Apple macOS Monterey Update Available Now with These 8 New Things

macOS Monterey is finally arriving, and it brings a number of exciting new Mac features, especially when it comes to interconnectivity with other Apple devices, sharing content with friends and family, and other welcome features (especially for remote workers).
Note that some of Monterey’s new additions are specifically designed to work with the latest M1 chips from an Apple. If you don’t have an M1 device, some features may not work as well for you. If you’re thinking about updating, continue reading to take a look at our list of eight new features to try!
More Versatile AirPlay
Monterey’s version of AirPlay feels like the way this streaming feature was always supposed to work. It now supports the effortless moving of media from iPhone over to macOS, including the ability to stream in-app actions (useful for teaching new skills or showing off in remote work situations). Basically, if it’s happening on your iOS or iPadOS screen, there’s a good chance you can stream it over to a Mac with Monterey. However, you will need Apple devices made within the last few years to support this feature.
New Shortcut Creation
Shortcuts from iPadOS are coming to Monterey. If you’ve already been using these shortcuts or creating some of your own, you’ll be pleased to know that they’ll sync with Monterey so you won’t have to create them again for macOS (with some limitations based on device). This should make it a lot easier to streamline many Mac tools that you use frequently, and is a step above the previous Automator – which will still be supported for now.
New Safari Experience
Safari is getting a significant amount of changes in Monterey, starting with a more colorful interface that switches hues based on the site you are using. It also includes a new sidebar menu to quickly access downloads or shared content, along with a lot of new tab management options. If you do a lot of research or work in the browser, you should get ready to save and manage Tab Groups for easier access later. These Tab Groups will also sync across Safari on other Mac devices.
Focus Modes for Mac
Focus is a new set of abilities that Apple is adding to all its devices that allows you to create and schedule filters for certain periods of the day. These filters can block certain notifications while letting others through, or halt notifications of all kinds. While we know that setting up new customization can sound exhausting, we really encourage you to give Focus a try. It’s excellent for work or study, and there are pre-made filters you can use if you don’t want to create your own.
Low Power Mode for MacBooks
If you have a MacBook, you’ll love that Monterey now adds the iPhone’s low power mode so you can also save on laptop battery.
Quick Notes
Quick Notes is the ability to create a, well, quick note without needing to open the Notes app. You can add images and links to the quick notes, and they’ll be deposited into Notes in the background for easier management. If you’ve been sharing notes with others on the same project, you can also use the new Activity screen to check on any revisions that other people have been making to a note, such as comments or updated links.
Universal Control (Coming This Fall)
Apple teased this feature before, and it's still not available just yet. Universal Control allows you to switch between Apple devices like iMacs, MacBooks, and iPads on the fly – all while using the same mouse and keyboard. Essentially, you can turn Apple screens into secondary monitors, and move content to whatever device is best suited for it. This works on up to three devices at once (on Apple devices made after 2016), and has a ton of potential for busy professionals. We can’t wait to see what people will do with it!
SharePlay (Eventually)
SharePlay is a FaceTime feature that allows you to share media with others on the FaceTime call, like listening to the same music or watching the same video. It’s an easy way to catch up on content with friends even if you can't be in front of the same TV. There’s just one small problem…it doesn’t work on Monterey. Apple found it had to do some extra work on SharePlay and announced it would be included in the original release, but relegated to a later update. We’ll have to stay patient for this one – fortunately, you can still use it on mobile devices.
There are also a number of minor updates, including an optimized Finder window, more VoiceOver support for accessibility, and improvements to a number of previous tools to make them smarter and faster.
All in all, Monterey looks like an excellent upgrade with plenty of sensible quality-of-life improvements. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the latest news, how Monterey is performing, and what features are worth your time!