macOS Monterey 12.3.1 Update (21E258) is now available
UPDATED: 04/01
Apple just released a minor update for macOS Monterey. The 12.3.1 update addresses three bug fixes and two serious zero-day security vulnerabilities. Let’s jump in and find out what’s new in this update.
Quick Summary
Bug fixes – 3 software bugs addressed
Security Updates – 2 zero-day security vulnerabilities! “Apple is aware of a report that these issues may have been actively exploited.”
Full installer and M1 IPSW – UPDATE: Full installer & M1 IPSW file are now available for download.
Safari – UPDATE: 15.4 (17613.1.17.1.13) included in the 12.3.1 update. For Big Sur and Catalina Safari 15.4 (16613.1.17.1.13) is available as a separate download.
Enterprise Fixes – “Resolves an issue where a software update may become stuck at an Apple logo and progress bar.”
2021 14 & 16″ MacBook Pro 12.3 Update Bricking Issue = “Some 2021 MacBook Pro models cannot update or restore to macOS Monterey 12.3” Could this be the fix for 2021 MacBook Pro owners that failed the 12.3 update after having their logic board replaced?
Apple Business Essentials for small businesses announced.
macOS Big Sur 11.6.5 Update is now available for all users!
Today, Apple released the macOS Big Sur 11.6.5. Let’s jump in and find out what’s new!
Big Sur is now in Security Update mode. Apple will no longer be releasing patch notes for Big Sur OS-level bug fixes. Apple still fixes bugs & issues in Big Sur and Catalina updates.
Big Sur 11.6.5 Update Quick Overview
macOS Big Sur 11.6.5 fixes 19 security vulnerabilities.
Apple released a full installer of 11.6.5!
Apple stopped releasing M1 IPSW restore files after version 11.6.
Safari 15.4 is not yet available as a separate download. Apple usually releases the update a day or two after.
Apple just released the biggest update to macOS Monterey yet! Universal Control, the long awaited feature is finally available! Let’s jump in and find out what’s new in this update.
Quick Summary
This update is known as the “Spring Release” by many MacAdmins. This major update usually arrives in the spring and has the most OS level changes of any update release.
Universal Control is finally available in this release! (in beta form)
Python 2.7 – Removed from this release. Apple recommends Python 3.
Important info for Microsoft OneDrive & Dropbox Desktop users!!! – The kernel extensions used by Dropbox Desktop Application and Microsoft OneDrive have been removed in macOS Monterey 12.3. UPDATE: OneDrive version 22.033.0213.0002 is stable and fixes the issue. HT u/derrman
Full installer and M1 IPSW Restore file released.
Safari 15.4 is included in the 12.3 update.
GarageBand 10.4.6, Logic Pro X 10.7.3 & Xcode 13.3 have been updated to address security vulnerabilities.
Apple just released its 1st minor update to macOS Monterey. Let’s jump in and find out what’s new in this update!
Quick Summary
macOS 12.2.1 provides important security updates and fixes an issue for Intel-based Mac computers that may cause the battery to drain during sleep when connected to Bluetooth peripherals.
Apple just released a security document with one CVE. CVE-2022-22620 – Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
Full installer and M1 IPSW Restore file released.
Safari 15.3 (17612.4.9.1.8) is included in the 12.2.1 update. Apple also Released Safari 15.3 for macOS Big Sur & macOS Catalina (v. 16612.4.9.1.8 and 15612.4.9.1.8)
macOS Monterey Patch Notes Summary
1. New Features – 0
2. Resolved Issues – 1
3. Security Fixes – 1
4. Enterprise Fixes- 0
5. Undocumented Fixes – 0
Full Apple OS Release list
1. iOS 15.3.1
2. iPadOS 15.3.1
5. watchOS 8.4.2
6. Monterey 12.2.1
My macOS Monterey 12.2.1 Update Video
Table of Contents
1. Apple Links
2. Mr. Macintosh articles of interest for Apple Silicon & macOS Monterey
Apple just released its 2nd major update to macOS Monterey. Let’s jump in and see what’s new in this update!
Quick Summary
Public release updated from from RC version – 12.2 RC = 21D48 – 12.2 Public = 21D49
Apple update text = “macOS 12.2 includes bug fixes and security updates for your Mac and is recommended for all users.” Detailed patch notes not released.
