macOS 12 Monterey is available for download: all about Apple's new OS

macOS 12 Monterey is officially available for download. Here's everything we know about Apple's new operating system for Macs.

Apple officially started the deployment of its new operating system this Monday, October 25 at 7 p.m. macOS 12 Monterey brings lots of new features. Here's everything we know about it.

How long has macOS 12 Monterey been released?

In the press release announcing the release of the new 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro, Apple revealed the official release date of the stable version of its OS: it's for this Monday, October 25. The deployment seems to have already started.

This software deployment follows the release of a dozen beta versions, which have allowed Apple to correct all the most annoying bugs.

What's new in macOS 12 Monterey?

When announcing the new system in June 2021, Apple presented the major new features of its OS.

Among them, we find the arrival of the Shortcuts application on Macs. Long reserved for iPhones and iPads, this software makes it easy to create system automations.

Another feature that will delight those who live in the Apple ecosystem is the arrival of AirPlay on Macs. More precisely, computers will now be able to become AirPlay broadcast screens for audio and video. This means you can cast any music or video on your Mac from your iPhone.

FaceTime has also had the right to some improvements, including the integration of spatial audio which allows to better distinguish the voices of each. The Safari Internet browser also gains some improvements.

New features delayed or unavailable on some Macs

The coolest feature of macOS 12 Monterey is undoubtedly Universal Control. This tool is supposed to let you control your Mac and iPad with the same mouse and keyboard, so you can easily juggle between devices. Unfortunately, as Apple's official site states, this feature is not available for the official launch of macOS Monterey. It will arrive “later this fall”.

Other bad news, some of the new features offered by macOS 12 are not available if your Mac is under Intel architecture. Character recognition on photos, background blur on FaceTime, streaming audio transcription… All of these features require Apple's in-house chips (M1, M1 Pro and M1 Max). The latter are equipped with a chip dedicated to artificial intelligence, an essential component to perform certain complex tasks.

Which computers are compatible with macOS 12 Monterey?

The new version of macOS can be installed on a large number of machines, whether they are under Intel or ARM architecture. Here is the list of eligible machines:

Apple therefore casts a wide net with this new version. If your computer running macOS 11 isn't compatible with Monterey, don't worry, that doesn't mean your machine is outdated. Apple will continue to deploy security patches on this release for at least 3-4 years.

How much does it cost to update to macOS 12 Monterey?

As usual, Apple does not charge anything for the update to macOS 12 Monterey. All compatible computers receive the update automatically and free of charge.

How do I update my computer to macOS 12 Monterey?

Updating to macOS 12 should happen automatically if your computer is compatible. That said, if you're in a hurry, you can pick up the update yourself. To do:

The update should be offered to you, you just have to install it.