MacOS Monterey 12.6.4 & MacOS Big Sur 11.7.5 Released

Apple has released macOS Monterey 12.6.4 and macOS Big Sur 11.7.5 for Mac users who are continuing to run the two prior generation Macintosh system software versions. The updates are available separately from the macOS Ventura 13.3.

Additionally, Safari 16.4 is available as a software update for Monterey and Big Sur users.

How to Download macOS Monterey 12.6.4 or macOS Big Sur 11.7.5 Update

First, back up Mac with Time Machine before updating any system software.

Remember, if you’re wishing to avoid installing Ventura, you can still install macOS Big Sur and Monterey updates:

1. Go to the  Apple menu and select “System Preferences”
2. Click on the “Software Update” control panel
3. Click on the tiny “More Info…” text under “Other updates available”
4. Choose to update to macOS Monterey 12.6.4 or macOS Big Sur 11.7.5, and Safari 16.4

Your Mac must restart to complete installation.

Note that if you click the big “Upgrade Now” button you will end up installing macOS Ventura 13.3 instead of the Monterey or Big Sur update, and most users who are running Monterey and Big Sur are doing so for good reason and do not wish to accidentally update. Learning how to install macOS updates without upgrading to Ventura is helpful to know for this reason.

macOS Monterey 12.6.4 Release Notes and macOS Big Sur 11.7.5 Release Notes

Release notes are brief, as follows:

macOS Monterey 12.6.4 — Restart Required

This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

Separately, software updates are also available for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, watchOS, and HomePod.