Apple Releases macOS Monterey 12.2.1 With Bluetooth Battery Drain Bug Fix

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