MacOS Ventura 13.3.1 Update Released with Bug Fixes

Apr 7, 2023 - 9 Comments

MacOS Ventura update

Apple has released a small software update for MacOS Ventura 13.3.1 that Apple says provides important bug fixes and security updates.

At the top of the “important bug fixes” in MacOS Ventura 13.3.1 is a resolution to an issue where skin tone variations did not display in the new pushing hands Emoji. Secondarily, and perhaps more niche, an issue where auto-unlocking a Mac with Apple Watch was not working has been fixed. The security updates included in MacOS 13.3.1 apparently patch known and actively used exploits as well. There is no mention of resolving newly identified issues with Universal Control and Sidecar, however, from user reports and personal experience the issues with both appear to be fixed with the MacOS 13.3.1 update.

Separately, Apple has released Safari 16.4.1 with security fixes for Mac users running Big Sur and Monterey, and iOS 16.4.1 for iPhone and iPadOS 16.4.1 for iPad, which also include the push hands Emoji color bug fix, and a resolution to a problem where Siri sometimes does not respond to requests.

How to Download MacOS Ventura 13.3.1 Update

Always back up your Mac with Time Machine before installing any system software update, even if the update is focused primarily on an Emoji issue:

  1. Pull down the  Apple menu, and then choose “System Settings”
  2. Go to “General”, and select “Software Update”
  3. Choose to “Update Now” for macOS Ventura 13.3.1 update

MacOS Ventura 13.3.1 update

Your Mac must restart to complete installation of this software update.

Mac users running Big Sur and Monterey will instead find an update for Safari 16.4.1 to patch specific security issues with that web browser.

Unfortunately, MacOS Big Sur and MacOS Monterey users will not have the latest new Emoji icons, for that they would need to update to MacOS Ventura.

Download Full macOS Ventura 13.3.1 Installer

The full InstallAssistant.pkg for MacOS Ventura 13.3.1 is available to download directly from Apple:

The complete package installer can be helpful when creating a bootable MacOS Ventura installer drive, or for sharing across multiple machines without having to re-download the update on each computer.

MacOS Ventura 13.3.1 Release Notes

Release notes for macOS Ventura 13.3.1 are as follows:

macOS Ventura 13.3.1 provides important bug fixes and security updates for your Mac including:

• Pushing hands emoji does not show skin tone variations
• Auto Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch may not work

For detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

After installing MacOS 13.3.1 you can then access the diverse skin tone selections for this Emoji the same was you would other skin tone variations for emojis.

🙃

While many other MacOS Ventura issues remain unresolved, all Ventura users can appreciate knowing a freshly identified issue with Emoji has been fixed with the utmost expediency, for not only the Mac, but also in a separate bug fix update for iPhone and iPad. Emoji are very popular for use in electronic communication, often used to convey emotions, feelings, intentions, and subtleties, that are otherwise missed in pure text dialog. Because of Emoji’s ubiquitous usage, it’s not terribly surprising that bugs pertaining to Emoji receive a high priority.

Though it is not mentioned in release notes for 13.3.1, commonly reported problems with Universal Control, Universal Clipboard, and Sidecar, appear to be fixed in this release.

If you have an iPhone or iPad, don’t miss the iOS 16.4.1 and iPadOS 16.4.1 update that is available for those device as well.

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Posted by: Paul Horowitz in Mac OS, News

9 Comments

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  1. Beth says:

    13.3.1 is ruining my life
    /rant

  2. Carol Brown says:

    I just downloaded the new update 13.3 and it screwed up my laptop royally. I can’t read anything, for whatever reason it’s way too small. Everything opens to little boxes. I lost the personal screensaver I had just added, the whole thing is a disaster. I can’t even use it. How do I remove the update? I was quite content with the 13.2

    • PH says:

      Try going to System Settings > Displays > and choose “Larger Text” options, this will make everything on screen appear larger rather than too small.

      Some users report resolution changes with some macOS updates, worth checking to see if that is the issue.

  3. robin says:

    I regret that I ever updated the os. After software update, our companys remotecontrol tool stopped working via VPN connection. Also in addition, bluetooth devices all of sudden unconnect when I am middle of a call, giving me only option to end call since voice does not return to headphones after connection returns.

    I always kept Apple premium brand when it comes to wireless connected devices etc, but i guess these computers are not build for company computers only to consumers.

  4. stephen kreyling says:

    Since upgrading to MacOsx 13.3.1 we can no longer connect another mac with the same software. Although the users are there, and we can connect via windows and older MacOsx software, this version will no longer allow you to connect to shared folders using any user login and password. Nothing online has worked. Is there anything in the works to fix this problem as its a company killer.

  5. Lee R says:

    In February I downloaded Ventura to my iMac. It screwed up things so much I couldn’t even log on. Finally I took it to the Apple store & they fixed it.

    Before that, using my MacBook Pro while the iMac was down, I loaded Word from Apple. It was defective: every doc had a narrow box at the top. You can’t delete it & if you go inside it to type, it just expands around your text. The customer service techs cannot fix it. Now I can’t use Word on that unit. If you open an older, healthy doc, everything comes up in boxes. Since Microsoft doesn’t do tech support anymore, I’m stuck with it.

    You can be damn sure I won’t update Word on the iMac!

  6. Kevin says:

    Emoji does not help business and students. Apple spellcheck often changes words to something totally different, even if I spelt correctly. For a while mail was changing many words to totally mess up my writing.
    Even more aggravating is “follow up”. Any new ideas like this should be opt in, not opt out. Regardless, I opted out, but mail ignores that uncheck and presents follow up messages at the top of my emails, dated like they just arrived. Confusion reigns.
    Both the above are far more important than Emoji fixes!
    Some people rely on Macs for business.
    Before you ask – my OS is up to date.

  7. NPR Listener says:

    MacOS Ventura is a steaming pile of poo with more problems than a Windows beta, but at least they’re putting all hands on deck to instantly handle problems with Emoji diversity. Does this help their ESG score? I hope so because ESG is so important, NPR tells me so!

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