macOS Monterey 12.0.1 RC2 (21A559) is Live! What’s New?

macOS Monterey Release Candidate 2 is now available for Developers.

UPDATED 10/22

Apple also just dropped macOS Monterey 12.0.1 RC2 only 2 days after the first RC. Let’s jump in and find out what’s new in this update.

Quick Summary

1. 12.0.1 RC 2 is now available as a delta update
2. Full Installer = will not be released.
3. 12.0.1 M1 IPSW Restore File = YES
4. 12.0.1 Public Beta = Available now!
5. macOS 12.0 (Build 21A344) New M1 MacBook Pro shipping version found!

Full list of Apple Beta releases.

1. iPadOS 15.1 RC 2 (19B75) – iPad Mini 2021 Only
2. Xcode 13.1 RC

macOS Monterey Beta Patch Notes Summary

• 1. Enterprise – 0
• 2. New Features – 0
• 3. Known Issues – 0
• 4. Resolved Issues – 0
• 5. Deprecations – 0
• 6. Undocumented Fixes – 0
• 7. Undocumented New Features – 0

Table of Contents

• 1. Apple Links
• 2. Mr. Macintosh articles of interest for Apple Silicon & macOS Monterey
• 3. Undocumented macOS Monterey Beta Update changes & fixes
• 4. Monterey Release History
• 5. macOS Monterey Full Installer.app
• 6. Apple Silicon IPSW Restore file Update
• 7. macOS Monterey Update sizes for Intel and M1
• 8. Apple Silicon M1 Firmware Update
• 9. Intel T2 BridgeOS Update
• 10. Safari Update
• 11. What’s new for enterprise in macOS Monterey
• 12. Security Content of macOS Monterey
• 13. macOS Monterey Release Notes / Patch Notes / Changes

Click “Continue Reading” for the rest of the article.

1. Apple Links

AppleSeed Notes Link = appleseed.apple.com/

Developer Public Link = developer.apple.com/documentation/macos-release-notes

macOS Deployment References Changes – https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment-reference-macos/document-revision-history-apd04dff7069/web

2. Articles of interest & info related to macOS Monterey Beta

• 1. None

3. Undocumented macOS Monterey changes & fixes

• 1. None

4. Monterey Beta Release History

• 12. Monterey 12.0.1 RC2 (21A559) – Current Release
• 11. Monterey 12.0.1 RC (21A558) – 10/18/21 – My Release Notes
• 10. Monterey Beta 10 (21A5552a) – 10/13/21 – My Release Notes
• 9. Monterey Beta 9 (21A5543b) – 10/06/21 – My Release Notes
• 8. Monterey Beta 8 (21A5534d) – 9/28/21 – My Release Notes
• 7. Monterey Beta 7 (21A5522h) – 9/21/21 – My Release Notes
• 6. Monterey Beta 6 (21A5506j) – 8/30/21 – My Release Notes
• 5. Monterey Beta 5 (21A5304g) – 8/09/21 – My Release Notes
• 4. Monterey Beta 4 (21A5294g) – 7/27/21 – My Release Notes
• 3. Monterey Beta 3 (21A5284e) – 7/14/21 – My Release Notes
• 2. Monterey Beta 2 (21A5268h) – 6/28/21 – My Release Notes
• 1. Monterey Beta 1 (21A5248p) – 6/07/21 – My Release Notes

5. macOS Monterey Full Installer.app

I list all the the Beta versions of the macOS Monterey Full installer in the link below. The full installer is usually released alongside the Public Beta. The public beta is usually released a day or 2 after the developer update.

NOTE: Apple is only keeping the current version of the Monterey Beta Full installer available. When a new one is released, the previous version is pulled.

https://mrmacintosh.com/macos-12-monterey-full-installer-database-download-directly-from-apple/

• 12. Monterey 12.0.1 RC2 = ???
• 11. Monterey 12.0.1 RC = N/A
• 10. Monterey Beta 10 = 10/14/21
• 9. Monterey Beta 9 = 10/12/21
• 8. Monterey Beta 8 = 9/29/21
• 7. Monterey Beta 7 = 9/22/21
• 6. Monterey Beta 6 = 8/31/21
• 5. Monterey Beta 5 = 8/10/21
• 4. Monterey Beta 4 = 7/27/21
• 3. Monterey Beta 3 = 7/14/21
• 2. Monterey Beta 2 = 6/29/21
• 1. Monterey Beta 1 = 6/15/21

InstallAssistant.pkg = Full download. Installing this package will add the full “Install macOS Monterey.app” to your applications folder.

