Upgrading to macOS Monterey

Owned by Adam Dinnes
Last updated: Oct 04, 2022
5 min read

 

To improve campus network security and to ensure a consistent experience across all college-owned Macs, LITS requires that all faculty and staff workstations are updated to the latest operating system

version, macOS 12 Monterey. Upgrading to Monterey is easy and can be done in about an hour with minimal interaction. Please use the information below to assist with the upgrade process.

 

Important Info

macOS Monterey will be available to install on individual (faculty, staff, and student worker) Mac computers starting October 1st, 2022. Before then, your computer will try to download necessary files ahead of time to decrease the time required for installation. This process is automatic and does not require action from you.

 

Your Mac will automatically prompt you to install the upgrade once per day, starting October 1st, and ending October 23rd, 2022. You can choose to install the update when prompted, or you can defer the update for one day. You can continue to defer the update until the 23rd, at which time you will no longer be able to defer the upgrade. If you have not installed the upgrade by that day, it will automatically begin installation the next time your computer is logged in.

 

At any time once the upgrade is available, you can manually initiate the upgrade. It takes about an hour, but can take more or less time depending on the speed of your computer and network connection. Upgrading while on campus may be faster due to the increased network speed. You also do not need to be present once the installation has started; you can start it in the evening or on a weekend to avoid downtime and return to an upgraded machine at your convenience.

Before Upgrading

  1. Make sure you have enough free hard drive space. You will need 40 GB of free space to download and install macOS Monterey.

    • Choose Apple menu > About This Mac, then click Storage to check available storage space.

    • You can free up disk space by moving files to your Google Drive or an external hard drive or flash drive,, deleting unused apps, and emptying your trash.

  2. It’s a good idea to backup critical data by using Google Drive, copying your files to an external hard drive or flash drive, or with Time Machine.

    • You should not lose data by upgrading macOS; backups are a recommended preventative measure for all major upgrades.

  3. Prepare your workstation for the upgrade, and set aside a couple hours to complete the process.

    • Quit all apps and save any files that are open.

    • Make sure your laptop’s charger is connected and the battery is fully charged.

    • Connect to your physical (not wireless)  network via an Ethernet cable or dock, if possible, to speed up the initial download time. The campus network is usually a lot faster than a home internet connection.

    • It usually takes about an hour to download and install the upgrade.

Upgrading to macOS Monterey

 

Manually Upgrading

You can manually start the upgrade to macOS Monterey any time starting October 1st. 

  1. Open the LITS Self Service app and, under the Featured tab, click Upgrade to macOS Monterey.

  2. Click the Upgrade button.

  3. Follow the prompts to download and install the upgrade.

 

Automated or Deferred Upgrade to macOS Monterey

An automatic prompt will ask you to upgrade once per day, shortly after logging into your Mac, between October 1st and 23rd. When prompted, you can choose Upgrade to begin the upgrade, which will begin immediately and take about an hour to complete.

 

You can also choose Defer to defer the upgrade until the following day. When prompted, the number of remaining days you can defer the upgrade will be listed; when you have 0 deferrals left, the upgrade will begin automatically. A five minute timer will count down before the upgrade starts to ensure you can save your work and quit any open applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don’t I see the upgrade option in LITS Self Service?

If you don’t see the Upgrade to macOS Monterey option in Self Service, it may mean that your computer is not compatible with the upgrade or does not have enough available storage space. Double check your free disk space and try again, or contact LITS Support if you still can not upgrade.

 

I’m getting a warning that macOS Monterey is blocked.

If your computer has not been restarted since before October 1st, it may have not had a chance to remove this restriction. Restart your computer and then try again.

 

If you notice the same issue after restarting, try the following:

  1. Open the LITS Self Service app and, under the Help & Support tab, click Check in.

  2. Wait for the check in process to complete - you should see a notification.

  3. Restart your computer one more time, then try upgrading again.

 

Will I lose any of my files, data, or installed apps?

You should not lose any files or apps; the OS upgrade will update your Mac to the latest version of macOS without erasing any existing files. With that said, it is recommended to back up any important data regularly and before any major upgrades as a precaution.

 

Will all of my existing apps continue to work after the upgrade?

Most apps should continue to work as they are. LITS has tested all apps that are available in the LITS Self Service app to ensure they are compatible with macOS Monterey. If you have concerns about an app you rely on, or one that you installed yourself, please contact LITS support to confirm that it will continue to work as expected.

 

Is my computer compatible with macOS Monterey?

If you are prompted to install macOS Monterey or are able to see the upgrade option in the LITS Self Service app, then your Mac is compatible! If you’re wondering about a personal computer, you can see the full list of compatibility requirements on Apple’s website.

 

I only have 40GB of free disk space; will I run out of space because of this upgrade?

The space required by macOS Monterey is about 26 GB, while the remaining space is needed temporarily to download the installation software. That space will be reclaimed after the upgrade is complete. If possible, you may consider moving some less often used files to another storage location to free up additional space, such as Google Drive or an external hard drive or flash drive.

 

What new features does macOS Monterey introduce?

Several new security features are included with macOS Monterey, including enhancements for more secure authentication, support for new hardware, and management improvements that help LITS keep your data and privacy protected.

 

You can find a full list of the new features in macOS Monterey on Apple’s website.