macOS Monterey is reportedly bricking some older MacBooks

A large number of Mac users are reporting technical issues with their machines after attempting to upgrade to the latest version of macOS.

macOS Monterey was officially released on 25 October but a swathe of users have reported issues ranging from faulty programmes such as Final Cut Pro to fully bricked machines.

Reports seem to indicate that older, Intel-based MacBooks are particularly susceptible to the issues, though some users are also reporting problems on newer models. Understandably, users are upset

Others had a mixed experience. One Twitter user saw success with a Thunderbolt migration from a 2019 MacBook Pro to a brand-new M1 Max MacBook Pro, but then upgrading to the old machine to macOS Monterey led to a full bricking of the machine. Another user reported a seamless upgrade to an older device but updating their newer Mac led to problems only a plane ticket could solve.

Some slightly luckier users have reported a successful upgrade to macOS Monterey, but other problems have occurred. Users report having to use special boot techniques to start their system as others contend with "enormous boot times" of more than 25 minutes, amid various software issues too.

IT Pro contacted Apple for comment but it did not reply at the time of publication.

Despite the issues affecting a portion of the Mac user base, the complaints are dwarfed by the positive stories of the upgrade, with users largely reporting good experiences with Monterey and all its new features.

Launched last week, macOS Monterey introduced a number of upgrades over its predecessor macOS Big Sur.

Those who use Macs for work will appreciate the productivity features that debut on the latest version of the OS. The Focus feature filters push notifications based on the apps and individuals the user wants to hear from at any given time. It's useful for situations like when in meetings, a time when distractions can disrupt the delivery and flow of presentations.

Office collaborators now also have the chance to work simultaneously in the Apple Notes app. Much in the same way workers can collaborate on Google Docs or in the Office 365 suite through Microsoft SharePoint, Apple users can now work on documents, leave comments and track changes in a designated team.

Those who own both a Mac and iPad can also now take advantage of the Universal Control feature which sees the iPad truly doubling as a second screen - users can work across both displays with a single mouse and keyboard. iPads have been compatible as a second display for Macs since 2019 as part of the Sidecar update in macOS Catalina, but the functionality was limited to screen extension or mirroring. Universal control also works over multiple Macs and iPads, should a user own multiple models of either device.