How to Update macOS Monterey

Key Points
Introduction: Explains why upgrading from macOS Monterey to a newer version is necessary to stay supported and secure, maintain app compatibility, and reduce risk from missing security fixes and outdated system protections.
How the latest macOS Tahoe upgrade patch works?: Clarifies how Patch Manager Plus delivers a macOS version upgrade to macOS Monterey as a deployable patch and what prerequisites affect visibility and prompts.
Quick setup: Guides you through syncing the database, enabling scanning, testing the upgrade patch on a pilot group, then deploying it and setting up APD to upgrade devices from macOS Monterey and maintain ongoing macOS patching.

Introduction

macOS Monterey is Apple’s macOS 12 release, introduced as a major desktop update with productivity and continuity features that many users and organizations still rely on today. macOS Monterey was named after the coastal region of Monterey along the California coastline, continuing Apple’s naming theme for macOS releases. As macOS Monterey has effectively reached the end of its security support window, using macOS Monterey becomes more of a risk-management decision than a long-term platform choice, because newly discovered weaknesses may not receive operating system fixes going forward—making an upgrade to a newer macOS the safer path for most environments.

On top of that, macOS Monterey is increasingly affected by application compatibility. Major browsers like Chrome are moving away from older macOS versions, and once a browser stops receiving updates on macOS Monterey, both security coverage and everyday reliability can decline over time. This matters because unpatched vulnerabilities, including zero-days, often exploit combinations of browser and operating system behavior, and relying on macOS Monterey in that state can expand the overall attack surface.

Updating macOS Monterey devices is safest when you first validate the upgrade on a small set of pilot Macs, then roll out the macOS Monterey upgrade broadly using a consistent deployment workflow.

How the latest macOS Tahoe upgrade patch works?

Devices running macOS Monterey will see the macOS 26 Tahoe upgrade as a deployable patch (Patch ID: 611932) only if they’re compatible, and it will show up under Missing Patches after a successful database sync; on Apple silicon Macs, end users will receive a password prompt during deployment for the upgrade to proceed.

Quick Setup

Follow these steps to update macOS Monterey using Patch Manager Plus.

1. Confirm device requirements and create a backup

• Verify the device OS is macOS 10.15 or later.
• Confirm the Mac model is listed as compatible for macOS 26 Tahoe:
  • MacBook Pro 16″ (2019)
  • MacBook Pro 13″ (2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
  • MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
  • MacBook Air with Apple silicon(2020 and later)
  • iMac (2020 or later)
  • Mac mini (2020 or later)
  • Mac Studio (2022 or later)
  • Mac Pro (2019 or later)
• Before upgrading macOS Monterey devices, it is always recommended to create a backup of your machines. You can use Time Machine to create a backup of your Mac devices.

2. Sync the vulnerability database and confirm patch scanning prerequisites

• In the console, Click on Update Now present in the bottom left and run Update Now under Update Vulnerability DB (the database is also updated automatically every day).
• If you need to change the database update schedule or select which patches you manage, open Settings -> Patch Database Settings, configure the required settings, then click Save.

3. Enable patch scanning after agent onboarding and validate scan status

• Go to Admin -> Agent Settings -> General Settings.
• Under actions to be performed after agent installation, enable Perform Patch Scanning.
• Verify successful scan execution by going to Patch Management -> Systems -> Scan Systems.

4. Locate the macOS Tahoe upgrade patch and deploy it

• Go to Patches -> Missing Patches and locate Patch ID 611932 (Upgrade to macOS Tahoe - Intel and Silicon).
• Select the patch checkbox and click Install/Publish Patches to open the deployment window.
• For deployment settings, choose Deploy and select a policy under Apply Deployment Policy.
• Choose your target group of macOS Monterey devices that needs to be upgraded under Define Targets.
• Once you have configured necessary settings, select Deploy or Deploy Immediately.
• For Apple silicon Macs, inform users they will be prompted to enter the password during deployment for the upgrade to proceed.

5. Set up Automate Patch Deployment Task to automate ongoing macOS patching after the upgrade

Note: Configuring an APD task after updating macOS Monterey devices is essential to automatically deploy future macOS patches and keep devices consistently protected.

• Go to Deployment -> Automate Patch Deployment.
• Click Automate Task and choose macOS.
• In Select Applications, choose how patches should be automated (Patch All Applications, Patch Specific Applications, or Patch All Applications Except).
• In Choose Deployment Settings, set Deployment Option to Deploy and choose a customized deployment policy.
• Continue through the task flow to define target and configure notifications, then save the task.



Relevant links for deeper detail and validation:

• For step-by-step manual deployment configuration and screenshots see the official documentation: Manual Deployment documentation
• For step by step APD configuration and screenshots see the APD official documentation: APD official documentation.
• For details on approval flows, Test and Approve, and approval settings see: Patch Approval documentation



Start your 30-day free trial and upgrade macOS Monterey devices.