Should i upgrade my mac os how to#
Should i upgrade my mac os install#
Should i upgrade my mac os update#
Should i upgrade my mac os software#

The biggest difference between Focus and Do Not Disturb is the level of control you get. As its name suggests, the purpose of this feature is to reduce distractions, such as instant messages, app status notifications, and other alerts so that you can better focus on what really matters. The one feature every Mac user who updates to Monterey will be able to appreciate and benefit from is called Focus. What does Monterey bring to the table? A number of improvements and new features that together make up for what can only be described as a refined version of the same experience Big Sur users are used to.

Should i upgrade my mac os install#

Confirm that you’re ready to install the update.īig Sur introduced a refreshed design language, Catalina got rid of iTunes, and Mojave brought us system-wide dark mode.

Should i upgrade my mac os update#

Wait for the update to download and the installer to launch.

Click the Update button next to the Monterey update.

If you’re still running High Sierra or earlier, then you can find the Monterey update under the App Store updates tab: To update to macOS Monterey via the App Store (High Sierra or earlier):

Click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions.

The macOS Monterey installer will open automatically.

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner.

Should i upgrade my mac os software#

If you’re running Big Sur, Catalina, or Mojave, you can update via Software Update: To update to macOS Monterey via Software Update (Big Sur, Catalina, or Mojave): Once your files are safely backed up, you can proceed with the update, which should take around one hour if you update via Software Update and up to several hours if you choose to perform a clean install, which involves the creation of a bootable USB using the macOS Monterey Installer. Select the disk you’d like to use for backups.If your system drive is encrypted with the Apple M1 or T2 security chip, then Time Machine is the way to go: Wait until your backup image is created.Name your backup image and select a suitable location for it.Select your main system disk and click the “Create backup” button.Select “Byte-to-byte Backup” from the “Extra Tools” menu in the left pane.Download, install, and launch Disk Drill.If your system drive isn’t encrypted, you can create a byte-to-byte backup using Disk Drill: That way, you gain the ability to play with its features and test its stability while retaining the option to easily switch to Big Sur or any other version of macOS that’s installed on your main system drive.Įven though it’s generally perfectly safe to upgrade to Monterey via Software Update, you should make a backup so that you can recover your data, applications, and settings should anything go wrong. The clean install method is a good option if you want to install Monterey on an external drive. I decided to go with the former method, and I’m happy to report that it went smoothly.

Should i upgrade my mac os how to#

Whenever the next macOS release becomes available, you have two options on how to install it: you can update from the current version via Software Update, or you can start with a clean slate. But just because cosmetic changes and major new features are few and far between doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to talk about, so let’s dive right in. Indeed, Monterey has far more in common with updates like El Capitan, Sierra, or High Sierra than it does with updates like Yosemite, Catalina, or Big Sur. It’s possible that Apple deliberately named the current major release of its operating system after a place that’s just a short drive away from Big Sur because the average user might easily fail to spot any obvious changes. Interestingly, Big Sur is located less than 40 miles away from Monterey Bay. Monterey is the successor to the seventeenth major release of macOS, named Big Sur after the mountainous section of the Central Coast of California. I’ve been testing Monterey since the first public macOS Monterey preview version was released at the beginning of July 2021, so this review is based on the last few months of use-not just the last few days. The macOS Monterey release date is now in the past, and that means I’m ready to share with you my thoughts and impressions. Apple’s recent “Unleashed” event revolved around the introduction of Apple silicon MacBooks Pro, but it also announced that the next major version of Apple’s operating system, called macOS 12 Monterey, would become available on October 25th.