12.2 is available as a delta update, Full Installer & M1 IPSW Restore file
Universal Control = N/A in 12.2 – Delayed until Spring 2022
Memory Leaks – Some of the memory leaks were fixed in 12.1. Some users have reported that the windowserver memory leaks remained in 12.1. Waiting on reports from 12.2 users. UPDATE: Some users are still reporting memory leaks after updating to 12.2.
macOS Monterey Upgrade Notifications are now being sent out. (macOS Big Sur and below)
Music.app rebuilt as a full native application. (Previously it was just web content loaded into into the window)
Safari 15.3 Released as a separate update for macOS Big Sur & macOS Catalina
Printnightmare (Windows Print Spooler Remote Code Execution Vulnerability) fixed in Monterey 12.3 & Big Sur 11.6.3. Macs can now print to a Windows print server again.
The macOS Monterey 12.2 Update has a sleep Bluetooth battery drain issue when a mouse or keyboard is wirelessly connected! After sleeping overnight the battery will be dead on your MacBook Pro. More info in my video – https://youtu.be/L0DXObzGxgs
My macOS Monterey 12.2 Update video.
macOS Monterey Patch Notes Summary
1. New Features – 1
2. Resolved Issues – 1
3. Security Fixes – 13
4. Enterprise Fixes- 4
5. Undocumented Fixes – 1
Full Apple OS Release list
1. iOS 15.3 (19D50)
2. iPadOS 15.3 (19D50)
3. tvOS 15.3 (19K547)
4. HomePodOS 15.3 (19K547)
5. watchOS 8.4 (19S546)
6. Monterey 12.2 (21D49)
7. Big Sur 11.6.3 (20G415)
8. Catalina Security Update 2022-001 (19H1713)
Table of Contents
1. Apple Links
2. Mr. Macintosh articles of interest for Apple Silicon & macOS Monterey
Apple just released the first major update to macOS Monterey. The update comes a month and a half after the October 25th release.
Quick Summary
112.1 is now available as a delta update, Full Installer & M1 IPSW Restore file
Universal Control = Delayed until Spring 2022
Memory Leaks – Multiple reports. Some are saying some of the memory leaks are fixed, while others are still having issues.
2021 16″ M1 MacBook Pro charging fix when lid is closed
Mojave to Big Sur & Monterey Upgrade issue fixed! – More info https://mrmacintosh.com/macos-upgrade-to-big-sur-failed-stuck-progress-bar-fix-prevention/
macOS Monterey Patch Notes Summary
1. New Features – 7
2. Resolved Issues – 7
3. Security Fixes – 42
3. New Enhancements – 3
4. Enterprise – 5
5. Undocumented Fixes – 1
Other Apple Releases
1. iOS 15.2 (19C56)
2. iPadOS 15.2 (19C56)
3. watchOS 8.3 (19S55)
4. tvOS 15.2 (19K53)
5. HomePodOS 15.2 (19K52)
6. Monterey 12.1 (21C52)
7. Big Sur 11.6.2 (20G313)
8. Catalina 2021-008 (19H1615)
9. Xcode 13.2 (13C90)
My macOS Monterey 12.1 What’s New Update Video!
Table of Contents
1. Apple Links
2. Mr. Macintosh articles of interest for Apple Silicon & macOS Monterey
If you installed the Big Sur 11.6.1 Update, Recovery OS will be upgraded Monterey on your M1 Mac.
Normally when you install a macOS update, recovery gets updated so it matches the OS version.
Example: You have an M1 Mac that has Big Sur 11.5.2 on it. Then you installed the 11.6 update. The following happens.
M1 Mac
MacOS is updated to 11.6
Recovery OS is updated to 11.6
Fallback Recovery stays on 11.5.2
Intel Mac
MacOS is updated to 11.6
Recovery OS is updated to 11.6
Big Sur OS and Monterey Recovery on M1?
MacAdmin @nstrauss first reported something strange last week.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904 Command + R vs Option + Command R. The OS that shipped with your Mac vs the latest available supported version. What’s the equivalent to this on Apple silicon? If I’m not ready to move to Monterey, but recovery is only offering Monterey, what can I do?
How could you have an M1 Mac with Big Sur installed but Monterey as the recovery OS?
There is one way you can get into this situation.
Upgrade an M1 Mac to Monterey
Boot to recovery with Big Sur USB Installer
Erase the drive
Install Big Sur
You now have an M1 Mac with Big Sur OS and Monterey Recovery.
The only way to fix this is to use Apple Configurator 2 + DFU mode. You can restore macOS and Recovery back to Big Sur with the 11.6 IPSW.
This was not what happened in Nathaniel’s situation.
