MacOS 12 Monterey

The most recent edition of macOS is macOS 12 Monterey, which was made available on Monday, October 25. It was first introduced in June 2021 at WWDC. Although macOS Monterey is a smaller update than macOS Big Sur, it nevertheless has a number of noteworthy new features that enhance the Mac experience.

One of the greatest enhancements is probably Universal Control, which enables content transfer between Macs and the iPad using a single mouse, trackpad, and keyboard. In addition, the Mac may be used as a speaker for multiroom audio and there is a new AirPlay to Mac option for streaming movies, games, photographs, and other content from the iPhone or iPad to the Mac.

With Tab Groups, you may group your open tabs together in Safari to make it simple to switch between jobs without losing your open tabs, as well as an optional new tab bar style that integrates better into the background. Tab Groups may be shared and synced between all of your devices.

FaceTime’s spatial audio capabilities and Voice Isolation cancel away background noise, making it appear as though sounds are emanating from the person’s place on the screen. For situations where several callers are present in the same space, there is also a Wide Spectrum sound mode. Like in iPhone shots, Portrait Mode blurs the scene behind you.

Users may now use FaceTime to view movies and TV episodes, listen to music, and share their screen with friends and family while utilising the new SharePlay function. Support for third-party apps is now provided. Shared With You in Messages records the material that others send you and stores it in your Photos, Safari, Podcasts, News, and Apple TV.

With the introduction of macOS Monterey, the Shortcuts app for iOS on the Mac will be expanded to include all of your iPhone shortcuts as well as additional features. Apple has created a library of pre-made shortcut possibilities, and the Shortcuts software is embedded into macOS to launch shortcuts from the menu bar, Finder, Spotlight, Siri, and other places.

With settings for Work, Personal Life, and more, as well as adjustable features, Focus, which is also available for iOS, is intended to help you remain on target. Focus essentially removes messages that are irrelevant to what you are doing right now and notifies others that you are unavailable. Focus that is set on one device syncs with all of others.

The Quick Note feature in the Notes app allows users to take notes while using any app or browsing any website, and it also accepts connections from other apps. With mentions, an Activity View with edit history, and tags for organising, Notes now includes additional collaboration capabilities. You may explore many areas on Earth with the interactive globe in the Maps app.

Live Text allows Macs to recognise text in images, which may then be copied and pasted or otherwise interacted with much like typed text. These two capabilities are accessible across macOS and employ machine learning to deliver information on animals, works of art, places, flora, and more in photographs.

In order to protect your surfing history and IP address from prying eyes, Apple updated its premium iCloud plans to iCloud+ and included iCloud Private Relay. Additionally, iCloud+ has extended HomeKit Secure Video functionality as well as the Hide My Email feature, which allows you to keep your email address hidden.

Other significant new privacy features include the Mac recording indication, which now lets you know whether a Mac software is utilising the microphone, and Mail Privacy Protection, which stops emails from employing tracking pixels.

The third-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max support spatial audio on M1 Macs, and additional accessibility features are available. It should be noted that a number of macOS Monterey features, like Live Text, Portrait Mode for FaceTime, thorough Maps, on-device keyboard dictation, and limitless keyboard dictation, are only available on M1 Macs.

On Monday, October 25, 2021, macOS Monterey was released to the general public after more than four months of development work with developers and beta testers from the general public.

Current Version

The most recent version of macOS Monterey is 12.5.1, which included security upgrades and was made available to the general public on August 17th. Support for the M2 chip, the ability to resume, pause, rewind, and fast-forward a live sporting event, and a fix for Safari’s tab-reverting problem are all included in the macOS 12.5 update.

MacOS 12.4 was a prior version that brought controls for downloading podcast episodes, supported updated firmware for the Studio Display to enhance camera quality, and moved Universal Control out of beta.

New emojis were introduced to macOS 12.3, Python 2 was deleted, password saving was improved, Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking for M1 Macs was included, and Universal Control support was added. Along with a number of other faults and security problems, the update also appears to solve a Bluetooth-related power depletion issue on MacBooks while in Sleep Mode.

