The purpose of this document is to provide instructions for upgrading to macOS Monterey using Apple's built-in upgrade.  The latest version of macOS Monterey is 12.1, as of Dec 23, 2021. 


Please note: Global IT will be sending out automated update reminders as part of the org-wide macOS Monterey upgrade. For more information on these reminders, click here.  Please make sure to perform the update before January 21, 2022, or the macOS Monterey update may be performed automatically.  

 

Before you begin the upgrade

 

Before beginning the upgrade, save all of your work and close all applications. Make sure any files you haven't saved to Box are uploaded to box before you start the upgrade. 

 

Please plan on not using your laptop for 30 to 60 minutes while the upgrade is taking place, and keep it plugged in (do not attempt to run the upgrade while on battery). Installing macOS Monterey needs a minimum of 26GB of usable storage on the laptop. If you don't have enough room, please transfer all of your files to Box before contacting the IT team. Please note: in Box, you cannot upload files greater than 5GB in size.  

 

The actual macOS Monterey upgrade file for the ISOC and ISOC Foundation laptop is approximately 12GB in size.  You can continue working while the upgrade is downloading, but you must stop when the upgrade is complete. 

 

Please do not try to stop the upgrade after it has begun; otherwise, the laptop would need to be formatted by a member of the Global IT team and all data will be unrecoverable.  During the upgrade, your screen can turn off a few times.  Please do not be alarmed if the machine seems to be turned off while the upgrade is taking place. 

 

If you live in a low-bandwidth area, plan ahead to give your laptop enough time to download the large upgrade file.  If you are using a metered data connection, please send a support ticket to ithelp@isoc.org.  Please write Monterey Upgrade in the subject line of your email. 

 

Upgrade Instructions

 

The preferred method to upgrade ISOC or ISOC Foundation laptops is to use the built-in software upgrade tool on the Mac laptop.  This will ensure the operating system and the built-in Apple applications are all upgraded together.  

 

  • Click on the Apple menu located in the top left corner of your desktop

 

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  • Select System Preferences (highlighted in blue in the below screenshot) and a new window will open

 

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  • Select Software Update within the System Preferences window

 

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  • In the Software Update menu, please select Upgrade Now when you are ready to start.  The laptop may have already downloaded the upgrade.  If the laptop needs to download the upgrade files, you will see an approximate time required to complete the download.
    • If the Automatically keep my Mac up to date checkbox is blank, please select it to turn back on automatic updates.  You will be prompted for the laptop log-in password to reenable automatic updates.

 

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  • When the upgrade finishes downloading, you will see a window pop-up with Install macOS Monterey at the top.  Please click Continue at the bottom

 

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  • You will be required to click Agree on the next screen to the Apple software license agreement.

 

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  • The next screen allows you to select the hard drive you want to install the upgrade on.  You should only see one option called Macintosh HD.  Please click on Macintosh HD and then click Continue.

 

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  • You will be prompted for your laptop password, please enter it.  The upgrade preparation process is now underway.   

 

 

  • When the preparation process is complete, you will see Restart Your Mac in the middle of the window and a Restart button at the bottom of the same window.  Select Restart.  Your computer will look as if it is shutting down, but the upgrade process will be going. 

 

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  • Please allow the laptop to perform the upgrade.  You will see the screen turn off and back on (maybe a few times) with the Apple logo and a progress bar in the middle of the screen.  Do not unplug or attempt to power off the laptop during this phase.  It will cause a problem if you try to turn the power off in the middle of an upgrade.  Problems that occur from attempted shutdowns during this process will require a full-device reset from IT.

 

  • When the upgrade has completed, you will be prompted to log back into your user account.  Please follow the steps above to return to the Software Update menu to ensure no additional updates are available.  If additional updates are available, please run them at this time.  If the Software Update menu shows your Mac is up to date, and you are on version 12.1 of macOS Monterey, you have completed the upgrade process.

 

 

 

As always, if you run into any issues or have any questions, please do not hesitate to submit a ticket to ithelp@isoc.org and reference Monterey Upgrade in the subject line.  Thank you for taking the time to upgrade ISOC and ISOC Foundation laptops promptly.