The latest version of the Mac operating system, macOS 12 Monterey, was officially released last fall. Apple OS will keep updating and you can get those updates in advance by joining Apple’s public beta program. Interested? Here’s what you need to know about the public beta.
Updated 5/19/22: Beta 1 of macOS 12.5 Monterey Public Beta has been released.
What is macOS Monterey Public Beta?
Apple offers a public beta version of Monterey so people can try, test against software of their choice, and report bugs to the company.
Since it is beta software, it can cause problems on your Mac. You may experience frequent freezes and crashes, or your apps may not work. Don’t rely on it being stable enough to use all the time.
Should you install MacOS Monterey Public Beta?
You will not install Beta on a Production Mac or any other Mac on which you are dependent and cannot afford to be out of commission. If you are worried that a beta error will prevent you from using your Mac, do not install it. Install it on a Mac that you consider a secondary computer
If you decide to use Beta, you can give Apple valuable feedback and see the new features.
What should you do before installing it?
Back up your Mac. You can use a time machine or you already have any backup setup. You need a backup that you can go back to if you want to stop using the beta and restore your system.
How to install macOS Monterey Public Beta
Before you can install a new operating system, you must be enrolled in a public beta program. You can do this through Apple’s public beta program website. In the Guide section of the website, click the “macOS” tab and then click the “Register your Mac” link in the Getting Started section.
This will take you to the “Register your device” webpage Follow the instructions. In Step 2, you will download “macOS Public Beta Access Utility” which will program your Mac into the program. The utility will then launch a software update to download and install Monterey Beta.
Installation takes a while. This can take up to 40 minutes or more, depending on the speed of your internet connection.
Which Mac is compatible with MacOS Monterey?
- MacBook (2016 and later)
- MacBook Air (first 2015 and later)
- MacBook Pro (early and early 2015)
- Mac Mini (late 2014 and beyond)
- iMac (late 2015 and beyond)
- iMac Pro (late 2017 and beyond)
- Mac Pro (late 2013 and beyond)
How to uninstall macOS Monterey Beta
If you try out the beta and later decide that you no longer want to use it, Apple has instructions on how to enroll in the public beta. You will need to use a time machine backup to get your system back to OS before the beta is installed. If you want to reformat your Mac and start over from scratch, Apple has instructions on how to restore your system.
What will happen after the final version ship?
You can continue using the universal beta. You will receive a beta version of the Monterey Update when it becomes available. If you want to get rid of the beta and install the final version of Monterey, you can download the MacOS Monterey installer in the App Store when it becomes available in the fall.
Got more questions about macOS Monterey?
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