Monterey, 2021's new upgrade
This is part of a series of tips from Mac OS 10.9, 10.10, 10.11 El Capitan,10.12 Sierra, 10.13 High Sierra, 10.14 Mojave, 10.15 Catalina, 11.0 Big Sur 12.0 Monterey, 13.0 Ventura 14.0 Sonoma, and 15.0 Sequoia client release.
Questions regarding the Server release in Apple menu -> About This Mac, need to go to the macOS Server - Apple Community forum.
October 24, 2022 Apple released Ventura. See the link above for more details.
Aprilt 10, 2023 Apple released 12.6.5, the latest update for Monterey via Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Software Update and Apple menu -> Software Update. This includes Safari 16.4.1.
October 25, 2021, Apple released Monterey. Available only through the App Store, it brings a series of enhancements documented on Apple's macOS Monterey page.
Most important, backup your data before installing.
Before upgrading, don't do so, in order to optimize your speed. Frequently an optimizer will slow you down, and it won't stop from slowing you down by upgrading your system. Your first step is to make sure your system is running optimally before upgrading. Upgrades are there for feature enhancements and new features. If you have already been trying optimizers, read what I have to say about removing them:
Amended comments to MacKeeper tip - Apple Community
Apple's 12.7.1 release on October 25, 2023 addresses the latest security issues for Mac OS. Be sure to use Apple menu -> About This Mac -> Software Update to update from 12.0.1 to 12.7.1.
The same site has available updates for 11.0 and 10.15 to the latest security patches for those individual operating systems without the feature enhancements provided by 12.x.
All security updates and point release updates are released through Apple menu -> About This Mac -> Software Update and the system preferences for it. Apple security releases - Apple Support discusses the security releases.
12.7.6 was the last Securitty release July 29, 2024 for Monterey. Look at the top of this tip to see if you can get Ventura or later on your Mac and if it is necessary to run any applications.
Like the full version release, a clone backup is essential if you want to roll back the clock to ensure any incompatibilities aren't software related. Monterey is no longer being regularly updated, however the updates are still available for those who receive a machine that hasn't been updated.
Next check for compatibility reports on RoaringApps. This is especially important if coming from Mojave or earlier Mac OS releases as those versions were still compatible with 32 bit applications and drivers.
The actual operating system is 12.1 GB according to Apple, and 12.33 according to Wikipedia. Regardless of the amount, it is wise to assume at least 15% of your hard disk needs to be free after the install is complete. Considering Big Sur was a similar amount, the 35 GB contiguous space on the hard drive will also be helpful. Those with 128 GB of total hard disk capacity should seriously consider using two external drives for storage minimum, one to backup the other, and just bare OS on the internal drive.
Here are the minimum hardware requirements (Machine ID, the x,y is in the Apple menu -> About This Mac -> System Report or Profiler under Hardware)
- iMac: late 2015 or later 16,1 (shipped with Mac OS X 10.11).
- iMac Pro all.
- MacBook Air: early 2015 and later 7,1 (shipped with Mac OS X 10.10)
- MacBook Pro: early 2015 and later 12,1 (shipped with Mac OS X 10.10)
- Mac Pro: late 2013 9,1 (shipped with Mac OS X 10.9.1)
- Mac mini: late 2014 7,1 (shipped with Mac OS X 10.10)
- MacBook: early 2016 and later 9,1 (shipped with Mac OS X 10.11)
- Mac Studio Mac13,x 2022 (shipped with Monterey)
For each of the Mac models, if it is older than September 25, 2017, indicative by the fact that Apple menu -> About This Mac says mid or early 2017 or older, the internet restore operating system has to be installed on HFS Extended Journalled using Disk Utility. Disk Utility is used to wipe the top most partition under View menu -> Show All Devices to ensure all older installs are removed.
Internet Restore is command-option-shift-R at startup with a connection to ethernet or secure Wi-Fi. It is also the version of restore that loads if your Mac no longer has its recovery partition readable or it was erased.
Apple has released this document for setting up printers on Monterey:
Add a printer to your printer list so you can use it on Mac - Apple Support
Additionally these printer vendors have added links:
Airprint - May 8, 2023 support for wireless printer configurations
Canon - No individual page for Monterey. Just support information being added by device.
Epson - link to help page, individual drivers will be by device
HP - by model
Lexmark - Compatibility by operating system link.
Additional feedback is on this thread for Lexmark MX517.
Samsung -HP discussion indicates PCL 6 drivers are compatible with at least some Samsung printers.
-a user tip on some Samsung drivers discusses how to extract from the Samsung installer package.
M1 printing issues - third party reference for dealing with older printers on M1 computers.
12.1 is the current release via Apple menu -> About This Mac -> Software Update, and will install automatically. A few Macs may preship with 12.0 with no 12.0.1 naming in that area. So update when you have the backup ready to ensure you are up to date.
For those needing RAW photo support, Apple's website discusses the availability under Monterey on this link.
More info will be added as it becomes available.
For people needing to downgrade or use an intermediate upgrade to update to a newer Mac OS, the links for older installers are here:
How to download macOS - Apple Support
And the method of downgrading is on this tip.