6. Apple Silicon IPSW Restore file Update

Apple has released the full IPSW restore file of macOS Monterey Beta for Apple Silicon Macs. I keep track of all of them in my Apple Silicon Firmware Database

• 12. macOS Monterey 12.0.1 RC2 = UniversalMac_12.0.1_21A559_Restore.ipsw
• 11. macOS Monterey 12.0.1 RC = UniversalMac_12.0.1_21A558_Restore.ipsw
• 10. macOS Monterey Beta 10 = UniversalMac_12.0_21A5552a_Restore.ipsw
• 9. macOS Monterey Beta 9 = UniversalMac_12.0_21A5543b_Restore.ipsw
• 8. macOS Monterey Beta 8 = UniversalMac_12.0_21A5534d_Restore.ipsw
• 7. macOS Monterey Beta 7 = UniversalMac_12.0_21A5522h_Restore.ipsw
• 6. macOS Monterey Beta 6 = UniversalMac_12.0_21A5506j_Restore.ipsw
• 5. macOS Monterey Beta 5 = UniversalMac_12.0_21A5304g_Restore.ipsw
• 4. macOS Monterey Beta 4 = UniversalMac_12.0_21A5294g_Restore.ipsw
• 3. macOS Monterey Beta 3 = UniversalMac_12.0_21A5284e_Restore.ipsw
• 2. macOS Monterey Beta 2 = UniversalMac_12.0_21A5268h_Restore.ipsw
• 1. macOS Monterey Beta 1 = Not released

Get them here –> https://mrmacintosh.com/apple-silicon-m1-full-macos-restore-ipsw-firmware-files-database/

7. macOS Monterey Update sizes for Intel and M1

Monterey Delta Update

The delta update will automatically change in size for exactly what your os version needs.

• 1. RC > RC2 = 919.1 MB
• 2. Beta 10 > RC2 = 1.9GB
• 3. Beta 9 > RC2 = 2.0GB
• 4. Beta 8 > RC2 = 2.3GB

Thank you DhinakG

Monterey Combo Update

The “Combo Update” has been replaced by an automatic sized update. This means if you are updating from an older beta (example Beta 2) you will get an update that includes only what you need.

Monterey Full Update

This is update is for if your volume is having issues or is not sealed.

Size = 11.0GB

8. Apple Silicon M1 Firmware Update

This update has a new firmware update. The version number is reported in System Information under “System Firmware Version“

Apple Silicon M1 Firmware – UPDATED = 7429.41.5

Previous M1 Apple Silicon Firmware Updates

• 12. macOS Monterey 12.0.1 RC2 = 7429.41.5
• 11. macOS Monterey 12.0.1 RC = 7429.41.4
• 10. macOS Monterey Beta 10 = 7429.41.4
• 9. macOS Monterey Beta 9 = 7429.40.92.0.5
• 8. macOS Monterey Beta 8 = 7429.40.84.181.1
• 7. macOS Monterey Beta 7 = 7429.40.68
• 6. macOS Monterey Beta 6 = 7429.40.38
• 5. macOS Monterey Beta 5 = 7429.30.8.0.4
• 4. macOS Monterey Beta 4 = 7429.0.207.141.1
• 3. macOS Monterey Beta 3 = 7429.0.181.131.1
• 2. macOS Monterey Beta 2 = 7429.0.133.121.1
• 1. macOS Monterey Beta 1 = 7429.0.72.0.3

9. Intel T2 BridgeOS Update

The Version of BridgeOS for your T2 Security Chip (2018-2020 Intel Macs) was updated.

BridgeOS version – NOT UPDATED = 19.16.10548.0.0

Previous T2 Bridge Updates

• 12. macOS Monterey 12.0.1 RC2 = 19.16.10548.0.0
• 11. macOS Monterey 12.0.1 RC = 19.16.10548.0.0
• 10. macOS Monterey Beta 10 = 19.16.10547.5.1
• 9. macOS Monterey Beta 9 = 19.16.10542.5.1
• 8. macOS Monterey Beta 8 = 19.16.10534.5.4
• 7. macOS Monterey Beta 7 = 19.16.10522.5.4
• 6. macOS Monterey Beta 6 = 19.16.10506.5.1
• 5. macOS Monterey Beta 5 = 19.16.10321.5.5
• 4. macOS Monterey Beta 4 = 19.16.10310.5.5
• 3. macOS Monterey Beta 3 = 19.16.10300.5.4
• 2. macOS Monterey Beta 2 = 19.16.10284.5.7
• 1. macOS Monterey Beta 1 = 19.16.10264.5.14

10. Safari Update

The new version of Safar 15 is included in the macOS Monterey Beta update.

