Apple has released an updated version of macOS Monterey release candidate to developers. The beta contains new features announced during WWDC 2021, including new redesigned Safari, Live Text, Focus, FaceTime improvements, and much more.
The update also features improvements to built-in apps such as Messages, Notes, Apple Maps, as well as various Privacy improvements. Apple has also extended these privacy improvements to iCloud+, its new subscription update which brings features like Privacy Relay and Hide My Email to users. For the first time ever, Apple has also introduced AirPlay to Mac, allow users to AirPlay content from their iPhone or iPad to their Macs. macOS Monterey also finally gets the Shortcuts app, years after it was launched on iOS and iPadOS.
What’s new in macOS Monterey release candidate?
October 18: Apple has released macOS Monterey RC to developers. The final version of macOS Monterey will be released on Monday, October 25.
The biggest change that users have found so far is that Safari has been reverted back to the old tabs design. Even until beta 10, Apple had been tweaking the tabs.
Apple has also announced that Universal Control will not be part of the public release and will be part a software update later this fall.
It has also been noted that the release candidate build is macOS Monterey 12.0.1, instead of 12.0.
October 21: Apple has released an updated version of macOS Monterey release candidate build to developers and public beta testers.
What’s new in macOS Monterey beta 10?
October 13: Apple has released the tenth beta for macOS Monterey. The company has an event on October 18, at which it might announce the official release date for the new operating system.
What’s new in macOS Monterey beta 9?
October 6: Apple has released macOS Monterey beta 9 to developers. We will update this post if we find any new features and changes.
macOS Monterey public beta 7
Apple released the new public beta on September 29, just a day after the latest developer beta.
What’s new in macOS Monterey beta 8?
The eighth developer beta for macOS Monterey is now available. Universal Control is still not enabled by Apple.
macOS Monterey public beta 6
Apple has released macOS Monterey public beta 6, just a day after developer beta 7 was released. Still no Universal Control to be found in the latest developer and public beta builds.
What’s new in macOS Monterey beta 7?
Apple released macOS Monterey beta 7 after a long gap of three weeks since beta 6 was released. Release notes do not mention any new noticeable updates, but we will update this post if we find Universal Control to be enabled.
macOS Monterey public beta 5
The fifth public beta for macOS Monterey is now available. Universal Control is still not enabled by Apple.
What’s new in macOS Monterey beta 6?
Apple released beta 6 on August 30. This beta still does not enable Universal Control.
macOS Monterey public beta 4
macOS Monterey public beta was released just after developer beta 5, but Apple pulled the software update.
What’s new in macOS Monterey beta 5?
Apple released macOS Monterey beta 5 to developers on August 11. This update still does not enable Universal Control. We will update this post when we find any important changes.
macOS Monterey public beta 3
Apple has released macOS Monterey public beta 3 just a day after developer beta 4 was released. This update supports Live Text on Intel Macs.
What’s new in macOS Monterey beta 4?
Apple released macOS Monterey beta 4 to developers on July 27. The update will likely contain more improvements to Safari which has received some negative feedback for its radical new design. It is also possible that Universal Control might finally work with this release.
Update: Release notes mention the following:
- Universal Control is now available. (80478623)
Many users are reporting that the over-the-air update is not showing in System Preferences > Software Update, even though it is there in Apple Developer Center.
Update 2: The update is now available for all developers. However, Apple removed Universal Control from the release notes at the last minute.
This new beta also bring support for Live Text to Intel-based Macs.
macOS Monterey public beta 2
Apple has released the second macOS Monterey public beta, two weeks after the first beta was released. This update has the same Safari changes and other updates as macOS Monterey developer beta 3.
What’s new in macOS Monterey beta 3?
macOS Monterey beta 3 was released on July 14. The update is less than 3GB in size. There are a number of updates to Safari browser redesign in this beta, based on user feedback. The address bar has been moved above the tab strip, and the share icon has also been added to the top right. Even though this puts the address bar in the center, the design still does not look nice as each tab is now too wide.
However, Apple has not completely gotten rid of the other design yet. Users can go to View > Show Separate Tab Bar to revert back to the other design.
macOS Monterey beta 3 also allows re-enabling window title icons by going to System Preferences > Accessibility > Display and checking “show window title icons”.
macOS Monterey public beta 1
Apple has released the first public beta for macOS Monterey on July 1. The update has the same features and changes as macOS Monterey developer beta 2.
If you are interested, you can go to the Apple Public Beta Software Program website and register to download the beta enrollment utility. This utility will let you enroll your Mac in the public beta program and receive macOS Monterey builds.
What’s new in macOS Monterey beta 2?
The new update has been released 3 weeks after the first developer beta was seeded after WWDC 2021 event. The update is 2.88GB in size, and is available as an over-the-air update, as well as from the Apple Developer Center.
Here are the new updates and changes that we have found so far:
- You can no longer use the workaround to switch back to the old Safari tab design.
- Safari now shows a refresh button when you hover the mouse cursor over the address bar, similar to the recent change in iPadOS 15 beta 2.
- Memoji now feature the new outfits that were announced at WWDC 21.
- New Maps icon to match the one in iOS 15 beta 2.
- New ‘Hello’ wallpapers that shipped for the new M1 iMac. You can also download the Hello wallpapers here.
- Apple’s releases notes also mention a bunch of fixes for AppKit, AirPlay, App Extensions, App Store, Bluetooth, FaceTime, Core Graphics, and much more.
What’s new in macOS Monterey beta 1?
Here are the updated apps and new features that you can try out after installing macOS Monterey beta:
- New Safari design and tab groups
- Focus and notifications improvements
- Shortcuts app
- Notes
- AirPlay to Mac
- Live Text
- FaceTime improvements and SharePlay
- Shared with You
- Low Power Mode
- iCloud Private Relay
- iCloud password manager in settings
- M1 app improvements
- Spatial audio support for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max (M1 Macs only)
Check out our coverage to read more about these macOS Monterey features. We will continue to update this post as newer beta updates are released and new changes and features are discovered. Note that Universal Control is not available in the first beta yet.
Is your Mac compatible with macOS Monterey RC?
A number of old Mac models that supported macOS Big Sur are not compatible with the new macOS update. macOS Monterey is compatible with the following Intel and M1 Macs:
- MacBook Air (early 2015 and later)
- MacBook Pro (early 2015 and later)
- MacBook (early 2016 and later)
- iMac (later 2015 and later)
- iMac Pro (2017 and later)
- Mac mini (late 2014 and later)
- Mac Pro (late 2013 and later)
How can you install macOS Monterey RC on your Mac?
It goes without saying that this is a developer beta so try not to install it on your primary Mac. Make sure to back up your data before proceeding.
To download and install macOS Monterey, your Mac must be enrolled in Apple’s beta program. This is done by installing a beta profile using a utility that is downloaded from Apple Developer Center ($99/year). Once you download and install the utility, go to System Preferences > Software Update to download and install the new update. If you are using a portable Mac, make sure that it is connected to a power outlet throughout the update process.
Enjoy testing out the new beta!
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