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

by

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

Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock Light

iOS 19 Leak Reveals All-New Design

Friday January 17, 2025 2:42 pm PST by
iOS 19 is still around six months away from being announced, but a new leak has allegedly revealed a completely redesigned Camera app. Based on footage it obtained, YouTube channel Front Page Tech shared a video showing what the new Camera app will apparently look like, with the key change being translucent menus for camera controls. Overall, the design of these menus looks similar to...
Read Full Article
2024 App Store Awards

Apple Explains Why It Removed TikTok From the App Store in the U.S.

Sunday January 19, 2025 6:58 am PST by
Apple on late Saturday removed TikTok from the App Store in the U.S., and it has now explained why it was required to take this action. Last year, the U.S. passed a law that required Chinese company ByteDance to divest its ownership of TikTok due to potential national security risks, or else the platform would be banned. That law went into effect today, and companies like Apple and Google...
Read Full Article • 240 comments
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Changes Trade-In Values for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and More

Thursday January 16, 2025 6:45 am PST by
Apple today adjusted estimated trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models in the U.S., according to its website. Some values increased, while others decreased. The changes were not too significant, with most values rising or dropping by $5 to $50. We have outlined some examples below: Device New Value Old Value iPhone 15 Pro Max Up to $630 U ...
Read Full Article • 64 comments
Generic iOS 18

Everything New in iOS 18.3 Beta 3

Thursday January 16, 2025 12:39 pm PST by
Apple provided the third beta of iOS 18.3 to developers today, and while the betas have so far been light on new features, the third beta makes some major changes to Notification Summaries and also tweaks a few other features. Notification Summary Changes Apple made multiple changes to Notification Summaries in response to complaints about inaccurate summaries of news headlines. For...
Read Full Article • 28 comments
iOS 19 Roundup Feature

iOS 19 Rumored to Be Compatible With These iPhones

Saturday January 18, 2025 10:28 am PST by
iOS 19 will not drop support for any iPhone models, according to French website iPhoneSoft.fr. The report cited a source who said iOS 19 will be compatible with any iPhone that can run 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 iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhon...
Read Full Article
airtag 4 pack blue

AirTag 2 Launching This Year With These 3 New Features

Sunday January 19, 2025 8:11 am PST by
After a four-year wait, a new AirTag is finally expected to launch in 2025. Below, we recap rumored upgrades for the accessory. A few months ago, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was aiming to release the AirTag 2 around the middle of 2025. While he did not offer a more specific timeframe, that means the AirTag 2 could be announced by the end of June. The original AirTag was announced...
Read Full Article
iPad Pro vs iPhone 17 Air Feature

Here's How Thin the iPhone 17 Air Might Be

Friday January 17, 2025 3:38 pm PST by
For the last several months, we've been hearing rumors about a redesigned version of the iPhone 17 that Apple might call the iPhone 17 "Air," or something along those lines. It's going to replace the iPhone 17 Plus as Apple's fourth iPhone option, and it will be offered alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We know the iPhone 17 Air is going to be super slim, but...
Read Full Article • 222 comments
apple power beats pro 2

Powerbeats Pro 2 Coming Soon: Apple to Announce Them 'Imminently'

Sunday January 19, 2025 8:25 am PST by
In September, Apple said that it would be launching Powerbeats Pro 2 in 2025, and it appears the wireless earbuds are coming very soon. Powerbeats Pro 2 images found in iOS 18 code In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the Powerbeats Pro 2 are "due imminently." In addition to Apple filing the Powerbeats Pro 2 in regulatory databases last month, Gurman said Apple is...
Read Full Article • 59 comments

Top Rated Comments

sdf Avatar
sdf
28 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
diego.caraballo
28 months ago
That's the spirit Apple! Remove those useless release notes altogether.
Surprise me!

Attachment Image
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Realityck Avatar
Realityck
28 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)
lkrupp Avatar
lkrupp
28 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
Realityck
28 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)
segfaultdotorg Avatar
segfaultdotorg
28 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)
Read All Comments