Apple is now on its fifth beta for the milestone release of macOS, providing developers with a fresh build of macOS Monterey for testing on Wednesday.
The latest betas and configuration profiles can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center, with subsequent changes available as over-the-air updates on enrolled devices. Public betas arrive a short time after their developer counterparts, and can be acquired vis the Apple Beta Software Program.
Apple issued the fourth beta on July 27, following after the third from July 14, and the second from June 28. The first beta was provided on June 7, and the final version is expected to be distributed this fall.
Updates set to arrive in macOS Monterey include Universal Control, Shortcuts, Quick Note, AirPlay to Mac, Focus, and other app-specific updates. These include SharePlay for iMessage, Safari tab organization, Live Text support for Photos, and new grid views and Spatial Audio for FaceTime.
Both AppleInsider and Apple strongly suggest users avoid installing betas on to “mission-critical” or primary devices, due to the potential for data loss or other issues. Instead, the recommendation is to install betas onto secondary or non-essential devices, and to ensure there are sufficient backups of important data before making any major changes.