Safari – NOT UPDATED = 15.1 (17612.2.9.1.20)

• 12. macOS Monterey 12.0.1 RC2 = 15.1 (17612.2.9.1.20)
• 11. macOS Monterey 12.0.1 RC = 15.1 (17612.2.9.1.20)
• 10. macOS Monterey Beta 10 = 15.1 (17612.2.9.1.6)
• 9. macOS Monterey Beta 9 = 15.1 (17612.2.9.1.1)
• 8. macOS Monterey Beta 8 = 15.1 = (17612.2.6.1.1)
• 7. macOS Monterey Beta 7 = Safari 15.0 (17612.2.4.2.2)
• 6. macOS Monterey Beta 6 = Safari 15.0 (17612.1.28.5)
• 5. macOS Monterey Beta 5 = Safari 15.0 (17612.1.26.1.3)
• 4. macOS Monterey Beta 4 = Safari 15.0 (17612.1.24.1.4)
• 3. macOS Monterey Beta 3 = Safari 15.0 = (17612.1.22.1.4)
• 2. macOS Monterey Beta 2 = Safari 15.0 (17612.1.18.1.3)
• 1. macOS Monterey Beta 1 = Safari 15.0 (17612.1.15.1.14)

11. What’s new for Enterprise in macOS Monterey Beta

Enterprise changes in macOS Monterey Beta

• None

12. Security Content of macOS Monterey

macOS Monterey Security Document

• 1. None

13. macOS Monterey Beta Release Notes

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/macos-release-notes/macos-12-beta-release-notes

Overview

The macOS 12 SDK provides support to develop apps for Mac computers running macOS Monterey 12. The SDK comes bundled with Xcode 13 beta 5, available from Beta Software Downloads. For information on the compatibility requirements for Xcode 13, see Xcode 13 Release Notes.

AppKit

• See AppKit Release Notes for macOS Monterey 12 Beta.

Displays Preferences

Known Issues

• There might be issues with wakeup when dual monitors are connected. (79839446)Workaround: Connect the power adapter that came with the Mac.

CoreData

Known Issues

• NSExpression immediately forbids certain operations that have significant side effects, like creating and destroying objects. Additionally, casting string class names into Class objects with NSConstantValueExpression is deprecated. (84017178)Workaround: Pass temporary objects to NSExpression in the context parameter of expressionValueWithObject:context:, or with NSPredicate as the substitutionVariables parameter of evaluateWithObject:substitutionVariables:. You can create a derived predicate with all the substitution variables replaced (bound), using withSubstitutionVariables(_:) on an existing NSPredicate so that code using the object can continue to use a simple evaluate(with object: Any?) invocation.

iCloud

Known Issues

• Legacy Contacts has been removed from macOS Monterey 12 beta 5 and will return in a future release. (81292890)
• Custom Email Domain addresses that are associated with a separate iTunes account can’t be configured. (82358431)

Mac Catalyst

Known Issues

• Setting the title color of a UIButton doesn’t work regardless of whether you use baseForegroundColor or titleColorForState:. (76566253)

Maps

Deprecations

• MKPinAnnotationView and MapPin are deprecated in this beta. (78536295)

Known Issues

• Rounded building corners might disappear. (80468151)

Networking

Deprecations

• Support for cleartext HTTP URL schemes for Proxy Automatic Configuration (PAC) is now deprecated. Use only HTTPS URL schemes for PAC. This affects all PAC configurations, including, but not limited to, configurations set via Settings, System Preferences, profiles, and URLSession APIs such as connectionProxyDictionary and CFNetworkExecuteProxyAutoConfigurationURL(_:_:_:_:). If you configure a cleartext HTTP PAC URL, the system may upgrade it to HTTPS during PAC file loads. Web Proxy Auto-Discovery (WPAD) Protocol via DNS isn’t affected. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Option 252 WPAD may attempt to upgrade cleartext HTTP URLs to HTTPS during PAC file loads. (61981845)

Python

Deprecations

• If an app uses Python 2.7, macOS now triggers an alert indicating that the developer must update the app to ensure it will work in future versions of macOS. (80221011)

RealityKit

Known Issues

• The StreamingInput init on PhotogrammetrySession isn’t supported. (78838906)

SharePlay

Deprecations

• SharePlay development in macOS Monterey beta 6 and upcoming beta releases requires the installation of an updated SharePlay Development Profile. This profile enables successful creation and reception of GroupSessions via the Group Activities API in iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and tvOS 15 beta 7, as well as macOS Monterey beta 6. (81900143)

Swift

Known Issues

• Applications linking to RealityKit with the iOS 15 or macOS 12 SDKs will fail to launch on a previous OS. (79584511)Workaround: Add OTHER_LD_FLAGS = -weak_framework RealityFoundation to your Xcode Project settings to allow running RealityKit apps on an older OS.

SwiftUI

Deprecations

• controlProminence is deprecated. Use the new .borderedProminent ButtonStyle instead. (78908460)
• Fn (Function) shortcut modifier is deprecated and reserved for system usage. (78627099)

Monterey 12.0.1 RC2 Update