option lets you see more of the webpage on your screen

Focus
– Focus lets you automatically filter out notifications based on what you’re doing
– Options to customize a Focus for activities like work, gaming, reading, and more
– Focus sets across all Apple devices
– Status lets your contacts know that your notifications are silenced

Quick Note & Notes
– Quick Note lets you take notes on any app or website, and easily revisit them later
– Tags help you quickly categorize your notes by topic and make them easy to find
– Mentions enable you to notify others of important updates in shared notes
– Activity view displays who made recent changes in a shared note

AirPlay to Mac
– AirPlay to Mac lets you share content from iPhone or iPad straight to your Mac
– AirPlay speaker support for playing music through your Mac sound system

Live Text
– Live Text makes text interactive in photos across the system
– Support for copying, translating, and looking up text that appears in photos
– Visual Look Up helps you learn about art, landmarks, and other objects in photos

Shortcuts
– New app helps you automate everyday tasks, helping you accomplish them faster
– Gallery with pre-built shortcuts that you can add and run throughout the system
– Shortcuts editor helps you design custom shortcuts for your specific workflows
– Support for automatically converting Automator workflows into shortcuts

Maps
– Interactive 3D globe with enhanced details for mountains, oceans, and more on Mac computers with the M1 chip
– Detailed city maps display elevation, trees, buildings, landmarks, and more on Mac computers with the M1 chip

Privacy
– Mail Privacy Protection helps prevent senders from tracking your Mail activity
– Recording indicator in Control Center for apps that are accessing your mic

iCloud+
– iCloud Private Relay (beta) helps prevent companies from creating a detailed profile of your browsing activity in Safari
– Hide My Email creates unique, random email addresses that forward to your inbox

Should I install MacOS Monterey now?

Whether or not you want to install macOS Monterey right now is up to you.

Universal Control is not yet available for Monterey, so if you’re waiting for that feature you will not find it in the initial release.

Many users wait until the first bug fix release is made available before jumping ahead with a major system software update like MacOS Monterey 12, as discussed in our guide for preparing for MacOS Monterey.

If you choose to avoid MacOS Monterey initially, you will find updates available for macOS Big Sur instead, or security update for macOS Catalina.

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Did you install macOS Monterey right away? How did it go? Let us know your experiences in the comments.