macOS 12 Monterey release date, new features and compatibility

macOS 12 Monterey running on the MacBook Pro 2021 (14-inch)

(Epitome credit: Henry T. Casey)

At this yr'due south WWDC 2021 event we learned a lot nearly macOS 12, now formally named macOS Monterey. The Mac software update is now available for download, — and so you lot tin become an early look at what's new in our macOS 12 Monterey review.

And for those concerned most Monterey, we've learned that Safari's radical tabs makeover'due south not permanent, as the standard view is as well here. Simply, whenever macOS Monterey does finally go far on your Mac, Apple tree is using 1 large theme throughout its new OS: continuity.

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To that finish, the visitor showcased a few primal new features coming to macOS with Monterey that should make it easier for Apple production owners to transfer their work beyond macOS, iOS, and iPadOS devices. This is a big deal because Apple's Mac business appears to be moving from strength to forcefulness this year, delivering the critically acclaimed MacBook Pro 2021 (14-inch) and MacBook Pro 2021 (16-inch), which run the latest version of Apple's M1 chips.

High sales of M1-powered MacBooks have generated record revenues for Apple tree, and if you've kept tabs on our ongoing Mac coverage (like our MacBook Pro with M1 review and our MacBook Air with M1 review) you know that macOS 11 Big Sur played more than a bit part in their current popularity. Now that macOS Monterey is virtually here and practically begging to exist used in tandem with other Apple devices, it appears Apple is intent on giving MacBook owners more incentives to apply Apple hardware.

Here'due south what nosotros know so far almost macOS Monterey.

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macOS Monterey: Release date and betas

macOS Monterey launched on October 25, which Apple announced at its October 18 upshot, where it unveiled the AirPods iii, the fourteen-inch MacBook Pro 2021 and the 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021.

Apple previously released a beta version of macOS Monterey to the public July 1st, following the launch of a programmer beta at the Worldwide Developer Conference.

An Apple MacBook, iPad, and iPhone — Continuity across Apple devices is the big focus of macOS 12 Monterey (Image credit: Apple)

This follows Apple tree shipping the final versions of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 (don't miss our guides to how to download iOS 15 and how to download iPadOS 15 now).

macOS Monterey: New features

Since the large watchword for macOS Monterey is continuity, Apple is highlighting some new features in the new Os which make information technology easier to share work and files across multiple Apple devices.

Universal Control in action on a Mac, MacBook, and iPad — Universal Control will let yous use 1 keyboard and mouse beyond multiple Apple devices, besides as seamlessly drag and driblet media between them. (Epitome credit: Apple tree | YouTube)

Universal Command: Perhaps the almost futuristic feature coming to macOS Monterey, Universal Command effectively allows you lot to share a single keyboard and mouse across multiple Apple devices that are in close proximity to your macOS PC. Unfortunately, this feature won't be included at launch.

Hither'due south how it works, co-ordinate to Apple tree: when you lot place an iPad well-nigh your macOS 12 Monterey device (a new Apple iMac 2021, for example) and move your mouse to the edge of your screen nearest the external device, you'll see a new cursor animation. If you keep pushing your cursor against the border of the screen it should move off and appear on your iPad's screen, allowing you to employ your mouse and keyboard on the tablet.

A close-up of the Unviersal Control animation — With Universal Control y'all'll see a little purlieus-breaking animation when you motion your cursor well-nigh a device that it tin can be used with. (Paradigm credit: Apple | YouTube)

Apple also revealed that you can use Universal Control to elevate and drop files across multiple devices, effectively giving a more than skeumorphic experience to the process of AirDropping files from your iMac to iPad or iPhone, and vice versa.

A mock-up of someone holding an iPhone and AirPlaying music to an iMac — macOS Monterey will let you AirPlay media to your iMac from your iPhone or iPad. (Paradigm credit: Apple | YouTube)

Airplay to Mac: Speaking of AirDropping, now you can also use iOS and iPad devices to Airplay media directly to your iMac or MacBook running macOS Monterey. This could be a great manner to make employ of the excellent speakers on the new 24-inch iMac 2021, for example.

Shortcuts come to macOS: The popular Shortcuts app from iOS is making the leap to macOS, allowing you to fix custom shortcuts and routines on your iMac/MacBook that you can and so run from Siri, the Finder, the Dock, and other areas of macOS Monterey.

If you're a fan of Automator, you can import all of your workflows into Shortcuts.

A close-up of the new Safari design — Safari is getting an upgrade and support for creating tab groups, something Google Chrome already supports. (Paradigm credit: Apple | YouTube)

Safari: Apple has tried to launch a redesign of Safari alongside macOS Monterey, and over time they undid a lot of their own work. While nosotros still have tabs that are organizable "tab groups" (think windows of tabs that be across devices, and so Safari on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 go along upwardly), we're not getting forced into using the minimized tabs view, equally that "Compact" selection is sticking effectually next to a "Standard," view.

Speaking of new looks, Safari is also getting a new feature that allows it to adopt the color scheme of whatever website y'all happen to be looking at, shifting in real time as you lot switch betwixt tabs.

Deeper iOS integration: Speaking of iOS 15, it's also a 2021 release, and with that phone software update come a lot of pocket-size features and improvements that will be reflected in macOS Monterey. New spatial audio features in FaceTime calls, for instance, as well as links you can share anywhere to invite others into FaceTime calls — fifty-fifty directly from web browsers similar Chrome or Border, no Apple device necessary.

The most notable addition is SharePlay, a new feature which lets you lot share media (videos, music, screenshares) with others beyond iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. It's sort of like a shared virtual room: you tin can share an album from Apple Music or a clip from YouTube with some friends via iMessage, for example, and then chat about it in real-fourth dimension while the media plays in an inset window. Shareplay was removed, and is not seen in the current betas.

There will also be a new "Shared with You lot" folder on macOS Monterey which will collect all the photos, videos, and other media people share with you on iMessage into one location.

macOS Monterey: compatibility

Courtesy of Apple, here's the full list of MacBooks and iMacs that will be uniform with macOS Monterey when it launches this autumn:

iMac: Belatedly 2015 and afterward

Mac Pro: Belatedly 2013 and later

iMac Pro: 2017 and later

Mac mini: Belatedly 2014 and after

MacBook Air: Early 2015 and afterwards

MacBook: Early 2016 and afterward

MacBook Pro: Early 2015 and later on

You can also check out our full guide to macOS 12 Monterey compatibility for more details.

macOS Monterey: Outlook

With its renewed focus on continuity, macOS Monterey looks like a articulate play on Apple'southward part to strengthen the ties that bind Mac users into Apple's walled garden of devices and services.

That'south not necessarily a bad thing, of grade — many of the new macOS Monterey features seem quite useful, and using Universal Control to drag and driblet images doodled on an iPad or iPhone straight into an open document on your MacBook seems downright futuristic.

The bottom line is that if you already own multiple Apple tree devices, macOS Monterey should offer you some interesting new ways to utilize them in tandem with your MacBook or iMac. If you don't own whatever other Apple tree devices, Monterey may non offer yous much — other than the temptation to get out and splurge on some new hardware.

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Alex Wawro is a lifelong tech and games enthusiast with more than a decade of experience covering both for outlets like Game Developer, Black Chapeau, and PC World magazine. He currently serves as a senior editor at Tom'southward Guide roofing all things computing, from laptops and desktops to keyboards and mice.