What is macOS Monterey? Everything you need to know

One of the world's most advanced desktop operating systems, macOS Monterey, stole the spotlight in October 2021. With its new features, users can now connect across various Apple devices, accomplish more tasks, and work more seamlessly. In this article, we'll provide you with all the relevant information about the latest iteration of macOS.

This image shows macOS Monterey.

Development: What is macOS Monterey?

On June 7, 2021, at the 2021 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple released macOS Monterey (version 12), the 18th macOS system. Like its predecessor, Big Sur, the name "Monterey" is inspired by a series of cities along the California coastline.

(Image: Big Sur VS Monterey)

A brief history of macOS

macOS Monterey is the current operating system for Mac users. However, users can also downgrade to previous systems if needed. What are the differences between these systems, and how has Monterey evolved?

It wasn't until September 2000, with the release of Kodiak, that the macOS story truly began. Users could pay $30 for the first public version of Mac OS X. With a few exceptions, a new version of Mac OS has been released almost annually since its debut in 2000. Early versions were named after big cats – Puma, Lion, and Tiger, to name a few.

More recently, they have been named for geographic locations, such as Yosemite, Big Sur, and Catalina. And version numbering matters for Mac OS: the current and next versions will be 10.x and 11, respectively, but then the sequence will jump to 12.

What is the latest version of macOS Monterey?

The most recent version is macOS Monterey 12.5, released in July 2022. Aside from important security updates, this might be the last release of Monterey. In September, the release of macOS Ventura is imminent.

What are the different versions, and what are their respective features?

So far, macOS Monterey has gone through six iterations. The current version is macOS 12.6. As with other versions, this system has seen various updates and improvements across the board. Here's an overview of all the versions in Monterey's history and their key features.

Features of macOS 12.1. This update introduces SharePlay, Voice Control for Apple Music, Apple ID settings, improvements to Siri and Search, updates to Memories in Photos, and more for macOS Monterey. It also includes improvements for iCloud+ customers.

What's in macOS 12.2. This update doesn't have many new features. In addition to the security fix, the software update includes other improvements and bug fixes, including one for a major Safari problem.

macOS 12.3 features: This release includes the long-awaited Universal Control feature, which lets you share a mouse and keyboard between your iPad and Mac.

What's in macOS 12.4. This update includes bug fixes, Studio Display software update 15.5, and minor changes to the Podcasts app.

**What's new in macOS 12.5.** This update to macOS Monterey fixes an issue that could cause a tab in Safari to go back to the previous page. In addition, the TV app now includes the ability to pause, fast forward, and restart live sports events that have already started.

Features of macOS 12.6. macOS Monterey 12.6 is the current version, which includes security updates.

What's new in macOS Monterey?

In macOS Monterey, Apple builds on its past successes with a redesigned Safari, Universal Control, Shared Playing, and more. Here are some of the highlights.

"Safari" is an English word that refers to a "wildlife safari" or an "adventurous journey." In the context of computing, Safari is a web browser developed by Apple Inc., primarily used on Mac and iOS devices.

Safari has been significantly improved in macOS Monterey. With a streamlined toolbar at the top, web pages take up less space on your screen and adjust to the color of each website. Plus, with Intelligent Tracking Prevention, trackers can no longer use your IP address to build a profile about you.

Most noticeable – and confusing – is the new tab bar, which matches the page's colors. The tab groups feature also makes it easy to manage and sync tabs across Apple devices, a boon for those of us who regularly have many tabs open.

"Universal Control" can be translated as "Universal Control." This is a feature introduced by Apple that allows users to seamlessly switch and control both their Mac and iPad as if they were using a single device.

Using Universal Control to connect your iPad to your Mac is straightforward. With the introduction of Catalina, Apple introduced the ability to share a single keyboard and mouse between your Mac and iPad, and now it's going even further.

Share the fun

With SharePlay in macOS Monterey, you can share the experience of watching videos, listening to music, or using apps while on a FaceTime call. People on the call can control playback of the shared media, and even create playlists. SharePlay works with Apple Music and Apple TV.

Send AirPlay to Your Mac

With AirPlay to Mac, you can instantly beam content from your iPhone to your Mac's display, making your Mac an AirPlay destination.

In summary,

Though it does not fundamentally alter the Mac experience, macOS Monterey does offer a range of useful new features and performance improvements that enhance the value of Apple's existing lines of desktop and laptop computers.

In the long-awaited macOS Monterey, Apple has improved video calling, web browsing, and the overall Mac experience.