macOS Monterey 12.1 Features, Bug Fixes, Download & More
Last updated on December 18th, 2021 at 04:22 am
Posted in News, Reviews by Tyrone on December 8, 2021
macOS Monterey 12.1 update
Apple has released macOS Monterey 12.1 build number 21C52 to all compatible Macs. This versions comes with new features, improvements and bug fixes. It’s the first update since the public release of macOS Monterey!
macOS Monterey 12.1 Download
- macOS 12.1 is available over-the-air in System Preferences -> Software Update.
- Click More info to find out what’s new.
- Finally, click Install Now to begin the update process and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
Fact: the macOS 12.1 update file size is 2.36GB large!
macOS Monterey 12.1 Release Notes
The macOS 12.1 release notes can be seen in the screenshot uploaded above.
The main features highlighted are Shareplay, Apple Music Voice Plan, redesigned Memories in Photos and new safety features for children and parents in Messages!
macOS Monterey 12.1 Features
Below you can find all changes mentioned in the macOS 12.1 update log:
- SharePlay on Mac allows you to share your screen in FaceTime and synchronize content playback from Apple TV app, Apple Music, and other supported apps. Shared controls allow participants to pause, play, rewind or fast forward.
Fact: Smart volume automatically lowers the audio of content playback when someone from the conversation speaks.Tip: Screen sharing also allows everyone in a FaceTime call to look at photos, browse the web and interact with each other using the supported apps.
- Apple Music Voice Plan is a new low-end subscription that only allows you to access and control music playback with Siri.
- Memories have been revamped with a new interactive interface, animations, transition styles and multiple image collages.
Fact: Similar to the features already introduced in iOS 15, there are also new memory types: additional international holidays, child-focused memories, trends over time, and improved pet memories.
- New safety features for children and parents in Messages, including safety warnings that contain helpful resources for children when they receive photos that contain nudity.
- Legacy contacts are now available thanks to the new Digital Legacy feature. It allows you to assign loved ones or friends as trusted contacts that will be able to access your iCloud data and personal info after you die.
- New Store tab in TV app allows you to browse, buy and rent movies and TV Shows all in one place.
- Hide My Email is now available in the Mail app for iCloud+ subscriber. It allows you to easily create unique, random email addresses.
- New Stocks features: view the currency for a ticker. Also, see year-to-date performance when viewing charts.
- Delete or rename tags is now possible in the stock Reminders and Notes apps.
macOS Monterey 12.1 Bug Fixes
Apple mentions six issues that are fixed by this update.
- Black Screen Saver bug when selecting photos from the library.
- Unresponsive trackpad – tap to click not working.
- HDR video playback on YouTube crashing 2021 MacBook Pro computers.
- External displays not charging MacBook Pro and MacBook Air when connected with Thunderbolt or USB-C.
- 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro not charging when powered off and lid closed.
- Menu bar extras might hind behind the notch on 2021 MacBook Pro M1 notebooks.
Besides the bug fixes mentioned in the release notes, Apple might have patched other issues too. Below we have a list of macOS Monterey bugs that we’ve reported in the previous version. Let us know if you still encounter them
- macOS Monterey memory issue (Status: Mixed reports!)
- USB hubs not working properly in macOS Monterey. (Status: Fixed!)
- Photo slideshows not working (Status: Fixed!)
- Magic Mouse disconnecting from MacBook. (Status: Not fixed)
- Photos slideshow not working in macOS Monterey. (Status: Fixed!)
- 2021 MacBook Pro SD card reader not working properly. (Status: ?)
- macOS Monterey Bluetooth issues (Status: ?)
- Tap to click not working (macOS Monterey trackpad issue) (Status: Fixed!)
macOS Monterey 12.1 Bugs
Below we will list any new issues that surface in this release. Help us uncover them! If you encounter any new glitch use the comments section and share it with us. We will attempt to replicate and provide fixes or workarounds!
- Safari lagging, loading web pages very slow and other connected issues.
- To be updated!
macOS Monterey 12.1 Release Date
Apple will most likely release macOS 12.1 alongside, iOS 15.2 and watchOS 8.3. Based on past experience, iOS 15.2 has the biggest chances of being released next Monday.
This means that the macOS 12.1 release date is Monday, December 13, 2021!
Update: Our prediction has been confirmed macOS Monterey 12.1 is now available for download!
Have you updated to macOS Monterey 12.1? What’s your feedback? Have you noticed any other new features or issues not mentioned in this article? Use the comments section and help us out!
Related: Alongside macOS Monterey 12.1, Apple has also rolled out iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2, watchOS 8.3, tvOS 15.2 and HomePod 15.2!
