Apple Releases macOS Monterey 12.2.1 and watchOS 8.4.2, With Fix for MacBook Battery Drain Bug and Security Updates

By AppleVis, 10 February, 2022

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Apple has today released macOS Monterey 12.2.1 and watchOS 8.4.2 to the public.

Apple says that macOS 12.2.1 provides important security updates and fixes an issue for Intel-based Mac computers that may cause the battery to drain during sleep when connected to Bluetooth peripherals.

According to the watchOS 8.4.2 release notes, this version brings security updates and bug fixes for Apple Watch owners.

We've not had an opportunity to test these updates ahead of today's release, so do not know if they include any changes for blind or low vision users. However, as these appear to be minor updates, our expectation is that they do not contain any accessibility changes. If you notice any changes, improvements or regressions in your own use of the software, please post a comment below with your findings.

To install macOS Monterey 12.2.1, choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, click the Software Update preference pane, and click the Update Now button to begin the update process. If other updates are available, you can click "More info" to see details about them and select specific updates to install.

More information on how to update the software on your Mac is available on this Apple Support page.

watchOS 8.4.2 is available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings > General > Software Update) or by going to the Watch app on your iPhone and navigating to General> Software Update. To install the update, your Watch must be connected to its charger and have at least 50% battery power.

More information on how to update the software on your Apple Watch is available on this Apple Support page.

Options