Post about the little things that have changed in macOS 12 here. Note that this is a wiki post, which means that you can add directly to this post.
As always, this is NOT a thread for bugs, questions, or troubleshooting of the betas. All posts must present a new feature or function, or new behaviour not mentioned in the keynote. Please screenshot where necessary. Comments on features are welcome, but stay on topic. This is also not a thread for whining about missing features, complaining, in-fighting, or personal agendas. Keep this informative and to the topic at hand.
Additional note by @maternidad: Please help me add images to the wikipost. I haven't been able to do it myself.
Display settings have been finally revamped from their System 7 roots and are gorgeous.
There's a new, thick selection indicator displayed while you choose your user account at login.
The Shared folder is, in essence, a tag for any documents or folders that you share with people on iCloud Drive.
The category includes the following:
The Books app has been replaced with the iOS one, so it supports all the features that weren't available before. It needs an additional bit of love to be a good Mac citizen.
It was noted by a commenter that it feels exceptionally wonky because the animations are too fast.
There are download buttons on wallpapers. More wallpapers coming through the release of Monterey, perhaps?
Regardless, it's another way to save disk space. Downloading content on demand is not exactly a new thing, and the Desktop Pictures directory of Big Sur is already over a gigabyte. Given that a lot of people are never going to use any of those, it's somewhat surprising that they're only doing it now.
The adoption of really high resolutions, dark/light mode combinations, and dynamic wallpapers, must have ballooned out their sizes.
This is a consequence of the new Shortcuts app.
The setting is buried in the System Preferences, sadly. It also cannot be toggled with the battery widget in the Menu Bar.
Not sure if this is a deliberate change, or a bug. You also now have the option to show it permanently when in full screen.
As explained on the macOS Monterey features page, windows now automatically resize when they are moved from a Mac's built-in display to a secondary display, including an external monitor, another Mac, or an iPad using Sidecar.
Siri's app icon includes less purple.
Now matches the look of the first time setup assistant.
Archive Utility can now compress archives using Apple Archive and Apple Encrypted Archive
As always, this is NOT a thread for bugs, questions, or troubleshooting of the betas. All posts must present a new feature or function, or new behaviour not mentioned in the keynote. Please screenshot where necessary. Comments on features are welcome, but stay on topic. This is also not a thread for whining about missing features, complaining, in-fighting, or personal agendas. Keep this informative and to the topic at hand.
Additional note by @maternidad: Please help me add images to the wikipost. I haven't been able to do it myself.
We still have the word Macintosh
By @macintoshmacNew icons and settings in System Preferences
By @shMorgansonNew Go to window look in Finder
By @xflashxMaps.app has a new icon
By @Apple Knowledge NavigatorDisplay settings have been revamped
By @ErikGrimDisplay settings have been finally revamped from their System 7 roots and are gorgeous.
Profile picture editing screen was updated
By @ErikGrimNew, thick selection indicator at login
By @TakuroThere's a new, thick selection indicator displayed while you choose your user account at login.
New Shared sidebar item in Finder
By @Takuro, @Apple Knowledge NavigatorThe Shared folder is, in essence, a tag for any documents or folders that you share with people on iCloud Drive.
Setup screen for Mail prompts to block tracking
By @TakuroNew category of widgets called Find My
By @TakuroThe category includes the following:
Updated Books app based on its iOS analogue
By @Ritsuka, @FNH15The Books app has been replaced with the iOS one, so it supports all the features that weren't available before. It needs an additional bit of love to be a good Mac citizen.
It was noted by a commenter that it feels exceptionally wonky because the animations are too fast.
Pop-up displayed upon starting AirPlay
By @TakuroThe Reminders app supports tags, like Notes
By @DanielDDOffloaded wallpapers
By @MrWeenus, @Stephen.RThere are download buttons on wallpapers. More wallpapers coming through the release of Monterey, perhaps?
Regardless, it's another way to save disk space. Downloading content on demand is not exactly a new thing, and the Desktop Pictures directory of Big Sur is already over a gigabyte. Given that a lot of people are never going to use any of those, it's somewhat surprising that they're only doing it now.
The adoption of really high resolutions, dark/light mode combinations, and dynamic wallpapers, must have ballooned out their sizes.
Communication section in Screen Time
By @3rikAltered icons
It was also noticed some of the icons have changed.HomeKit devices can be controlled from the menu bar without a third-party app
By @3rikThis is a consequence of the new Shortcuts app.
Low Power Mode
By @3rik, @vaughaThe setting is buried in the System Preferences, sadly. It also cannot be toggled with the battery widget in the Menu Bar.
While in full screen, the Menu Bar's background is black
By @tomtadNot sure if this is a deliberate change, or a bug. You also now have the option to show it permanently when in full screen.
Windows moved to a second display are automatically resized
By Joe Rossignol, @ErikGrimAs explained on the macOS Monterey features page, windows now automatically resize when they are moved from a Mac's built-in display to a secondary display, including an external monitor, another Mac, or an iPad using Sidecar.
The Siri app has a new icon
By @thunderwSiri's app icon includes less purple.
Keyboard Setup Assistant has a new look
By @honam1021Now matches the look of the first time setup assistant.
New Compression methods in Archive Utility
By @allan.nyholmArchive Utility can now compress archives using Apple Archive and Apple Encrypted Archive
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