What's new in the updates for macOS Monterey
Find out what has changed in each of the updates available for macOS Monterey.
macOS Monterey updates improve the stability, performance and compatibility of your Mac and are recommended for all macOS Monterey users. After installing macOS Monterey, choose System Preferences from the Apple menu , then click Software Update to check for the latest updates. You can also find out more about the security content of these updates and what's new for enterprise.
macOS Monterey 12.3.1
macOS Monterey 12.3.1 includes bug fixes and security updates for your Mac.
This update fixes the following issues:
USB-C or Thunderbolt external display does not turn on when connected to Mac mini (2018) as a second display
Bluetooth devices, such as game controllers, may disconnect from your Mac after playing audio through some Beats headphones
macOS Monterey 12.3
macOS 12.3 adds Universal Control so you can use a single mouse and keyboard across your Mac and iPad. This release also includes new emoji, dynamic head tracking for Music, and other features and bug fixes for your Mac.
Universal Control (beta)
Universal Control allows you to use a single mouse and keyboard across iPad and Mac
Text can be typed on either Mac or iPad and you can drag and drop files between them
Spatial Audio
Dynamic head tracking is available in Music with supported AirPods on Mac computers with the M1 chip
Customisable spatial audio settings for Off, Fixed and Head Tracked are now in Control Centre with supported AirPods on Mac computers with the M1 chip
Emoji
New emoji including faces, hand gestures and household objects are available in emoji keyboard
Handshake emoji allows you to choose separate skin tones for each hand
This release also includes the following enhancements for your Mac:
Siri now includes an additional voice, expanding the diversity of options
Podcasts app adds episode filter for seasons, played, unplayed, saved or downloaded episodes
Safari webpage translation adds support for Italian and Chinese (Traditional)
Shortcuts now supports adding, removing or querying tags with Reminders
Saved passwords can now include your own notes
Battery capacity readings have improved accuracy
This release also includes bug fixes for your Mac:
News widgets in Today View may not open articles when clicked
Audio may sound distorted while watching video in the Apple TV app
Some photos and videos may be unintentionally moved when organising albums in Photos
macOS Monterey 12.2.1
macOS 12.2.1 provides important security updates and fixes an issue for Intel-based Mac computers that may cause the battery to drain during sleep when connected to Bluetooth peripherals.
macOS Monterey 12.2
macOS 12.2 includes bug fixes and security updates for your Mac and is recommended for all users.
macOS Monterey 12.1
macOS Monterey 12.1 adds SharePlay, an entirely new way to have shared experiences with family and friends in FaceTime. This update also includes the Apple Music Voice Plan, new safety features for children and parents in Messages, redesigned Memories in Photos and other features and bug fixes for your Mac.
SharePlay
SharePlay is a new way to share synchronised experiences in FaceTime with content from the Apple TV app, Apple Music and other supported apps
Shared controls give everyone the ability to pause, play, rewind or fast-forward
Smart volume automatically lowers the audio of a film, TV show or song when you or your friends speak
Screen sharing lets everyone on a FaceTime call look at photos, browse the web or help each other out
Apple Music Voice Plan
Apple Music Voice Plan is a new subscription tier that gives you access to all songs, playlists and stations in Apple Music using Siri
Just Ask Siri suggests music based on your listening history and likes or dislikes
Play It Again lets you access a list of your recently played music
Photos
Memories has been redesigned with a new interactive interface, new animation and transition styles, and multiple image collages
New Memory types include additional international holidays, child-focused memories, trends over time and improved pet memories
Messages
Communication safety setting gives parents the ability to enable warnings for children when they receive or send photos that contain nudity
Safety warnings contain helpful resources for children when they receive photos that contain nudity
Siri and search
Expanded guidance in Siri, Spotlight and Safari Search to help children and parents stay safe online and get help with unsafe situations
Apple ID
Digital Legacy allows you to designate people as Legacy Contacts so that they can access your iCloud account and personal information in the event of your death
TV app
Store tab lets you browse, buy and rent films and TV shows all in one place
This release also includes the following enhancements for your Mac:
Hide My Email is available in the Mail app for iCloud+ subscribers to create unique, random email addresses
Stocks allows you to view the currency for a ticker and see year-to-date performance when viewing charts
Reminders and Notes now allow you to delete or rename tags
This release also includes bug fixes for your Mac:
Desktop and Screen Saver may appear blank after selecting photos from the Photos library
Trackpad could become unresponsive to taps or clicks
External displays may not charge some MacBook Pro and MacBook Air computers when connected using Thunderbolt or USB-C
HDR video playback on YouTube.com could cause 2021 MacBook Pro computers to panic
Menu bar extras may be obscured by the camera housing on 2021 MacBook Pro computers
MagSafe may stop charging on 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro computers when the lid is closed and the system is shut down
Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices.
macOS Monterey 12.0.1
macOS Monterey lets you connect, share and create like never before. Enjoy new FaceTime audio and video enhancements, including spatial audio and Portrait mode. Get more done with powerful productivity tools such as Focus, Quick Note and Tab Groups in Safari. Work fluidly across your devices with AirPlay to Mac.
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 noise 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 are displayed as collages or stacks in Messages
Safari
Tab Groups help you save and organise 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 web page on your screen
Focus
Focus lets you automatically filter out notifications based on what you're doing
Options to customise a Focus for activities such as 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 revisit them easily later on
Tags help you quickly categorise your notes by topic and make them easy to find
Mentions enable you to notify others of important updates in shared notes
Activity view shows 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 find out more 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 Centre for apps that are accessing your mic
iCloud+
Hide My Email creates unique, random email addresses that forward to your inbox
iCloud Private Relay (beta) helps prevent companies from creating a detailed profile of your browsing activity in Safari
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