SharePlay, a function that has previously arrived on iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS, as well as Hide My Email, were also introduced in a previous release, macOS Monterey 12.1. macOS Monterey 12.1 won’t have Universal Control. The update fixes a Safari problem that may have exposed browsing history.

The update also fixed a variety of bugs, including the trackpad’s lack of responsiveness, menu bar icons that were obscured, crashes caused by HDR YouTube videos, charging the MacBook Pro while it was off, and more.

The fifth open beta version of macOS Monterey 12.5 was released by Apple before the release candidate version. Support for Macs with the M2 chip is now included by the update.

New App Features

FaceTime and SharePlay

SharePlay, a new feature that enables you to call up friends and family and then watch TV or movies together, listen to music together, or screen share directly inside the FaceTime app, is changing the way FaceTime works across iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS 12 and is available for all three of these platforms.

The volume will automatically change so you can chat and watch at the same time if you start up a movie or TV show while on a FaceTime conversation. Participants will have synchronised playback and controls. Your whole buddy group may use synchronised playback controls to add more music to a shared queue while simultaneously listening to Apple Music tunes.

With screen sharing features, you may collaborate with coworkers, have a game night with pals, or organise a group vacation by sharing a complete screen or just an app.

In macOS Monterey, you can even FaceTime with people who don’t have iPhones. To invite someone to a FaceTime call from the Chrome or Edge browsers, just generate a link to the call (which is also a new feature) and share it with them.

FaceTime enables spatial audio, a technology that makes the voices of individuals seem like they are coming from the direction in which each person is positioned on your Mac’s screen, improving all SharePlay experiences.

In contrast to Wide Spectrum, which does not filter out ambient sound and may be used to highlight all noises in a group conversation, the new Voice Isolation microphone mode reduces background noise and concentrates on your voice.

FaceTiming with numerous people is now simpler thanks to the new Grid View, which displays everyone on the conversation in identically sized tiles, and there is a Portrait mode function for Macs with an M1 processor that blurs the background similarly to Portrait mode on iPhone.

With the introduction of SharePlay, a feature that enables you to ring up friends and family and then watch TV or movies together, listen to music together, or screen share straight inside the FaceTime app, Apple is revamping FaceTime throughout iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS 12.

When you start watching a movie or a TV show while on a FaceTime chat, the volume automatically adjusts so you can talk and watch at the same time. Participants share synchronised playback and controls. While using FaceTime on your Mac with multi-device compatibility, you can view videos on your Apple TV.

Your entire group of friends may use synchronised playback controls to add more songs to a shared queue while listening to Apple Music tracks together.

With screen sharing features, you may collaborate with coworkers, have a game night with pals, or organise a group vacation by sharing a complete screen or just an app.

FaceTiming withnumerous people is now simpler thanks to the new Grid View, which displays everyone on the conversation in identically sized tiles, and there is a Portrait mode function for Macs with an M1 processor that blurs the background similarly to Portrait mode on iPhone.

Messages – Shared with You

A new “Shared with You” feature for the Messages app moves items you’ve received there into the appropriate app. So, for instance, if a user shares a song from Apple Music, that song will appear in the For You section of Apple Music. When a link is shared, it appears in the “Shared with You” area of the Safari home page.

All of the Shared with You sections in these applications also include easy connections back to Messages so you may reply to the person who first contributed the information when you get around to seeing it. Shared with You applies to content that includes Photos, Safari, Apple News, Apple Podcasts, and the Apple TV app. Even in the Messages app, you may save your favourite material to ensure that you see it later.

A few small design adjustments have been made to Messages in addition to Shared with You. Instead of a collection of separate photographs, if you email someone several photos in a sequence, they now display as a little image stack or collage that you can flick through.

Shortcuts App

You can access all of your favourite Shortcuts using the Shortcuts app, which was initially offered on the iPhone and iPad, now that it is accessible on the Mac. You may create your own custom shortcuts, which Apple has created and made available in the Gallery.

