Apple's macOS Monterey is now available as a free download

Apple has announced the availability of macOS Monterey, a free upgrade for supported Macs. It includes several cool updates to FaceTime, Safari gets Tab Groups and improved Intelligent Tracking Protection and there’s a feature called Live Text which makes the text in photos interactive right across the system making it easier to copy or translate words.

To run this version of macOS you must have one of the following computers:

• MacBook: Early 2016 and newer
• MacBook Air: Early 2015 and newer
• MacBook Pro: Early 2015 and newer
• Mac Mini: Late 2014 and newer
• iMac: Late 2015 and newer
• iMac Pro: Late 2017
• Mac Pro: Late 2013 and newer

If you’ve found that you have a compatible machine, you should make a complete backup with Time Machine or store your files on iCloud and then free up space for the installer, which is around 12 GB according to the Mac App Store website. Once you’ve done all that, press the Apple menu and go to System Preferences then click Software Update. If you’re using a version of macOS before Mojave, you’ll need to head to the App Store and download it from there instead.

Apple typically supports each macOS release for three years. It has not finalised an end-of-support date for macOS Catalina and above but if it sticks to the three-year cycle, Monterey should continue getting updates until around October or November in 2024.

Apple's macOS Monterey is now available as a free download