At WWDC 2025, Apple introduced macOS Tahoe 26, the next major release of its desktop operating system, delivering a transformative redesign and cutting-edge features powered by Apple Intelligence. With a renewed focus on personalization, productivity, and cross-device harmony, macOS Tahoe 26 reimagines the Mac experience with innovations that span the entire ecosystem.
A Beautiful and Personal macOS: Liquid Glass Design and Customization
macOS Tahoe 26 brings a visually stunning aesthetic with the introduction of Liquid Glass, a translucent material that adds dynamic reflection and refraction effects to UI elements. The Dock, menu bar, and in-app toolbars are redesigned for clarity and focus, with a fully transparent menu bar that maximizes screen real estate.
Users now enjoy richer personalization tools:
- Customize folder and app icon colors, including light/dark tints and transparent themes.
- Add symbols or emojis to folders for quick recognition.
- Enhanced Control Center and menu bar layout control.
Next-Level Continuity: Phone App and Live Activities on Mac
A standout update in macOS Tahoe is the arrival of the Phone app, bringing iPhone’s calling capabilities to the Mac. Users can:
- View Recents, Favorites, Contacts, and Voicemails.
- Utilize Call Screening to screen unknown callers via live voice prompts.
- Take advantage of Hold Assist to retain their spot in phone queues while multitasking.
Live Activities from iPhone now appear directly in the Mac’s menu bar, offering real-time updates on rides, flights, sports, and more—with iPhone Mirroring for full app interaction.
The Biggest Spotlight Update Ever
Spotlight becomes a productivity powerhouse in Tahoe 26:
- Unified, intelligent search across files, apps, emails, and third-party cloud drives.
- Smart filters to refine by file type or source.
- New Browse Views for apps, clipboard history, and more.
Users can now perform hundreds of actions directly in Spotlight—like sending emails, creating notes, or launching podcasts. With the App Intents API, developers can integrate their apps’ features into Spotlight. Quick Keys and contextual suggestions based on user habits further streamline workflows.
Smarter and More Private: Apple Intelligence Features Expand
Apple Intelligence gets major upgrades in macOS Tahoe 26, blending on-device processing with Private Cloud Compute for privacy-first AI experiences:
- Live Translation: Real-time text and audio translation in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone app—processed entirely on-device.
- Smarter Shortcuts: Integrate model-based logic to automate tasks like summarizing text or analyzing transcriptions.
- Genmoji and Image Playground: Generate custom emoji and stylized images using descriptive prompts and styles (e.g., oil painting, vector art).
- Productivity Boosters: Automatically extract action items and organize reminders from documents, emails, or websites.
Users can also tap into ChatGPT for expanded knowledge and content generation while maintaining privacy boundaries.
Gaming Takes Center Stage: Apple Games App and Metal 4
macOS Tahoe introduces the new Apple Games app, centralizing gameplay and social features:
- Access and organize all Mac games in one hub.
- Chat with friends or adjust settings mid-game using the Game Overlay.
- Enable Low Power Mode to extend battery during intense sessions.
Metal 4 boosts game performance with MetalFX Frame Interpolation and Denoising for smoother visuals. Upcoming AAA titles like Crimson Desert, Cyberpunk 2077, and InZOI are optimized for the M3/M4 chips with ray tracing.
More Noteworthy Features in macOS Tahoe 26
- Safari: Refreshed UI with a floating tab design, enhanced sidebar, and 50% faster load times than Chrome.
- Messages: Group typing indicators, polls, backgrounds, and easier media navigation.
- Journal App: Capture life’s moments with multiple journals and synced entries across devices.
- Photos: Customizable layouts, quick filters, and Pinned Collections.
- Notes: Markdown import/export and automatic phone call transcription.
- Accessibility: New Magnifier, Accessibility Reader, and Vehicle Motion Cues.
- Passwords: Version history for credentials and a record of changes.
Apple macOS Tahoe 26 Availability and Compatibility
macOS Tahoe 26 is available to developers today, with a public beta in July 2025 and full release this fall. Apple Intelligence features require:
- iPhone 16 series, iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max
- iPads with A17 Pro and newer
- Macs with M1 chip or later
Initially supported in nine languages, with additional support for Scandinavian and Asian languages coming later this year.
For more information, visit apple.com/os/macos and apple.com/apple-intelligence.