We had to wait a while, but tonight finally macOS Monterey released. With this update, you will get all kinds of new features on your Mac. But before hitting the refresh button: it’s wise to prepare yourself well first! You should know this before installing the update.
macOS Monterey Release: When?
The update will be released on Monday, October 25th. Updates are usually available at 7:00 PM. This may be a little later or a little earlier, but if we think about a version iOS 15 Exit the update will be in time this time.
Can you run macOS Monterey?
Check if your Mac is suitable for Mac OS Monterey. You can see which Mac you have under About This Mac via the apple in the top left. These are the appropriate models:
- MacBook (2016 and later)
- MacBook Air (later 2015)
- MacBook Pro (2015 and later)
- iMac and iMac Pro (Late 2015 and later)
- Mac mini (late 2014 and later)
- Mac Pro (2013 and later)
Check your storage space
It’s hard to predict exactly how much storage space you’ll need, as this often varies depending on your Mac. Suppose you need about 35 GB of free space: this is roughly the maximum. You can check how much space you have available like this:
- Click the apple in the top left.
- Click About This Mac.
- Click “Storage” and wait a moment.
Don’t have enough space? Then click “Manage”. It will then show you where your storage space is going, and how you can reclaim some space. Attachments, Downloads, Trash: There is often something that can be recovered in many places.
Prepare your apps
Most developers release updates for their apps right before macOS is released. Install it before installing Monterey to make the update as smooth as possible.
Search the App Store under Updates, and if necessary, tap Store > Reload Page if you don’t see any updates yet. You will have to update apps that are not from the App Store separately. Think apps from Office or video chat apps like Teams and Zoom.
Backup will not hurt
The update usually goes very smoothly, but it can sometimes crash. In this case, there is a chance that you will not be able to access your files. This is why it is always useful to back up with Time Machine ahead of time. This is how you do this:
- Connect a blank external drive or SSD to your Mac, which preferably has more storage space than the Mac itself. Is the disk not empty? Then it will be erased in the process.
- Go to System Preferences > Time Machine and select the drive you have connected. Then confirm using Disk Usage.
- Time Machine backs up all your files. Depending on the number of files and the speed of the external drive, this could take a few hours.
Patience is a virtue
Of course you’d prefer to start using macOS Monterey right away. But there is always the possibility that the update will still have some issues or bugs initially, which will appear in the first few days. In this regard, it is completely unwise to wait a while before updating.
However, based on our experience with the beta versions, Monterey actually works fine and there are no major issues. BUT: Our experience is limited to a few Mac models, so that’s not all!
macOS Monterey Edition: How to download the update
Monterey will be available for free download from “System Preferences > Software Update”. When the update is finished, click Update Now here and go through the steps.
