{"id":1770951,"date":"2021-10-27T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-27T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2022-10-07T13:27:59","modified_gmt":"2022-10-07T13:27:59","slug":"macos-12-monterey-download-and-install-guide","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/macos-12-monterey-download-and-install-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"macOS 12 Monterey: Download and Install Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul><li><a href=\"#How-to-download-and-install-macOS-12-Monterey\"><strong>How to download and install macOS 12 Monterey<\/strong><\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Macs-compatible-with-macOS-12-Monterey\"><strong>Macs compatible with macOS 12 Monterey<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><ul><li><a href=\"#Pro-Audio-compatibility-with-macOS\"><strong>Pro-Audio compatibility with macOS<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><ul><li><a href=\"#Create-a-Time-Machine-backup\"><strong>Create a Time Machine backup<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><ul><li><a href=\"#Storage-space-requirements\"><strong>Storage space requirements<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Download-macOS-12-Monterey\"><strong>Download macOS 12 Monterey<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#Install-macOS-12-Monterey\">Install macOS 12 Monterey<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"How-to-download-and-install-macOS-12-Monterey\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">How to download and install macOS 12 Monterey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>macOS 12 Monterey has exciting new features, but pro audio users should take caution before upgrading. While macOS 12 Monterey is easily downloaded and installed from the App Store (or System Preferences &gt; Software Update), it\u2019s not recommended until you\u2019ve verified compatibility for your Mac and pro audio products. Once you\u2019ve confirmed everything is compatible, continue to create a Time Machine backup of your current system before initiating the upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Macs-compatible-with-macOS-12-Monterey\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Macs compatible with macOS 12 Monterey<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most recently released Macs are compatible with macOS 12 Monterey and have the ability to upgrade their version of macOS. If your Mac is not compatible, then it cannot upgrade to macOS 12 Monterey and will only be able to upgrade to the latest compatible version respective to its model. Locate your model identifier or part number to help specify its exact version. You can also use your Mac\u2019s \u201cAbout This Mac\u201d feature from the Menu Bar to learn more about your Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>iMac Late 2015 and&nbsp;later<\/strong><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT201634\"><strong>Identify your iMac Model<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Mac&nbsp;Pro Late 2013 and&nbsp;later<\/strong><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT202888\"><strong>Identify your Mac Pro Model<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>iMac&nbsp;Pro 2017 and later<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Mac&nbsp;mini Late 2014 and&nbsp;later<\/strong><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT201894\"><strong>Identify your Mac Mini Model<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>MacBook&nbsp;Air Early 2015 and&nbsp;later<\/strong><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT201862\"><strong>Identify your MacBook Air Model<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>MacBook Early 2016 and&nbsp;later<\/strong><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT201300\"><strong>Identify your MacBook Model<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>MacBook&nbsp;Pro Early 2015 and&nbsp;later<\/strong><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT201300\"><strong>Identify your MacBook Pro Model<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Pro-Audio-compatibility-with-macOS\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Pro-Audio compatibility with macOS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your Mac must be compatible with macOS 12 to upgrade, but so must your third-party software and hardware products. That means DAW apps like Pro Tools or Live and audio interfaces like Clarett and Apollo must be officially supported by their respective manufacturers before they\u2019ll work on the new macOS. Otherwise, the upgrade risks losing connectivity or access to one or more of your pro audio products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Create-a-Time-Machine-backup\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Create a Time Machine backup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You should <em>always<\/em> create a Time Machine backup before upgrading macOS or changing your Mac. That\u2019s just in case things don\u2019t work out so that you can restore your Mac without losing your data or too much time. If you need to downgrade and don\u2019t have a Time Machine backup, then you\u2019ll either stick with what you\u2019ve got or reset your Mac from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> It is not recommended, under any situation, to upgrade your current music-production computer without a recently created Time Machine backup at the ready. Remember: <em>Do not upgrade without a Time Machine backup!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=geJiTXOb37w\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"Storage-space-requirements\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader darkBlueHeader alignLeft underline customh3 swheader\">Storage space requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll need to have enough storage space on your Mac to download the macOS upgrade files. The beta version is about 11GB, so you\u2019ll need more than that to make sure your computer has enough space for the download <em>and<\/em> installation<strong>. <\/strong>The software installer will display an error message if you attempt to install without sufficient storage space or a connected power adapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to free up space on your Mac on macOS Catalina or earlier  \u2014 Apple Support\" width=\"620\" height=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ha2DhifzZZI?wmode=transparent&amp;rel=0&amp;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"Download-macOS-12-Monterey\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">Download macOS 12 Monterey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Macs compatible with macOS 12 Monterey can start their macOS upgrade from the <strong>Software Update<\/strong> section of the <strong>System Preferences <\/strong>menu<strong>. <\/strong>From there, you\u2019ll find all available updates for your apps and the current version of macOS as well as the option to upgrade to the latest available macOS. Macs not compatible with macOS 12 Monterey will not be presented with the option as they are incompatible with the upgrade. Upgrading to your Mac\u2019s version of macOS means it will retain all the software and settings it can while applying the new features and updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=EYUzcpvNRp4\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"Install-macOS-12-Monterey\" class=\"wp-block-cgb-block-customheader blackHeader alignLeft noUnderline customh2 swheader\">Install macOS 12 Monterey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve downloaded the macOS 12 Monterey installer, it will initiate itself. Follow the on-screen instructions to continue and complete the installation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s3pNVw7DB0M\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1770959,"template":"","categories":[2,6,350442,7],"tags":[419890,34780,34259,35802,34717,34261],"storecat":[143023,142961],"itemids":[],"manufacturers":[33184],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to upgrade a compatible Mac or Macbook&#039;s operating system version to macOS 12 Monterey.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/macos-12-monterey-download-and-install-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"macOS 12 Monterey: Download and Install Guide - 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