Your Automator app processes may be turned into shortcuts, and Shortcuts has been upgraded with Next Action Suggestions to make it simpler to build new shortcuts. Shell script compatibility and AppleScript integration are available to Pro users.

Since shortcuts are fully integrated into macOS Monterey, they can be used on both a Mac and an iPhone. They may be launched from the Dock, menu bar, Finder, Spotlight, or by using Siri.

Safari – Tab Groups

In order to preserve groups of tabs together and subsequently revisit them, Apple has added tab groups to Safari. Tab groups enable you to save everything and open it again at a later time. For instance, if you’re planning a vacation, you might have several tabs open that you want to keep open and revisit later without having the tabs take up your entire Safari tab bar.

You may access tab groups by clicking the new down arrow next to the bookmarks and reading list interface. Any Apple device running iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or macOS Monterey may access and share tab groups.

The sidebar has been modified to combine tab groups, bookmarks, Reading List, and Shared with You links into one convenient location to handle the inclusion of tab groups.

A small tab view is now a deliberately selectable feature in Safari. When enabled, each tab you open doubles as a Smart Search field to make finding new material simpler. Additionally, tabs have a less intrusive floating style.

In macOS Monterey, Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention has been upgraded to stop trackers from using your IP address to create a profile of you, and Safari will now automatically upgrade websites that support HTTPS from the less secure HTTP.

Maps

Apple has updated the Maps app once more, adding even more data and improving the way highways, neighbourhoods, trees, and buildings are highlighted in some locations. Only large cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and London can offer a more in-depth city experience.

The Golden Gate Bridge and other 3D sites are visible in the new 3D view, which now includes an interactive globe for global exploration. Apple has improved details for mountains, deserts, forests, seas, and more throughout the world.

Directions for public transportation now display local stations and departure times, and you may save your preferred routes. A new driving map shows traffic, accidents, and other information. It also shows more information on road features including turn lanes, medians, crosswalks, and bus and bike lanes.

In addition to enhancing search, Apple has updated place cards for mapping locations with additional business-specific information, user profiles for setting management, and easier access to curated Guides.

Notes – Quick Note

A new Quick Note feature has been added to the Notes app in macOS Monterey to make it easier to take notes wherever you are. A little note icon will appear if you position your cursor in the display’s very bottom right corner.

It may be clicked to launch a Quick Note where you can jot down ideas, add links, store pictures, and more. Quick Notes are kept in a special area of the Notes app, and may be viewed across all devices.

Apple is also strengthening collaboration capabilities in Notes with the ability to make Mentions and view what’s happening through the Activity View, plus there are additional ways to organise and search for notes with tags and the

Photos

The Memories feature in the Photos app has been revamped with new animations and transition styles, new appearance and colour options, and connection with Apple Music to allow users to customise music selections.

International holidays, memories centred on children, trends through time, and enhanced pet memories are among the new memory categories that have been added, and the interface has been modified to make it simpler to navigate between slideshows.

A more extensive information pane, the ability to import photos from another Photos library, and enhanced persons recognition are all included. In addition to an option to “Feature Less,” which minimises the appearance of a date, location, holiday, or person in Featured Photos, the Photos widget, and Memories, the Photos app has a feature that makes it simpler to rectify incorrectly recognised persons.

Universal Control

One of the most beneficial new features in macOS Monterey is Universal Control. It enables the use of a single Mac’s controls on a number of iPads or Macs. So, for instance, if you own a MacBook Pro and an iPad, you may use the keyboard, trackpad, and mouse of your Mac to operate the iPad.

It’s simple to drag and drop material from one Mac to another, and moving your pointer from one display to another is accomplished by moving it from the Mac to the iPad (or another Mac). For those with multi-Apple device setups, Universal Control will be a lifesaver.

When devices are placed close to one another, the function operates automatically without any configuration required.

AirPlay

You may now AirPlay material to the Mac from an iPhone, iPad, or even another Mac to transfer files between Macs. Since two Macs are supported, users may utilise one Mac as an external display, which was previously available with Target Display Mode, by extending or mirroring the display of an Apple device to a Mac.