The Big Sur 11.6.1 update changed the normal process.
EDIT: This happens with ANY Big Sur update!
Example: You have a Software Update deferral in place. You are offered the 11.5.2 or 11.6 update, you will also get Monterey Recovery.
I started talking with someone who knows the recovery system very well. He was just as confused as I was.
I decided to test on my M1 that was on 11.6. I Booted into recovery, and recovery OS was on 11.6. Then I booted into fallback recovery and it was on 11.6.
The version was 11.6 because I used AC2 and the 11.6 IPSW to restore.
I then installed the 11.6.1 update in System Preferences > Software Update.
When the update was complete, the OS was on 11.6.1. I then booted into recovery and found this.
macOS recovery is now on 12.0.1 Monterey after installing the 11.6.1 update on an M1 Mac.
Recovery is on macOS Monterey 12.0.1 …. ok
Let’s try Fallback Recovery. If you are not familiar with FBR this is what Apple says about it.
Fallback Recovery = From a shutdown state, double- press and hold the power button. The same process as recoveryOS boot, except that it boots to a second copy of recoveryOS that is kept for resiliency. However, LLB doesn’t lock an indication into the Boot Progress Register saying it is going into recoveryOS, and therefore the fallback recovery OS doesn’t have the capability to change the system security state.
Apple Platform Security
The idea here is FBR is a 2nd copy of recoveryOS that is one version behind. This a great troubleshooting tool that you could use if you installed an update but something went wrong.
So I booted into FBR and it was on 12.0.1 Monterey.
How can you confirm that you are booted to FBR? From the Apple Security Guide, you should not be able to modify system security.
M1 Mac on 11.6.1 booted to Fallback Recovery Mode
Once in Fallback recovery, I attempted to modify the Startup Security Utility and got the message above.
Howard Oakley wrote an excellent article on Fallback Recovery if you would like to learn more.
We now know that installing the 11.6.1 update will update recoveryOS to Monterey. What about the Big Sur 11.6.1 full installer?
1st test – 11.6 installed = 11.6.1 Full Installer
After using the 11.6.1 Full installer, macOS recovery will be updated to Monterey 12.0.1
2nd test – 11.6 installed – 11.6.2 Beta Update
The update showed up in system preferences as a full 11GB update. After updating, recoveryOS was Big Sur
3rd test – 11.6.1 installed – 11.6.2 Beta Update
Maybe the issue was just in the 11.6.1 update? After installing the 11.6.2 Beta update, recoveyOS was on 12.0.1 Recovery. You would think that the 11.6.2 Beta update would have installed 12.1 Beta recoveryOS but that was not the case.
If you still need to Reinstall Big Sur.
This is where the new M1 Recovery system comes in handy. All you need to do is create a Big Sur USB installer.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372
Boot to M1 Boot Picker by holding down Power.
Select Install macOS Big Sur.
You are now in recovery and can use the Big Sur USB installer to reinstall macOS Big Sur.
Conclusion
So what is the deal with this situation? We have a few possibilities.
This is a bug or mistake on Apple’s part. This is unexpected behavior that we have not seen before.
There is a technical reason behind the change.
Apple wants users to upgrade to Monterey when reinstalling macOS.
I’m not pointing in any one direction because I don’t know why this is happening.
I’ve submitted a ticket to Apple Enterprise Support to find out. I will update you when I hear back.
Thanks
Hat tip to someone who reached out to help clarify the situation.
2nd hat tip to Howard Oakley, Mark Buffington and Pico for additional confirmation plus answering some of my questions.
macOS Big Sur 11.6.1 (20G224)Update is now available for all users!
UPDATED: 10/25
Apple just dropped a new macOS Big Sur 11.6.1 Update! Let’s jump in and find out what’s new!
Is the 2021-00x Security Update name format dead?
I think it is. Normally Apple does not stop normal point release updates that include bug fixes until the next release of macOS. In this case, it looks like apple has moved to Security Updates only mode. From now until Big Sur’s end of life in 2 years it will only receive security updates.
In the past, this would mean that we would get the following Big Sur update name format
Big Sur 2021-001 Security Update
Now we have
Big Sur 11.6.1 Security Update
I am 100% for this! Thank you Apple for making the security update version number easier for normal users to understand.
11.6.1 FULL INSTALLER?
Apple did not initially release a full installer for 11.6.
#MacAdmins got pretty upset about this, we need to send out Macs that are secure from the start.
We are lucky enough that Apple HAS released a full installer for 11.6.1!
