A new update to macOS Monterey 12.4 has been rolled out by Apple and it contains several changes for Mac users.
I’m pleased to announce that macOS Monterey 12.4 is a milestone release, which means that it’s bigger than the previous version (macOS Monterey 12.3.1). Not only that, but it also delivers some important enhancements, along with several security fixes, that should please many.
As a result, in this article, we will be taking you step by step through everything you need to know about the macOS Monterey 12.4 update and its coming to Mac.
Our objective with this guide is to explain the performance of the macOS Monterey 12.4 update, the current list of problems that are present in macOS Monterey 12.4, the best places to find feedback about macOS Monterey 12.4, and more.
We’ll start by discussing our impressions of the performance of the macOS Monterey 12.4 update.
Review of Mac’s Monterey 12.4 Update
There is still a large amount of data to download whether you are running macOS Monterey 12.3.1 or not.
Depending on the model of your Mac and the version of macOS you’re running, the size of a macOS Monterey 12.4 download will vary. You might find that your download might be pretty substantial if you’re currently running an older version of macOS.
Macs running Monterey 12.3.1 should be able to complete the installation in less than 15 minutes if they are running macOS Monterey 12.3.1. A MacBook Pro (2017) took around 10 minutes to complete the installation.
Take a look at our guide to learn more about the macOS Monterey 12.4 download and installation.
Our group has been using the macOS Monterey 12.4 update on a MacBook Pro (2017) for a few days and these are the lessons we have learned so far about its performance:
Connectivity
- The battery life is stable.
- It has fast and reliable Wi-Fi connectivity.
- There is no issue with Bluetooth.
App Performance
- Many third-party applications are currently functioning normally, including Twitter, Slack, Asana, Gmail, Chrome, and Spotify.
- Some first-party apps are stable, such as Safari and Podcasts.
Speed
- Compared to macOS Monterey 12.3.1, macOS Monterey 12.4 is also as fast.
If you are experiencing difficulties with macOS Monterey 12.3.1, or an older version of macOS, then you may want to install macOS Monterey 12.4 on your Mac right now.
We have listed a few reasons that you should and should not install the Monterey 12.4 update for macOS if you need help making your decision.
Monterey 12.4 problems
It appears that some Mac users are experiencing problems with the Monterey 12.4 update for macOS.
In addition, we have received reports from users of problems with the installation process, abnormal battery drains, other issues with first/third-party applications, Wi-Fi issues, Bluetooth connectivity issues, Touch ID problems, and many others.
Here are a few resources that may be helpful to you if you encounter performance problems or bugs after installing macOS Monterey 12.4 on your Mac.
It is a good idea for you to look through Before you contact Apple customer support, consider trying some of the fixes for the most common Monterey problems on macOS. Moreover, we have released a walkthrough for macOS Monterey users which will guide you in the process of fixing the battery life problems.
When you are unable to find the information you need in our guides, you can also go to Apple’s discussion forums. It is important to mention, however, that if the Apple Support representative you spoke with was not able to assist you, contacting Apple’s customer support via the company’s website might be the best thing you can do.
If you are still unable to resolve your issue(s), you may need to set up an appointment at your local Apple Store for one of their Genius developers to assist you.
The Monterey 12.4 Update: What’s New in Monterey 12.4
With the upcoming macOS Monterey 12.4, you will get an array of enhancements and fixes that are typical of Apple’s milestone updates (x.x).
The Monterey 12.4 release of macOS is considerably smaller than your regular milestone release of macOS, but it still features a great mix of changes for Mac users.
Below you’ll find the full changelog for Monterey 12.4.
Enhancements
- The new feature of Apple Podcasts allows you to limit the number of episodes stored on your Mac and to automatically delete older episodes after a specified period.
- Studio Display Firmware Update 15.5, available as a separate update, provides tweaks that improve the camera’s performance, such as noise reduction, improved contrast, and improved framing
In addition, it must be noted that Apple has removed the beta label from the Universal Control feature. The Mac OS Monterey 12.3 released earlier this year added Universal Control.
There are also over 50 new security updates brought to Mac OS X by Monterey 12.4. To learn more about those changes, Apple has made an extensive security page available on its website.
It is possible to downgrade from macOS Monterey 12.4 to 12.1
There may be times when you require a downgrade of your Mac’s software back to an older version if you run into problems on macOS Monterey 12.4.
If you decide you need to go back to older the aware, you can also do this quite easily if you are prepared. There is no deadline for this to expire, so if you choose to do so, you have no worries. Our guide to downgrading will explain the process to you so you can make the move and understand how it works.
What comes next?
A new version of macOS Monterey is set to be released this year, and macOS Monterey 12.5 is currently in beta testing ahead of its public release later this year.
Neither Apple nor Monterey have confirmed a release date for macOS Monterey 12.5 and we expect the software to remain in beta for several more weeks.
Despite being a milestone release, Monterey 12.5 will contain a mixture of both new features as well as security patches and bug fixes for existing issues.
You might want to try downloading the macOS Monterey 12.5 beta onto your Mac right now, if you are experiencing serious problems, or if you just want to test out new software.
You can learn more about macOS Monterey 12.5 and the beta by checking out our walkthrough. Please refer to our guide if you would like to learn more about the upcoming macOS Monterey 12.5 release date.
In addition, Apple is building its next-generation macOS 13 operating system, and they are almost certain to demonstrate the software at WWDC 2022, which is scheduled to take place in June. The keynote address of Apple is scheduled to take place on June 6th.
Apple is expected to launch a macOS 13 beta next month, so if you’d like to upgrade your Mac to the latest macOS software, you’ll soon be able to do so.