Using a USB-C connector, AirPlay to Mac may be connected wired or wirelessly. The wired connection is advantageous for reducing any potential delay. Additionally, you can AirPlay Apple Fitness+ exercises to the Mac and utilise your Mac as a speaker for multiroom audio when coupled with other AirPlay 2 spea The 2018 or later MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, the 2019 or later iMac or Mac Pro, the iMac Pro, and the 2020 or later Mac mini all support AirPlay to Mac.kers.

Focus

Focus, a more specialised Do Not Disturb mode, was introduced by Apple in macOS Monterey and iOS 15 respectively. It’s designed to enable you focus on what you’re doing at the current time while shutting out unneeded distractions.

To aid in uninterrupted concentration, you can, for instance, set a “Work” focus mode that reduces notifications from apps that are not related to your line of work. For situations like sleep and driving, Apple provides built-in Focus modes, and you can make your own Focus modes. Focus lets you pick which applications and individuals are permitted to contact you at various times.

When you activate Focus on one device, it instantly syncs to all of your devices. If someone attempts to contact you while you’re in Focus mode, they’ll be informed that your notifications are quiet (though it’s still possible to get through in an emergency).

To let others know that you’re in Focus mode while receiving crucial alerts, third-party apps can also utilise the Focus API.

Notification Updates

Notifications have been revamped with larger contact images for individuals and larger app icons to enable Focus mode. Any app’s alerts can be muted for the ensuing hour or the following day, and if a message thread is open and you aren’t participating, Apple will advise muting it.

Time-sensitive alerts will be sent right away, even in Focus mode or with the new notification summary activated.

Live Text

Live Text is a function that allows you to choose, copy, and paste text that is recognised in photographs. When you photograph a receipt, the text is recognised by macOS Monterey and converted into something that can be copied and pasted into another programme.

It supports URLs, phone numbers, addresses, and more, and it works for both typed and handwritten data. For instance, you may touch on a scribbled phone number to get a call or SMS interface. No personal information leaves your Mac because all text detection for this function is done on-device.

Visual Lookup

A new Visual Look Up function is available that can recognise artwork, dog breeds, flora, locations, and more. For photos you’ve taken, you can use this in the Photos app, but it also functions online and in other apps. Your Mac will attempt to identify a photo if you simply right-click on it and select the “Look Up” option.

Translate

In macOS Monterey, iOS 15, and iPadOS 15, the Translate function from Safari is accessible system-wide. To access the Translate option, just right-click on a text selection and pick a language.

Live Text and system-wide translation work together to translate text in images. knowing how to make an effort to identify it.

iPhone and iPad App Improvements

Apps for the iPhone and iPad are available for download and use on M1 Macs running macOS Monterey. With the update, Apple included numerous new capabilities while also enhancing the functioning of the iPhone and iPad apps.

Apple Pay – The Apple Pay feature is operational and allows you to make Apple Pay purchases if you download an iPhone or iPad app to an M1 Mac.
Video Playback – HDR playback is now supported, and videos may now be automatically played in full screen without the use of a separate window. Programs on the iPad and iPhone also include video controls that are similar to those in common Mac apps.
Touch Alternatives – Touch Alternatives is a feature that enables you to map touch gestures to Mac controls. It also includes additional options for concealing the cursor and

Privacy Updates

With every major iOS and macOS release, Apple improves privacy, and Monterey is no exception. There are new features for Mail, and iCloud has been upgraded with additional functionality.

Mail Privacy Protection

Your IP address is concealed by Mail Privacy Protection, making it impossible for email senders to connect it to your online activity or use it to pinpoint your location. Additionally, it disables invisible tracking pixels so that senders cannot determine when you have opened an email or build a profile of you based on your email habits and location data.

Recording Indicator

Applications that have access to your microphone will be listed in Control Center, and a screen indication will appear anytime an application is really utilising it.

iCloud+ with Private Relay

Any of Apple’s paid iCloud plans, starting at $0.99 per month, are now known as “iCloud+” (U.S. pricing). iCloud+ introduces a number of privacy-oriented features, such as iCloud Private Relay.

