The macOS Monterey 12.2 release date is probably weeks away, but some Mac users might want to start preparing for the software’s arrival.
macOS Monterey 12.1’s only been out for a short time, but Apple’s already confirmed the next major upgrade for the Mac’s latest operating system.
macOS Monterey 12.2 is a milestone update which means it will bring a mix of new features and under-the-hood improvements to Mac users around the world.
The macOS Monterey 12.2 beta is available to developers and those enrolled in the company’s public Beta Software Program. The Beta Software Program is free to anyone with a compatible device and an Apple ID. Most people should install the public macOS Monterey 12.2 beta.
If you want to try all of macOS Monterey 12.2’s new features and enhancements, but don’t want to wait for the official release date, you might want to give the beta a spin on you Mac.
macOS Monterey 12.2 Release Date
Apple hasn’t confirmed the macOS Monterey 12.2 release date and don’t expect an imminent release. It will likely stay in testing until 2022.
At this point we expect the macOS Monterey 12.2 release date to land sometime in January or February of next year.
With the macOS Monterey 12.2 release date on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about its arrival. In this guide we’ll outline some tips and tricks that will come in handy as we close in on the next major macOS Monterey update for Mac.
With the macOS Monterey 12.2 release date on the horizon, some Mac users might want to start doing some prep work.
macOS Monterey 12.2 will almost certainly require a sizable chunk of space on your Mac’s internal storage. New macOS milestone upgrades typically do.
If you’re getting low on storage, use this time to do some cleanup. Go into your Mac’s storage and delete files you no longer need. This will help make room for macOS Monterey. It could also improve your Mac’s performance.
You should also start backing up the data you store on your Mac. Data loss issues are rare, but there’s always a chance something goes wrong during the transition from your current version of macOS to macOS Monterey 12.2.
The software may also log you out of some of your apps and services. We recommend having your Apple ID, iCloud information, third-party app login info handy just in case it does.
Get Familiar with macOS Monterey 12.2 and Older Updates
If you don’t plan to install the beta, make sure you get familiar with the changes coming with macOS Monterey 12.2. If you do this ahead of time, you won’t get caught off-guard.
If you’re still hanging around on an older version of macOS and you plan to upgrade to macOS Monterey in the near future, make sure you get familiar with the latest versions. You’ll get those changes when you upgrade.
Most People Should Avoid the macOS Monterey 12.2 Beta
Installing the macOS Monterey 12.2 beta on your Mac right now might be tempting, but most people should avoid the beta and wait for the official release.
The macOS Monterey 12.2 beta will help Apple tackle bugs and performance issues before they become major headaches for millions of Mac users. It’s also fun to try out new features before they’re released to the general public. That said, beta software can be extremely problematic.
The macOS Monterey beta 12.2 is causing all sorts of problems for testers and you could run into some of these very same issues if you install it on your Mac.
If you rely on your Mac to get through a day of school or work, you’ll probably want to stay put on whatever version of macOS you’re currently running.
Monitor Feedback from the macOS Monterey 12.2 Beta
If you skip the macOS Monterey 12.2 beta, and again most people should, make sure you monitor feedback from beta testers as we push toward the software’s official release.
Monitoring feedback will alert you to potential problems and it will also alert you to potential benefits. More importantly, it might help you decide if you want to install macOS Monterey 12.2 right away or wait.
We’ve seen macOS Monterey 12.2 feedback emerge on sites like YouTube, MacRumors forums, and Twitter. Check those sites if you’re curious about the software’s performance.
macOS Monterey 12.2 Release Time
If you’ve owned a Mac or any other Apple device for awhile you already know this, but for those of you who are new Apple’s ecosystem, here’s your PSA.
Apple almost always rolls software updates out around 10AM Pacific. That will likely be the case for the final version of macOS Monterey 12.2.
Here’s what that looks like for other time zones in the United States:
Eastern – 1 PM
Central – 12 PM
Mountain – 11AM
Keep this in mind if you plan to install the final version of macOS Monterey 12.2 right away.
macOS Monterey 12.2 Download Size
We don’t know how big the macOS Monterey 12.2 download will be, but again, you can expect it to require quite a bit of free space on your Mac.
You can expect long download times, especially in the moments after Apple pushes the update live, but the installation process will probably take longer.
We’ll let you know when we learn more.
Prepare for macOS Monterey 12.2 Problems
macOS Monterey 12.2 has gone through an extensive beta process, but the final version won’t be perfect. Far from it.
Common macOS problems include abnormal battery drain, Bluetooth issues, Wi-Fi problems, app instability, UI lag, crashes, and Exchange issues.
These problems appear after every single macOS release and there’s a good chance we’ll see them emerge in the minutes, hours, days, and weeks after the macOS Monterey 12.2 release date.
It’ll be difficult to predict what kind of performance you’ll get once you move your Mac to macOS Monterey 12.2 so you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared to tackle issues you encounter on day one and beyond.
We’ve released a list of fixes for common macOS Monterey problems. If you don’t consider yourself a macOS expert, you’ll want to bookmark those fixes.
You’ll also want to bookmark or follow Apple Support on Twitter and bookmark the Apple Support page on the company’s website.
You should also be familiar with Apple’s Discussion forums.
Learn How to Downgrade
If you run into into issues with macOS Monterey 12.2 you will be able to downgrade back to an older version of macOS.
If you aren’t familiar with the macOS downgrade process, now is a great time to get familiar with it.
Keep Your Apps Updated
If you want the best experience on macOS Monterey 12.2, make sure you keep your apps updated before, and after, the software’s released.
As we push toward the macOS Monterey 12.2 release date, keep an eye out for support updates. These updates should help stabilize performance and help your device make a smooth transition to new software.
Before you download an app update, make sure you read reviews from users. These reviews will alert you to potential benefits and problems with the latest version.
Take Your Time with macOS Monterey 12.2
macOS Monterey 12.2 is an exciting upgrade and some of you might be tempted to install it the second it arrives.
For some of you, particularly those dealing with macOS Monterey problems and macOS Big Sur problems, that might be the right move. However, some of you will be better off waiting a few hours, a few days or, in some cases, a few weeks before installing the software.
There are plenty of reasons to skip macOS software updates on day one. For one, macOS updates can wreak havoc on your device’s performance.
If you’re feeling leery, dig into feedback from Mac users who download macOS Monterey 12.2 right away. If you’re still undecided, think about waiting.
Install macOS Monterey 12.1 for Better Security
If security is important to you, think about installing the macOS Monterey 12.1 update right away.
Apple's macOS Monterey 12.1 update includes 40+ new security patches to Macs. You can read all about them over on the company's security site.
macOS Monterey 12.1 also includes some important upgrades to privacy. The software delivers Apple's communication safety features for kids. You'll find these features in the Messages app, in Siri, in Spotlight, and in Search.
If you're moving up from macOS Big Sur, you'll get macOS Monterey 12.0.1's 30+ security patches in your update. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's website.
In addition to those patches, the macOS Monterey update comes with additional security and privacy upgrades.
If you're an Apple Card user, you'll now get a security code that changes regularly to use when you make online transactions.
Apple's also included a built-in authenticator that's similar to Google Authenticator. This will let you generate verification codes for enhanced sign-in security under your Passwords.
New Mail Privacy Protection helps prevent senders from tracking your Mail activity and there's a new recording indicator in Control Center for apps that are accessing your mic.
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