Apple Releases macOS Monterey 12.2.1 With Bluetooth Battery Drain Bug Fix

Apple today released macOS Monterey 12.2.1, a minor bug fix update that comes two weeks after the launch of macOS Monterey 12.2.

macOS Monterey on MBP Feature
The ‌‌‌‌macOS Monterey‌ 12.2.1‌‌ update can be downloaded on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Preferences.

According to Apple's release notes, macOS Monterey 12.2.1 addresses a bug that was causing Bluetooth devices connected to Macs to drain an excessive amount of battery.

Following the release of the macOS Monterey 12.2 update in late January, MacRumors began seeing numerous complaints from users who were experiencing excessive battery drain during sleep mode, and the culprit appeared to be Bluetooth accessories that were frequently waking up the Macs they were connected to.

Some affected users saw their Mac's battery life drop from 100% to 0% while in sleep mode overnight after installing the macOS 12.2 update, with both Intel-based Macs and Apple silicon-based Macs affected. The problem stopped when Bluetooth was disabled or when Bluetooth accessories were disconnected from the Mac, which was not an ideal solution for users.

Apple addressed the problem in macOS Monterey 12.3 beta 2 yesterday, but now Mac owners will not need to wait for the macOS Monterey 12.3 launch to fix their Bluetooth battery drainage issues.

macOS Monterey 12.2.1 also fixes a WebKit bug that could allow maliciously crafted web content to lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple says that it is aware of a report that the issue may have been actively exploited, so Mac users should update to the new software as soon as possible.

Finally, Apple has also released new versions of Safari 15.3 for users on macOS Big Sur and Catalina, presumably addressing the same WebKit vulnerability fixed in macOS Monterey 12.2.1.

Related Forum: macOS Monterey

Popular Stories

Apple Shopping Event 2025

Apple Announces 2025 Black Friday Event, Here's What You Can Get

Thursday November 20, 2025 6:28 am PST by
Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1 in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand, and others. During the shopping event, customers can get an Apple gift card with...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These New Features to Your iPhone

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:50 am PST by
iOS 26.2 is currently in beta testing. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics for Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date. Keep reading...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday November 19, 2025 4:00 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
hikawa phone grip stand apple%402x

Apple Launches Second Limited-Edition iPhone Accessory in a Month

Friday November 21, 2025 3:53 am PST by
Apple has begun selling the Hikawa Phone Grip and Stand, a new limited-edition iPhone accessory designed with accessibility in mind. Designed by LA-based Bailey Hikawa to celebrate the 40th anniversary of accessibility at Apple, the grip uses magnets to securely snap onto any iPhone with MagSafe. Apple says it can be removed with ease, and doubles as a stand with two different viewing...
ipad mini 7 feature red and blue

iPad Mini 8: Four Major New Features to Expect

Wednesday November 19, 2025 7:50 am PST by
Apple's eighth-generation iPad mini is highly likely to arrive next year, offering a significant refresh of the device with at least four major new features. OLED Display The next-generation version of the iPad mini could feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple Watch in 2015, ...
watchos 26 workout app

Apple Watch Users Claim Workout App Is Now Worse in Every Way

Thursday November 20, 2025 7:01 am PST by
Apple Watch owners have been voicing their frustration online over changes to the Workout app that Apple introduced in watchOS 26, with many finding the redesigned interface makes starting exercises difficult and exasperating. When Apple launched watchOS 26 in September, the Workout app went from large, easily tapped workout tiles to a scrolling, corner-button interface. Instead of tapping a ...
applecare apple care banner

Apple Brings New AppleCare+ Options to India

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:42 am PST by
Apple today announced an expansion of AppleCare+ coverage in India, with new options for monthly and annual plans, and the addition of Theft and Loss for iPhone for the first time. Options for monthly and annual AppleCare+ plans in India provide more choice and flexibility, allowing users to keep coverage for as long as they require. Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product...
ipad black friday 2025

The Best Early Black Friday iPad Deals

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:20 am PST by
Black Friday is just over a week away, and iPad deals have finally started to flood in at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Below we're tracking discounts on every current generation iPad, including lowest-ever prices on M3 iPad Air and M5 iPad Pro, plus steep markdowns on iPad and iPad mini. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a ...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Two More U.S. States Commit to Offering iPhone Driver's Licenses in Apple Wallet App

Thursday November 20, 2025 8:21 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Earlier this week, Illinois became the 13th state in the U.S. to offer the feature. Subsequently, we shared a list of additional states that are committed...

Top Rated Comments

macar00n Avatar
49 months ago
I know this is crAaAaAaAaaaaazy, but what if we didn't release a new OS with new features every single year and then spend the whole year fixing embarrassing bugs? What if we released a new OS every two years, but it was actually good? Would that be the worst thing in the world? Would all the users go away?
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rafterman Avatar
49 months ago
Oh good. Another 30 minute update for a .01 fix.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
49 months ago

How is Apple developing its software? Are they doing this at the campus or from home?
I think it's still being done at home. Apple campus is empty.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macar00n Avatar
49 months ago

How would a two year cycle solve anything? Software development has an iterative life cycle and this would just delay or stretch things out every two years instead. Do you think Apple would catch all these bugs themselves? A majority of these bugs are found when it's released and hits a wider audience. Apparently they aren't being found during internal testing or during the developer and public betas, which has a much smaller user base.

If this is what you're wanting, you could do this yourself. Stick with Big Sur (or Catalina), and then upgrade to Monterey (or Big Sur) when macOS 13 comes out.
I did exactly what you're suggesting for years, albeit not deliberately - I just didn't have time to upgrade my OS and mostly used it for work so it wasn't worth the risk of some software not working.

This time around I got the maxed 14" MBP and it, with as close to perfect hardware as possible, somehow shipped with this steaming pile of garbage OS.

All I'm saying is maybe they could slow down the development and extend their cycles to allow for adequate testing. Then they don't have to put out fires all year while they're also rushing to release the latest Mac OS Tik Tok Dopamine Max edition with enough features to make your eyes bleed and zero stability because who cares
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macar00n Avatar
49 months ago

How is Apple developing its software? Are they doing this at the campus or from home?
It feels like they outsourced the production of this "software," because surely nobody at Apple cared much about it
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
adamw Avatar
49 months ago
Glad to see Apple responding to this Bluetooth battery drain bug with this fix.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)