The crucial new feature known as iCloud Private Relay secures and encrypts all of your Safari surfing. You may connect to any network, and all outgoing internet traffic is routed via two different internet relays so that no one can track your IP address, where you are located, or what websites you visit.

Hide My Email

You may create customised, random email addresses that forward to your personal inbox using the Hide My Email option in iCloud+ so you don’t have to provide your real email address when completing online forms or subscribing to newsletters.

Hide Your temporary email addresses may be erased at any moment, and My Email is integrated into Mail and Safari.

Additionally, you may add a custom domain name to your iCloud Mail address, and your family members can use the same domain with their iCloud Mail accounts.

Passwords Improvements

There is a built-in two-factor authentication function so you can produce two-factor verification codes right on your Mac without having to use a third-party programme, and passwords can be looked up and maintained in the Passwords area of System Preferences.

Additionally, Passwords in System Preferences or Safari allows you to import and export passwords from various password managers.

Child Safety Features

New kid safety measures that will be added to Apple’s platforms with future software upgrades have been previewed. The functionalities, according to the business, would first only be offered in the United States before eventually being available in other countries.

Communication Safety

A new Communication Safety feature will be added to the Messages app on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac to alert kids and their parents when receiving or sharing sexually inappropriate photographs. According to Apple, the Messages app will assess picture attachments using on-device machine learning, and if a photo is found to be sexually explicit, it will be immediately blurred and the kid will be alerted.

A youngster who tries to see a photo that has been marked as sensitive in the Messages app will be warned that the image could show private body parts and that it might be upsetting. Depending on the kid’s age, parents will also have the option of being notified if their child views the sensitive image or decides to transmit a sexually explicit image to a different contact after being cautioned.

According to Apple, upgrades to iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey will include the new Communication Safety feature for accounts set up as families in iCloud. End-to-end encryption will continue to safeguard iMessage chats, rendering them impenetrable to Apple.

Scanning Photos for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a nonprofit organisation that works with American law enforcement agencies, will be informed of any photos that are known to contain Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) thanks to the new function.

According to Apple, their technique for identifying known CSAM is created with customer privacy in mind. Apple stated that the technology will do on-device matching against a database of known CSAM picture hashes given by the NCMEC and other child safety groups, as opposed to scanning photographs in the cloud. According to Apple, this information will be further altered into an unintelligible collection of hashes that is safely kept on consumers’ devices.

An on-device matching process will be carried out for an image against the unreadable set of known CSAM hashes before the image is saved in iCloud Photos. The gadget generates a cryptographic safety voucher if there is a match. Along with the image, this voucher is uploaded to iCloud Photos, and once a certain number of matches have been made, Apple is able to understand the contents of the vouchers for CSAM matches.

In the event that a match is found manually, Apple disables the user’s iCloud account, confirms the match, and sends a report to NCMEC. Apple hasn’t specified its exact cutoff point, but it guarantees a “extremely high level of accuracy” that accounts aren’t flagged inadvertently.

According to Apple, the hashing technology, called NeuralHash, analyses an image and turns it into a distinctive number unique to that image. The system’s underlying technology is rather sophisticated, and Apple has issued a technical overview with further information.

Expanded CSAM Guidance in Siri and Search

To help kids and parents stay safe online and obtain assistance in dangerous circumstances, Apple will increase the guidance in Siri and Spotlight Search across all devices. Users who ask Siri, for instance, how they can report child sexual abuse or exploitation will be sent to sites that explain where and how to make a complaint.

An update to iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and macOS Monterey will include these improvements to Siri and Search.

AirPods Updates

You can use dynamic head tracking and spatial audio with the third-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max when they are connected to an Apple silicon Mac running macOS Monterey.

Another tool called “Spatialize Stereo” turns any non-Dolby stereo mix into a simulated spatial audio environment. Although AirPods Pro or AirPods Max are required to utilise it, this function replicates sound coming at you from various directions in a virtual world and works with almost any material.