I’m not sure if this is still a problem in 12.1 or not. I reported this to Apple under 12.0.1 and have since had to revert my machine back to Big Sur.
I have found that my external 4TB SSDs can not be formatted using Disk Utility. It seems there is a problem with these drives at this particular capacity. I have successfully been able to use both 4TB HDDs and 2TB SSDs, however neither my Samsung 870 EVO (2.5” SATA III in a OWC USB 3.2 housing) nor my SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE 4TB SSDs are recognized by Disk Utility.
The drives are initially displayed in Disk Utility, assuming they were formatted for Mac previously, however if you try to erase and reformat the drives, as soon as I start the process Disk Utility hangs and simply will not complete the format.
If I connect a new, previously unformatted drive I appropriately see the pop-up notifying me that my new drive has not been initiated however once I try to format it using the same steps as above, Disk Utility again hangs and will not format the drive.
This seems to be limited to the formatting functionality only as far as I have been able to tell with my troubleshooting so far (which has included multiple phone calls to Apple Support, as well as the other device manufacturers).
I have a new 2021 MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) scheduled for delivery this Thursday and it will arrive with Monterey pre-installed. Once I have that system I will be able to verify whether this problem still exists in 12.1. My 2019 16” MBP has been reverted to Big Sur and since I will only be using it a few more days, I don’t want to take the time to upgrade to Monterey again knowing I may have to downgrade it again.
I did test my drives on a 14” M1 MBP running 12.0.1 at the Apple Store and had the same problem I have on my 2019…so I’m nearly positive at this point that this is a OS issue and not a hardware issue.
Thanks for the extended feedback Randall. We weren’t aware about this issue, only about the USB ports one. But this one seems different. Would appreciate if you can provide a followup once your new Mac arrives and you’re able to test it out. Fingers crossed!
I have updated my MBA to 12.1 and my USB hub works again.
Perfect! Thanks for confirming!
Safari lagging heavily since 12.1 update. Did not have problems in Monterey 12.0.1. I have to force quit to fix. Anyone else?
Thanks for the feedback Toni. Yes, we can confirm this issue. A dedicated story has been opened over here: https://www.iphonetricks.org/safari-lagging-on-mac-in-macos-monterey-fix/
Only one AirPod has sound when I connect my AirPods Pro to MacBook! Started after Monterey update! Pls help!
Thank for reporting Rita. Please check the Balance settings in System Preferences -> Sounds. We’ve detailed this issue here:
https://www.iphonetricks.org/one-airpod-not-working-no-sound-from-mac/
Does the fix work for you?
After updating to OS 12.1 Monterey, my external monitory display (connect thru USB-C), got glitchy. IT caused my Imac screen to keep flickering from black to normal, without stopping. I tried re-booting, unplugging and replugging, and several other ideas others have suggested. This is an OS 12.1 bug problem. And I don’t see that it’s been fixed yet.
After the update to 12.1 on a mac mini 2015 I cannot connect to this machine from other macs on 12.0. The mac mini no longer shows up in server list.
I can connect the other way, from 12.1 machine to 12.0 machines.
Thanks for the feedback Soren. What prevents you from updating the 12.0 computers to 12.1?
After updating to 12.1, Mail has stopped loading new emails, deleting old emails, and I’m getting the spinning wheel when I try to open an email. iOS mail is working fine, so I can keep up to date and then update Mail on 12.1 by force quitting and re-opening, but once open, nothing works. Any suggestions? Thanks.
That’s strange have you tried to sign out and log back in?
I have an iMac (late 2016) running Mac OS 12.2. with an external 3 TB disc and an additional display screen connected via a daisy chained thunderbolt cable and 2 SSD discs via USBC with dongle to USB A .
On startup the disks does not mount and does not show up at all, but if I then disconnect the thunderbolt cable and reconnect they all show up . There must be something in the start up process that is blocked by the thunderbolt. Anyone else with the same issue?
Thanks for sharing this Knut. macOS Monterey does come with a common USB port problem, that we covered here: https://www.iphonetricks.org/fix-usb-ports-not-working-in-macos-monterey/
Are you suggesting that disconnecting the cable and reconnecting it after startup fixes the issue?
I have an iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019) updated to macOS Monterey 12.1 (21C52). My HP external display has been black ever since. I’ve followed all troubleshooting instructions including reboot, disconnection to fix with no help. The display is connected to my iMac with an HDMI to USB-C Adapter. I’ve tried both ports, nothing works.
Kate, is macOS 12.1 the first Monterey version that you’re running? I mean you updated from Big Sur to 12.1 or you had a previous Monterey version installed and only 12.1 is causing this problem?
i update my ios to macOS monterey version 12.1 (21C52) and now i can’t play videos online (stream online), what’s wrong?