You may be excited about macOS Monterey. And if you really wanted to, you could try it out right now, as Apple rolled out the beta shortly after WWDC21. However, we would recommend against installing this early beta for to a number of reasons.
The general public doesn’t get early access to Apple’s software for a good reason. Apple likes to test out the software with volunteers to ensure a smooth public rollout. So, if you’re having second thoughts about waiting, here’s why you shouldn’t install the macOS Monterey beta right now.
Apple’s Software Rollout Explained: Developer and Public Betas
Every year, Apple announces its latest software at the annual WWDC event around June. Shortly after the Keynote address, Apple rolls out the first beta version of its new software, whether it’s iOS, iPadOS, or macOS.
General users don’t get access to the non-beta software until the fall season of the year. So, you may be wondering what happens during the months leading up to the final launch.
Well, it’s simple, really. Apple uses this time to test out its software with multiple beta builds. This serves as a way for app developers and beta testers to report bugs and other issues to Apple to help iron out the software and make it ready for the public release. Thanks to this extensive beta testing, the final rollout is usually relatively smooth.
Apple rolls out two different beta builds before the official release: one for the app developers and the other for volunteer beta testers. These builds aren’t made available simultaneously and are instead rolled out in a phased manner. Here’s how it goes:
- The earliest build of any macOS version is called the developer beta build. It’s made available exclusively for developers to test the software and ensure app compatibility.
- After a couple of weeks of developer testing, Apple rolls out the public beta build. This build is accessible to anyone who’s part of the Apple Beta Software program.
Once these two beta builds are released, extensive testing will follow for several weeks, after which Apple will roll out the final, stable, build of macOS. At the moment, macOS Monterey is in public beta with the final release scheduled for this fall.
Here are the reasons you should avoid the beta entirely and wait till fall.
1. Performance and Stability Concerns
This is a problem with any beta software in general. Beta builds aren’t perfect since they’re early experimental versions of the software meant for testing. So, please consider the fact that macOS Monterey, in its state right now, is far from perfect. You will likely face performance and stability issues if you install a beta version.
Sure, it would be nice to test out macOS Monterey on a Mac that’s lying around, but if it’s a Mac you use for work, school, or anything else important, it’s a big “No” from our end. The problems that you come across may include slowdowns, UI crashes, battery drain, and more.
Sad to say, battery drain is the one problem most users complain about after installing beta versions of macOS. You likely wouldn’t get the advertised battery life for a MacBook since the software isn’t polished and optimized for it just yet.
2. Lack of App Compatibility
App support can be a major issue, especially if you’re on the early developer beta builds. While this isn’t a problem with Apple’s apps, third-party apps are usually affected. These could be some of the apps that you use for work or school. So, why take the risk?
This is the exact reason why Apple releases developer builds. It gives app developers some time to update their apps and ensure everything’s working fine, before the public release. Developers should have time to fix all the bugs without worrying about user complaints.
Considering macOS Monterey is now in public beta, compatibility should be better, but we still wouldn’t recommend installing it on your primary Mac due to the other reasons listed here.
3. You Could Lose Your Data
Data loss can be horrifying for many of us. While this issue isn’t OS-specific, it’s related to the update process as a whole. A handful of Mac users who test out the beta version of macOS usually report iCloud synchronization issues and data loss after updating. Although the chances are low, most of you wouldn’t want to take this risk.
However, you can avoid permanent data loss by backing up your Mac before a major update like this. You’ll have multiple options to restore data from a Time Machine backup. And if you don’t want to deal with Time Machine, you can always manually back up the important files to an external hard drive.
4. The Developer Beta Is Riskier Than the Public Beta
If you’re adamant about trying out macOS Monterey early, at least install the public beta; developer builds are more experimental in nature. There’s a reason why Apple only releases these builds to developers.
Apple doesn’t want beta testers to try out developer builds. Instead, it wants app developers to ensure stability and support for their apps before regular users like you hop on board.
Unfortunately, some regular users sneak in by paying the $99 annual fee for the Apple Developer Program. Some others manage to get the beta profile from third-party sources, which basically gives them access to all the developer builds directly from Apple.
When Can You Safely Install macOS Monterey?
The best time to install macOS Monterey is when Apple releases it to the general public later this fall. To be on the safer side, we’d actually suggest you wait a week or two after the stable release to ensure the software is ironed out and free of any bugs.
But, if you like to live dangerously, you can try out the public beta, which is available right now. Public builds are at least more stable than developer builds, and hence you’ll have fewer problems to worry about. Don’t forget to back up your Mac if you decide to go ahead, though.
Don’t Risk Bricking Your Mac
Unless you absolutely need to, there’s no reason to hurry and hop on to the beta version of macOS, especially at the risk of bricking your Mac. The public release isn’t far away, and you’ll potentially avoid many problems that beta testers come across by patiently waiting a few more weeks.
Your first impressions of macOS Monterey will more likely be positive this way.