The macOS Tahoe 26 is here and this update brings that sleek ‘Liquid Glass’ design we’ve been seeing from Apple lately across all their new software.
Visually, you’ll immediately notice how much more depth there is, and the menu bar and Control Center are now beautifully transparent. They’ve also given the Control Center more toggles and even let you pick theme colors to make your desktop feel more ‘you.’ Oh, and you can now pick new colors for your folders and even throw some emojis on them! Little touches, but nice ones.
But it’s not just about the pretty new look. Some of the coolest features from iOS 26 are making their way to your Mac. Think Call Screening, Hold Assist, and even Live Translation – super handy stuff. They’re also bringing the Phone app to Macs, so you can take and make calls right from your computer (you’ll still need your iPhone nearby, though – that’s the Continuity magic at work!).
And speaking of Continuity, Live Activities are now chilling out in your menu bar. So, if you’re waiting on that food delivery or a ride, you can just glance up instead of digging through apps.
Spotlight is getting a HUGE upgrade. Seriously, this is a big one. You can now do so much right from Spotlight – send emails, create notes, or even fire off Shortcuts, all without opening a single other app. It’s like a mini-control center for your Mac. Plus, the results are smarter, showing you what’s most relevant. And Shortcuts themselves are getting a big overhaul, letting you set them up to run at specific times or triggered by actions. Get ready to automate!
If you’re eager to dive in, the developer beta for macOS Tahoe 26 is out now. The public beta will follow next month, and the full release is set for this fall. Compatibility is good news for most: all Apple Silicon Macs are in, and even some Intel folks like the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro (the one with 4 Thunderbolt ports), the 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro (also 4 Thunderbolt ports), the 2020 27-inch iMac, and the 2019 Mac Pro.
