5 Things to Know About the macOS Monterey 12.6.6 Update

Apple’s pushed a new macOS Monterey 12.6.6 update to Mac users.

Like many of its predecessors, macOS Monterey 12.6.6 is a small point update that brings important security enhancements to Mac devices still running macOS Monterrey.

You’ll only see the macOS Monterey 12.6.6 update on your Mac if you haven’t upgraded to macOS Ventura or if you’re using a Mac that wasn’t eligible to move to Apple’s most up-to-date operating system.

With that in mind, we want to take you through everything there you need to know about the macOS Monterey 12.6.6 update and its release.

In this guide we’ll take you through the macOS Monterey 12.6.6 update’s performance, macOS Monterey 12.6.6 problems, the best places to find feedback about macOS Monterey 12.6.6, and more.

We’ll start out with some quick impressions regarding macOS Monterey 12.6.6’s performance.

macOS Monterey 12.6.6 Review

The size of the macOS Monterey 12.6.6 download will vary based on Mac model and the version of macOS it’s currently running.

If your Mac’s currently running macOS Monterey 12.6.5, the installation should take less than 15 minutes to complete. It took around 10 minutes to complete on a MacBook Pro (2016). If it’s not, it could take longer.

For more on the macOS Monterey 12.6.6 download and installation, take a look at our guide.

We’ve been using the macOS Monterey 12.6.6 update on a MacBook Pro (2016) for several days now and here’s what we’ve learned about its performance:

Battery Life & Connectivity

• Battery life is currently stable and we haven’t noticed any abnormal drain.
• Wi-Fi connectivity is fast and reliable.
• Bluetooth is working normally.

App Performance

• Third-party apps including Slack, Chrome, and Spotify are all working fine at the moment.
• First party apps like Safari and Podcasts are also stable right now.

Speed

• macOS Monterey 12.6.6 feels as fast as macOS Monterey 12.6.5 and we haven’t noticed any UI lag yet.

If your Mac is currently struggling on macOS Monterey 12.6.5 or an older version of macOS, you might want to install macOS Monterey 12.6.6 on your Mac today.

If you need help making a decision, check out our reasons to, and not to, install macOS Monterey 12.6.6 right now. It could help.

macOS Monterey 12.6.6 Problems

The macOS Monterey 12.6.6 is causing problems for some Mac owners.

Thus far, we’ve heard about abnormal battery drain, Bluetooth problems, issues with various first and third-party apps, and Wi-Fi problems. We expect the list to grow as more people download the firmware.

If you download macOS Monterey 12.6.6, and run into performance issues on your Mac, here are a few resources that could come in handy.

Before you get in touch with Apple customer support, take a look at our list of fixes for the most common macOS Monterey problems. We’ve also put together a guide that will help you fix macOS Monterey battery life problems.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for in our guides, head over to Apple’s discussion forums. If the users there can’t help you, you might want to get in touch with Apple Support via Twitter or with customer support via Apple’s website.

If you still can’t fix your issue(s), you might want to schedule an appointment and go see an Apple Genius at your local Apple Store.

macOS Monterey 12.6.6 Features

The most recent updates to macOS Monterey have focused on security and that hasn’t changed with the release of macOS Monterey 12.6.6.

The company’s change log notes that macOS Monterey 12.6.6 improves security and you can read more about those changes over on Apple’s security site.

macOS Monterey 12.6.6 Downgrade

If you encounter issues with macOS Monterey 12.6.6, you can try downgrading your Mac’s software to an older version of macOS.

There’s no timeframe for this to expire so if you decide you need to move your Mac back to older macOS software, it’s fairly easy to do if you’re prepared.

If you’re interested in moving back to older software, take a look at our downgrade guide. It will help you understand the process and make the move if you decide you need to.

What’s Next

There’s no telling when Apple will release a new version of macOS Monterey.

Apple’s released its macOS 13 Ventura update and the operating system delivers an assortment of new features, bug fixes, and other upgrades.

If your Mac is struggling on macOS Monterey and/or you want to use Apple’s latest and greatest features, you’ll want to upgrade to macOS Ventura.

For more about macOS Ventura and its changes, check out our walkthrough.

The company will also release its new macOS Sonoma operating system for Mac later this year. The software is currently in beta testing ahead of its arrival.

For more about macOS Sonoma, check out our guide.

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