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

Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock Light

iOS 19 Rumored to Be Compatible With These iPhones

Sunday December 22, 2024 8:09 am PST by
iOS 19 will not drop support for any iPhone models, according to French website iPhoneSoft.fr. The report cites a source within Apple. The report said that iOS 19 will be compatible with any iPhone that is capable of running iOS 18, which would mean the following models: iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro ...
m3 macbook air blue

Apple Accidentally Leaked the Next MacBook Air

Sunday December 22, 2024 8:33 am PST by
Apple earlier this month released macOS 15.2, and in doing so it accidentally confirmed new MacBook Air models coming next year. Apple accidentally released macOS 15.2 restore files for unreleased "‌MacBook Air‌ (13-inch, M4, 2025)" and "‌MacBook Air‌ (15-inch, M4, 2025)" models. While it no surprise that the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models were going to be updated with the M4 ...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 2 Redux

Top 5 Apple Products to Look Forward to in 2025

Friday December 20, 2024 2:22 pm PST by
It's looking like 2025 is going to be an important year for Apple, with the company planning to revamp the iPhone, push further into smart home products, and improve Apple Intelligence. There are tons of new products rumored for 2025, including new iPhones, M4 Macs, a smart home command center, and much more. We've highlighted the top five Apple products that will have the biggest impact in...
iPhone 16 Apple Store

iPhone Sizes Change Next Year: What to Know

Monday December 23, 2024 7:40 am PST by
This year, Apple tweaked iPhone 16 Pro screen sizes to make them bigger than 2023's iPhone 15 Pro models, and next year we are also expecting a change in the size of the displays in the iPhone 17 lineup. Here's what we know. Standard iPhone 17 Apple could introduce a new display size for the standard iPhone 17 model in 2025. The iPhone 17 could measure in at 6.3 inches, up from 6.1 inches,...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

iOS 18.2.1 Update Coming Soon for iPhone

Saturday December 21, 2024 4:45 pm PST by
Apple appears to be internally testing iOS 18.2.1 for the iPhone, based on evidence of the software update in our website's analytic logs this week. The logs have accurately revealed many iOS versions before they were released. iOS 18.2.1 should be a minor update that fixes bugs and/or addresses security vulnerabilities, but it is unclear which specific issues might be resolved. The update...
AirTag and Lavender iPhone

AirTag 2 Launching Next Year With These New Features

Tuesday December 24, 2024 8:35 am PST by
Apple is expected to release an AirTag 2 next year, and a few new features and changes have already been rumored for the item tracker. Below, we recap what to expect from the AirTag 2: The new AirTag is expected to be equipped with Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for longer range. The chip debuted last year in the iPhone 15 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and Apple said it...
iphone 16 pro design cameras

iPhone 18 Pro Rumored to Be More Like DSLR Camera With This Upgrade

Monday December 23, 2024 6:24 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still nearly two years away from launching, a new feature has already been rumored for the devices. In a blog post today, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reiterated that the main rear camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models will offer variable aperture, which would be a first for the iPhone. The main camera refers to the 48-megapixel...
Google Nest Hub 2

New 'HomePod' With 7-Inch Display, A18 Chip, and More Reportedly Launching Next Year

Saturday December 21, 2024 2:03 pm PST by
Apple plans to release a new "HomePod" with a 7-inch LCD display, an A18 chip, and Apple Intelligence support in 2025, according to DigiTimes. Google's Nest Hub It is unclear how much the screen-equipped HomePod would cost, but Apple is seemingly aiming for a reasonable price. In a paywalled report this week, the supply chain publication said Apple has selected China-based manufacturer Tianma ...

Top Rated Comments

macar00n Avatar
38 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
38 months ago
Oh good. Another 30 minute update for a .01 fix.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
38 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
38 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
38 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
38 months ago
Glad to see Apple responding to this Bluetooth battery drain bug with this fix.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)