Should I go from Big Sur to Monterey on my 2015 MacBook Pro?

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Level 1

14 points

Should I go from Big Sur to Monterey on my 2015 MacBook Pro?

Hi!

I'm currently using Big Sur on my MacBook Pro from 2015. I've been doing all the suggested updates, except for the upgrade to Monterey. (Hesitated on that one, in part because it came out so soon after Big Sur, and in part because going from Catalina to Big Sur made the start-up so much slower, and I feared it'd get worse with Monterey (more "fancy stuff" that I felt I didn't need).

Now, the other day when I got an update prompt, it only suggested Monterey - no "safety updates" for Big Sur. Which made me wonder, if I ought to go ahead and upgrade to Monterey?

I know that's the last OS-version my Mac is compatible with.

Or should I stick with Big Sur, which works just fine. (So far, anyway.)

-Any suggestions?

Milla

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.7

Posted on Nov 22, 2023 7:12 AM

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Answer 1

myvinge Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 23, 2023 7:06 AM in response to Phil0124

Thanks for the answer!

I'm guessing I was prompted for Monterey, if Big Sur will not be getting any more security updates (like P.Phillips said, in the other answer I got...)..? And since my Mac apparently is too old for Sonoma...

The prompt came up like the security update prompts, with a red circle on the Settings icon.

I don't have a specific need for Monterey, I guess I was just concerned about the security updates.

But as long as Big Sur works, I'm fine with it.

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Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

100,801 points

Nov 23, 2023 2:44 AM in response to myvinge

Big Sur will probably, no longer be getting Security Updates

This is normal in the skein of thing from Apple

They normally do offer Security Updates from 3 Years from Date of Release

Monterey will still get Security Updates until the Successor to macOS 14 Sonoma is released sometime in the Fall of 2024

Word of some caution if I may.

Starting in macOS 12 Monterey specifically

Should the computer have an After Market Drive ( Non Apple Original Drive ) this could be problematic to upGrade to Monterey

There is an EFI Boot ROM in Monterey that checks the Internal Drive Before allowing the Installation to commence

If No Apple Original Drive and it may refuse to UpGrade to Monterey

Should this occur you have to flip out the After Market Drive and replace with Apple Original

Install Monterey to that drive.

Reverse the previous step and Install Monterey to the After Market Drive

The EFI Boot ROM needs to Flash the Computer and Not the Drive

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Answer 3

myvinge Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 23, 2023 7:19 AM in response to Owl-53

Thanks for the answer!

Good to know about Apple's security update practices.

It's those I was a bit concerned about, when I started considering upgrading to Monterey.

But if Big Sur will still work okay, I guess I may stick with it?

I think my Drive is an Apple original. (I haven't done anything "internal" with the Mac since I bought it.)

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Answer 4

Owl-53

Level 10

100,801 points

Nov 23, 2023 7:24 AM in response to myvinge

Welcome

Should you every decide to move up to Monterey at least this potential hardware is behind you

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Answer 5

Phil0124

Level 10

214,939 points

Nov 22, 2023 8:13 AM in response to myvinge

Monterey was released one year after Big Sur just like every other OS is released one year after the previous one.

Big Sur Release Date: November 12, 2020

Monterey Release Date: October 25, 2021.

If you have no real need for Monterey at this time you can ignore it if you want to.

Though it is kind of odd you were prompted for Monterey specifically. Monterey is 2 versions down form current, so there's no real reason to be getting that prompt anymore.

Where exactly did you see this prompt?

What were you doing?

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Should I go from Big Sur to Monterey on my 2015 MacBook Pro?

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