macOS Monterey 12.3 Update! [Spring Release!] What’s New?

MrMacintosh.com - macOS Monterey 12.3 Update — macOS Monterey 12.3 Update

macOS Monterey 12.3 (21E230) is now available

UPDATED: 03/15

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.

macOS Monterey Patch Notes Summary

1. New Features – 3
2. Enhancements -6
3. Resolved Issues – 3
4. Security Fixes – 45
5. Enterprise Fixes – 9
6. Third-Party App Compatibility – 3

My macOS Monterey 12.3 Update Video!

Full Apple OS Release list

iOS 📱✅

iOS 15.4 (19E241)
iPadOS 15.4 (19E241)
tvOS 15.4 (19L440)
audioOS 15.4 (19L440)
watchOS 8.5 (19T242)

macOS 💻 ✅

Monterey 12.3 (21E230)
Big Sur 11.6.5 (20G527)
Catalina 2022-003 (19H1823)
Xcode 13.3 (13E113)

1. Apple Links
2. Areas of interest for this update
3. Undocumented macOS Monterey 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

1. Python 2.7 was completely removed from macOS in this update. Developers should use Python 3, or an alternative language, instead.
2. The kernel extensions used by Dropbox Desktop Application and Microsoft OneDrive have been removed. Both service providers have replacements for this functionality currently in Beta.

3. Undocumented macOS Monterey changes & fixes

1. None

4. Monterey Release History

17. Monterey 12.3 (21E230) – 3/14/22 – My Release Notes
16. Monterey 12.2.1 (21D62) – 2/10/22 – My Release Notes
15. Monterey 12.2 (21D49) -1/24/22 – My Release Notes
14. Monterey 12.1 (21C52) – 12/13/21 – My Release Notes
13. Monterey 12.0.1 Final (21A559) – 10/25/21 – My Release Notes
12. Monterey 12.0.1 RC2 (21A559) – 10/21/21 – My Release Notes
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 – No Release Notes

5. macOS Monterey Full Installer.app

Apple has released the full installer for macOS Monterey. I list all the of the macOS Monterey Full installers in the link below.

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

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 for Apple Silicon M1 Macs. I keep track of all of them in my Apple Silicon Firmware Database

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 macOS version needs.

1. Delta from macOS Monterey 12.2.1 (21D62) = 4.4GB
2. Delta from macOS Monterey 12.2 (21D48) = 4.4GB
3. Delta from macOS Monterey 12.1 (21C52) = 4.4GB
4. Delta from macOS Monterey 12.0.1 (21A559) = 4.5GB
5. Full update size = 11.3 GB

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 version of monterey, you will get an update that includes only the files that you need.

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!

5. macOS Monterey 12.3 = 7459.101.2
4. macOS Monterey 12.2.1 = 7429.81.3
3. macOS Monterey 12.2 = 7429.81.3
2. macOS Monterey 12.1 = 7429.61.2
1. macOS Monterey 12.0.1 = 7429.41.5

9. Intel T2 BridgeOS Update

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

BridgeOS version – Updated!

5. macOS Monterey 12.3 = 19.16.14242.5.1
4. macOS Monterey 12.2.1 = 19.16.10744.0.0 (Same as 12.2)
3. macOS Monterey 12.2 = 19.16.10744.0.0
2. macOS Monterey 12.1 = 19.16.10647.0.0
1. macOS Monterey 12.0.1 = 19.16.10548.0.0

10. Safari Update

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

Safari = Updated!

5. macOS Monterey 12.3 = 15.4 (17613.1.17.1.6)
4. macOS Monterey 12.2.1 = 15.3 (17612.4.9.1.8)
3. macOS Monterey 12.2 = 15.3 (17612.4.9.1.5)
2. macOS Monterey 12.1 = 15.2 (17612.3.6.1.6)
1. macOS Monterey 12.0.1 = 15.1 (17612.2.9.1.20)

11. What’s new for Enterprise in macOS Monterey

Enterprise changes in macOS Monterey

1. Python 2.7 is removed from macOS.
2. AirPlay Receiver on a Mac can be restricted by MDM.
3. Improves reliability with managed software updates using Install Later.
4. Resolves an issue where software update scans become unresponsive.
5. Resolves an issue where DNS queries failed when using Cisco AnyConnect.
6. Resolves an issue using NTLM authentication on SMB print servers that also allow Kerberos.
7. Resolves an issue where Safari prompts for an identity certificate multiple times.
8. Resolves an issue on Mac computers with the Apple T2 Security Chip where entering the firmware password was required to return to the login window after attempting a password reset.
9. Resolves an issue where Microsoft Office documents couldn’t be saved to Xsan or StorNext volumes.

12. Security Content of macOS Monterey

macOS Monterey Security Document

Security fixes = 45!!

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213183

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201222

13. macOS Monterey Release Notes

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

Overview

macOS Monterey 12.3 — Restart Required

macOS 12.3 adds Universal Control so you can use a single mouse and keyboard across your Mac and iPad. This release also includes new emoji, dynamic head tracking for Music, and other features and bug fixes for your Mac.

Universal Control (beta)

Universal Control allows you to use a single mouse and keyboard across iPad and Mac
Text can be typed on either Mac or iPad and you can drag and drop files between them

Spatial Audio

Dynamic head tracking is available in Music with supported AirPods on Mac computers with the M1 chip
Customizable spatial audio settings for Off, Fixed, and Head Tracked are now in Control Center with supported AirPods on Mac computers with the M1 chip

Emoji

New emoji including faces, hand gestures, and household objects are available in emoji keyboard
Handshake emoji allows you to choose separate skin tones for each hand

This release also includes the following enhancements for your Mac:

Siri now includes an additional voice, expanding the diversity of options
Podcasts app adds episode filter for seasons, played, unplayed, saved, or downloaded episodes
Safari webpage translation adds support for Italian and Chinese (Traditional)
Shortcuts now supports adding, removing, or querying tags with Reminders
Saved passwords can now include your own notes
Battery capacity readings have improved accuracy

This release also includes bug fixes for your Mac:

News widgets in Today View may not open articles when clicked
Audio may sound distorted while watching video in the Apple TV app
Some photos and videos may be unintentionally moved when organizing albums in Photos

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

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