Apple has launched the public beta of macOS Monterey. This is the next big update coming to Mac computers (the final version is expected later in 2021) and it brings several big changes. In this article, we will explain how to install the beta version on your computer, if you wish. Once you install the beta version, it will probably receive several updates between now and the final version.
ContentsWhat's new in macOS Monterey?What devices are supported for macOS Monterey?How to install macOS Monterey beta on your primary partitionHow to create a separate partition
(Looking for steps to install macOS Monterey versions iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 public betas?We've got you covered here.)
What's new on macOS Monterey?
One of the most impressive demos Apple showed at WWDC 2021 was the new drag-and-drop feature called Universal Control that will allow you to seamlessly move your cursor and files between a iPad and Mac computer, as if they were all wired. together. Watch Dieter Bohn's video below to learn more about this feature.
Macs will also get Shortcuts and can act as an AirPlay target, so your computer can play content from your iPhone or iPad. There are more changes in the update, and my colleague Mitchell Clark covers all the highlights here.
Here's additional coverage:
What devices are supported for macOS Monterey?
Here is the list:
- iMac (late 2015 and later)
- iMac Pro (2017 and later)
- Mac Pro (late 2013 and later)
- Mac Mini (late 2014 and later)
- Macbook Pro (early 2015 and later)
- Macbook Air (early 2015 and later)
- Macbook (early 2016 and later)
How to install macOS Monterey beta on your main partition
First, back up your data through Time Machine. This will allow you to return to Big Sur if things don't go well with the Monterey beta. If you are planning to install this beta on your main machine, keep in mind that you may encounter some issues (bugs, incompatibility issues, worse than usual battery life) that might get in the way – not what you want if you're on any kind of deadline. Also, make sure you have about 20 GB of free space on your hard drive before trying to install.
There is a way to avoid some of these possible dramas. If you're using a machine with macOS High Sierra or later, you can use built-in tools to partition your hard drive so the beta can live in isolation. That way, you can test out the new features, then boot into your stable macOS partition with the rest of your data when you're done. We will come back to this later.
Let's get started.
- Go to Apple Beta Software Portal via Safari.
- If you haven't installed a public beta yet, you'll need to sign up to access it with your Apple ID. Otherwise, click "Enroll your devices" in the top right corner of the web page.
- Click "macOS", the middle option in the center of the next page.
- Scroll down until you find a button that says "Download macOS Beta Public Access Utility". Click on it to download a .DMG file, which will register your computer.
- When starting the installer, you will be prompted if it does not detect a Time Machine backup. (You made a backup, didn't you? As I suggested above?)
- Finally, head to "Software Update" in the System Preferences app (if it doesn't open automatically) to install the beta. If you've enrolled in the beta program, you should see the message "This Mac is enrolled in Apple's Beta Software Program" located under the large "Software Update" icon. Note:Download may not be available immediately. You will receive a notification once this is the case.
- It will take some time for the update file to download. Once done, click Install and follow the steps.
How to create a separate partition
- Open Disk Utility (a built-in application that you can find by typing its name in the Spotlight search bar). Your hard drive partitions will be listed under "Internal" on the left side of the window. You might only see one.
- If you're using a machine with macOS High Sierra or newer, clicking on your primary partition should reveal that it's an "APFS Volume." If so, you can simply click the plus button above the word "Volume" in the upper left corner of the Disk Utility window to create a new volume.
- You can name the volume whatever you want, then press "Add". Because APFS-formatted storage is shared between volumes, you don't have to worry about how much space to reserve in the new volume when you create it.
- (Note:If your machine's drive is formatted in Mac OS Extended instead of APFS, you can select the "Partition" button near the top of the Disk Utility window. You will need to name partition, then decide how much storage you need." I'd like to have on this HDD slice. Since previous public betas were over 10 GB in size, I would suggest at least 30 GB for be sure.)
- Now that you have another volume (or partition), you can choose to install the beta version on it instead of your main drive.
- To switch between volumes or partitions, you will need to reboot the machine and hold down the Option key while booting.
