Why (and How) to Upgrade Your Macintosh to Monterey

After macOS Monterey is installed, you will be notified when updates are available. For example, Apple is now on Monterey version 12.5. Or you can click the Apple icon | System Preferences | Software Update to check for updates at any time.

Benefits and bonuses for macOS Monterey users

Five highlights of the new operating system:

1. Better FaceTime reception. If you enjoy video or audio calls via FaceTime, new features include “voice isolation” to ensure your voice is crystal clear to others by eliminating background noise; “spatial audio” to allow voices during a call to sound like they are coming from where a person is positioned on the screen; “portrait mode” to blur your background for a sleek video effect that works on Macs with an M1 processor; and “grid view” that shows participants in same-sized tiles.

During FaceTime calls, SharePlay lets you share your favorite movies, music, projects and TV shows with friends and family in real time. You also have the ability to collaborate while in apps.

2. A new Focus. Early adopters got their Focus tool, a do-not-disturb function that allows some of your contacts and notifications to selectively show up live for you, on their iPhones and iPads a month before it was available to Mac users.

Now you can choose to silence Instagram comments on last night’s food pics if you’re trying to concentrate on your Mac during work hours, too. Once you enable Focus, you have several customization options, such as letting others know when you’re not available or having your Focus apply across all devices.

3. Notes app revamp. Collaborate with others, create notes from anywhere and stay organized. The new Notes features include the ability to jot down thoughts in any app and on any website with automatic synchronizing across Apple devices. Activity View allows you to categorize your notes with tags to find them quickly and easily.

4. Safari browser redesign. If you do nothing, Safari will retain the look you’re used to. But a new tab design can combine tabs, the tool bar and the search field into a minimalist design. Tab Groups offer a new way to save and manage tabs by grouping together similar sites, such as those tied to an upcoming trip. These groups also can sync across Mac, iPhone and iPad.

5. Shortcuts arrive. Like on iPhone and iPad, Shortcuts help you automate everyday tasks and remain productive with the apps you use the most. Perhaps you want to create a Shortcut that automatically opens two specific apps to run side by side in Split Screen mode, such as Safari on the left and Mail on the right.

No problem, you can set your own Shortcuts or use ready-made ones. Say the name of the shortcut aloud, and Siri can open it, too.

Other bonuses

• AirPlay to Mac lets you play, present and share just about anything from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac’s display.

• Live Text detects text in photos, including phone numbers and websites, allowing you to easily copy and paste the material into your notes.

• Universal Control allows you to use a single mouse and keyboard between Mac and iPad.

No software is perfect. If you scour the web, you will find some complaints about bugs and performance with the latest version of macOS Monterey.

Be aware of potential battery drain, screens that freeze or lock up, TouchID problems and Wi-Fi or Bluetooth crashes. Often these things can be annoying but also can be fixed by restarting your device. Enable automatic updates so you’ll get the next version of the operating system to fix any glitches.