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

Top Rated Comments

macar00n Avatar
15 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
15 months ago
Oh good. Another 30 minute update for a .01 fix.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ? Avatar
15 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
15 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
15 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
15 months ago
Glad to see Apple responding to this Bluetooth battery drain bug with this fix.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 16

Apple Releases iOS 16.4 With New Emoji, Safari Web Push Notifications, Beta Changes, Voice Isolation for Calls and More

Monday March 27, 2023 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 16.4, the fourth major update to the iOS 16 operating system that initially came out last September. iOS 16.4 comes two months after the launch of iOS 16.3, an update that added Security Keys for Apple ID. iOS 16‌.4 and iPadOS 16.4 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. It can take a few minutes...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:06 am PDT by
Following nearly six weeks of beta testing, iOS 16.4 is expected to be released to the public as soon as this week. The software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone 8 and newer. To install an iOS update, open the Settings app on the iPhone, tap General → Software Update, and follow the on-screen instructions. Below, we have recapped eight new features and...
apple mixed reality headset concept by david lewis and marcus kane

Some Apple Employees Seriously Concerned About Mixed-Reality Headset as Announcement Draws Closer

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:25 am PDT by
Some Apple employees are concerned about the usefulness and price point of the company's upcoming mixed-reality headset, The New York Times reports. Apple headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane Initial enthusiasm around the device at the company has apparently become skepticism, according to eight current and former Apple employees speaking to The New York Times. The change of tone...
iOS 17 on Phone Feature

Gurman: iOS 17 to Provide Several 'Most Requested Features'

Sunday March 26, 2023 6:05 am PDT by
Apple changed the strategy for iOS 17 later in its development process to add several new features, suggesting that the update may be more significant than previously thought, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In January, Gurman said that iOS 17 could be a less significant update than iPhone updates in previous years due to the company's intense focus on its long-awaited mixed-reality...
apple tv 4k red image

Apple Releases tvOS 16.4 for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD

Monday March 27, 2023 10:00 am PDT by
Apple today released tvOS 16.4, the fourth major point update to the tvOS 16 operating system that came out last September. Available for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, tvOS 16.4 comes two months following the release of tvOS 16.3. The tvOS 16.4 update can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the ‌‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌‌ by going to System > Software Update....
Steve Jobs Theater dusk

Apple Reportedly Demoed Mixed-Reality Headset to Executives in the Steve Jobs Theater Last Week

Sunday March 26, 2023 5:53 am PDT by
Apple showcased its mixed-reality headset to the company's top 100 executives in the Steve Jobs Theater last week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the "momentous gathering" is a "key milestone" ahead of the headset's public announcement planned for June. The event was intended to rally Apple's top members of...
Apple Music Classical

Apple Explains Why It Launched an iPhone App Dedicated to Classical Music

Monday March 27, 2023 8:54 pm PDT by
Apple today published a support document explaining why it decided to release a standalone Apple Music Classical app for classical music. In short, Apple says the app was designed to support classical music's complex metadata:Classical music is different. It has longer and more detailed titles, multiple artists for each work, and hundreds of recordings of well-known pieces. The Apple Music...
iPhone 15 Pro Buttons CAD Leak

iPhone 15 Pro Low-Energy Chip to Allow Solid-State Buttons to Work When Device is Off or Out of Battery

Wednesday March 29, 2023 1:54 am PDT by
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will use a new ultra-low energy microprocessor allowing certain features like the new capacitive solid-state buttons to remain functional even when the handset is powered off or the battery has run out, according to a source that shared details on the MacRumors forums. CAD-based render of new solid-state buttons on iPhone 15 Pro models The source of this rumor is ...