Other New Features

Finder – Finder offers a pie chart progress window when copying files, and the “go to folder” has been improved with a new look and autocomplete engine. There’s also now an iCloud collaboration folder that houses shared documents.
Low Power Mode – You can extend your MacBook’s battery life with Low Power Mode, which cuts down on processing power and better manages energy-intensive apps.
Erase All Contents and Settings – There’s a new option to erase all user data and user-installed apps from the system without having to reinstall macOS.
Memoji – There are new Memoji outfit choices, eye color options, stickers, and there’s an option to choose a Memoji for the Mac login screen.
Books App – The Books app has been redesigned and features like Reading Goals, Want to Read, and Reading Now have been brought to the Mac, plus search is more intuitive.
Automatic Window Resizing – Windows automatically resize when moved from a Mac’s built-in display to a secondary display, including an external monitor, another Mac, or an iPad using Sidecar.
Apple ID – You can set an Account Recovery Contact for your Apple ID in case you forget your password, and there’s a Digital Legacy person so you can set someone as a Legacy Contact that can access your account when you die.
Apple Card – Advanced Fraud Protection lets Apple Card users change their security code frequently to make Card Number transactions more secure.
Accessibility – VoiceOver for Markup descriptions and PDF signatures has been added, and there are new Memoji options with oxygen tubes, cochlear implants, and a soft helmet. Mouse pointers can also be customized, and improvements to Full Keyboard Access let a Mac be controlled entirely with a keyboard.
Hello Screen Saver and Background – macOS Monterey includes a “Hello” desktop picture and screen saver.
Find My – The Find My app features live locations for family and friends, and there’s a Find My widget. AirPods Pro and AirPods Max are also now compatible with the Find My network so they can be located even outside of Bluetooth range.
Home – HomeKit Secure Video can now let you know when a package has been delivered.
Reminders – Reminders includes support for tags and custom smart lists, plus there’s an option to delete completed reminders.
Screen Time – Downtime on demand can be activated to allow only phone calls and apps that you choose. When activated, Downtime sends a five minute reminder and then stays on until the end of the day.
Siri – Siri in macOS Monterey is better at maintaining context between requests, so you can refer to what you just asked and Siri can understand.
Tips – Apple brought a Tips feature to macOS Monterey to help people learn new Mac features.
Window updates – You can swap out apps in Split View or change a Split View window to a full screen window. There’s also an option to enable a full-screen menu bar so you can see the app menu while in full screen mode.
Mail App Extensions – The Mail app in macOS Monterey supports extensions that can do things like block content, perform message and composing actions, and improve security.
Improved Display Support – Newer Macs running Monterey will support Adaptive-Sync external displays with variable refresh rates. Adaptive-Sync is a variable refresh rate display technology used for AMD FreeSync, Nvidia G-Sync, and other similar display features.

Features Limited to Apple Silicon Macs

There are multiple macOS Monterey features that are unavailable on Intel-based Macs and work only on Macs that are equipped with an Apple silicon chip.

Portrait Mode blurred backgrounds in FaceTime videos
Live Text for copying and pasting, looking up, or translating text within photos
An interactive 3D globe of Earth in the Maps app
More detailed maps in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and London in the Maps app
Text-to-speech in more languages, including Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, and Finnish
On-device keyboard dictation that performs all processing completely offline
Unlimited keyboard dictation (previously limited to 60 seconds)

Compatibility

macOS Monterey is compatible with many of the Macs that were able to run macOS Big Sur, but it drops support for some older MacBook Air and iMac models from 2013 and 2014.

iMac – Late 2015 and later
iMac Pro – 2017 and later
MacBook Air – Early 2015 and later
MacBook Pro – Early 2015 and later
Mac Pro – Late 2013 and later
Mac mini – Late 2014 and later
MacBook – Early 2016 and later

These are the Macs that were compatible with the prior macOS Big Sur update:

2015 and later MacBook
2013 and later MacBook Air
Late 2013 and later MacBook Pro
2014 and later iMac
2017 and later iMac Pro
2014 and later Mac mini
2013 and later Mac Pro

Release Date

macOS Monterey became available to all users with compatible machines on Monday, October 25, 2021.