Apple Releases macOS Ventura 13.1 With Freeform, Advanced Data Protection, Find My Improvements and More - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Releases macOS Ventura 13.1 With Freeform, Advanced Data Protection, Find My Improvements and More

Apple today released macOS 13.1 Ventura, the newest version of the operating system that runs on Macs. macOS Ventura 13.1 comes more than a month after the launch of macOS 13 Ventura.

Ventura Macs Feature Blue
The ‌macOS Ventura‌ update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. Apple has also released macOS Big Sur 11.72 and macOS Monterey 12.6.2 for Mac users that are not able to update to Ventura.

Today's macOS Ventura update introduces the Freeform app, designed to allow users to sketch, draw, and write on a blank whiteboard-style canvas that can be used with friends and colleagues. It also includes Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, expanding end-to-end encryption to ‌iCloud‌ Backup, Notes, Photos, and more.

There are improvements to search in Messages, an option to play a sound in the Find My app to locate AirTags, AirPods Pro, and ‌Find My‌ network accessories, plus there are several bug fixes. Apple's full notes for the update are below.

Freeform
- Freeform is a new app for working creatively with friends or colleagues on Mac, iPad and iPhone
- A flexible canvas lets you add files, images, stickies, and more

Advanced Data Protection for iCloud
- New option expands the total number of iCloud data categories protected using end-to-end encryption to 23 -- including iCloud Backup, Notes, and Photos -- protecting your information even in the case of a data breach in the cloud

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
- Improved search in Messages allows you to find photos based on their content, like a dog, car, person, or text
- Participant Cursors in Notes allow you to see live indicators as others make updates in a shared note
- Play sound in Find My app can now help you pinpoint the location of nearby AirTags, AirPods Pro (2nd generation) case, and Find My network accessories
- Fixes an issue that causes some notes not to sync with iCloud after updates are made
- Fixes an issue where you may lose keyboard and mouse input in some apps and games

Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.
For detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

For more on all of the features that are available in the macOS Ventura update, we have a dedicated macOS Ventura roundup.

Related Forum: macOS Ventura

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
deep black iphone 18 pro

Apple Says iPhone 18 Pro Max Sold in U.S. Differs in One Way

Saturday September 12, 2026 3:27 pm PDT by
As noted by Nicolas Lellouche, who writes for the French tech website Numerama, Apple has updated its tech specs pages for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max to clarify which models are equipped with its new C2 cellular modem and where. Apple now says the iPhone 18 Pro has a C2 modem worldwide, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max uses the chip in every country except for the U.S. According...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Today With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 12:00 am PDT by
Update: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and changes coming with iOS...

Top Rated Comments

49 months ago

That's the spirit Apple! Remove those useless release notes altogether.
Surprise me!
Click the release. The release notes are for the selected update, and you don't have one selected.

Attachment Image
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
diego.caraballo Avatar
49 months ago
That's the spirit Apple! Remove those useless release notes altogether.
Surprise me!

Attachment Image
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Realityck Avatar
49 months ago
Released today

* iOS 16.2 (20C65) - December 13, 2022
* iPadOS 16.2 (20C65) - December 13, 2022
* macOS 13.1 (22C65) - December 13, 2022
* watchOS 9.2 (20S361) - December 13, 2022
* tvOS 16.2 (20K362) - December 13, 2022
* iOS 15.7.2 (19H218) - December 13, 2022
* iPadOS 15.7.2 (19H218) - December 13, 2022

same builds as RC
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
49 months ago

I must live under a rock: I didn't have any issues with v13.0.1 except maybe a little Safari oddity with opening tabs.
No, you’re not living under a rock, you’re the rule not the exception. Forums like MacRumors are always chocked full of reports from users who have no clue what they are talking about. The most common phrase is, “I hope this fixes..." (insert some weird issue no one’s ever heard of) but is promoted as widespread, dangerous, and show stopping.

Meanwhile the vast, vast majority of we ‘normals’ just go about using macOS without any major problems, like yourself, blissfully unaware of the carnage that is claimed to be happening before our eyes.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Realityck Avatar
49 months ago
This is a good update if you have an older version of Ventura. Most of the issues have been fixed as discussed in the beta threads. If you have the RC you don't need to update.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
49 months ago
Will this run on my PowerBook G4? I don't think I've gotten any OS updates in a while.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)