macOS 26 Tahoe: Options, newest model, what’s in macOS 26.2 & macOS 26.3 launch date

Like its counterparts on the opposite Apple units, in September 2026 macOS bought a model new look together with a brand new identify. As a result of Apple is aligning the names of all of the working methods this yr, the brand new model of macOS is known as macOS 26 reasonably than macOS 16. It additionally takes the identify Tahoe, impressed by the lake, seashores, and the ski resorts of that space of California. 

Together with a giant redesign, macOS 26 brings new Continuity options to carry your iPad, iPhone, and Mac even nearer collectively, a model new Telephone app, and extra. Highlight additionally will get its largest ever replace with the power to motion issues like sending emails immediately from Highlight. 

These with appropriate Macs have been in a position to set up macOS Tahoe because it was launched on September 15, 2025. When you haven’t but, learn on to learn the way to take action, whether or not you may, and whether or not it is best to.

macOS Tahoe may need launched, however Apple is continuous growth with new options being added each couple of months. You will get a primary take a look at the brand new upcoming options through Apple’s developer and public betas, which can be found to obtain when you be a part of the beta program (we clarify how to take action beneath).

One can find all of the issues you should find out about macOS Tahoe and all its new options beneath, together with which Macs are appropriate with macOS 26 and the brand new options you may count on, together with what’s been added because the September launch, and what’s coming within the subsequent replace. Keep tuned to this superguide for every little thing you should find out about macOS 26 Tahoe.

macOS 26 Tahoe newest model

• Newest model of macOS is macOS Tahoe 26.2, which arrived on December 12, 2025

Apple launched the primary model of macOS 26 Tahoe on September 15, 2025. The discharge coincided with the iOS 26 replace. Since then the next updates have been issued by Apple.

• macOS 26 – September 15, 2025
• macOS 26.0.1 – September 29, 2025 (bug fixes)
• macOS 26.1 – November 3, 2025
• macOS 26.2 – December 12, 2025

Questioning whether or not to put in macOS Tahoe? Learn: macOS Tahoe vs macOS Sequoia: What’s completely different, what’s new, and must you replace?

macOS 26 Tahoe subsequent replace: macOS 26.3 launch date

• Present beta is macOS Tahoe 26.3, full model prone to launch in direction of the tip of January or in early February 2026.

Growth continues even after the official macOS replace is launched, as Apple seeks to introduce new options that missed the preliminary introduction date. Apple is operating a developer beta in addition to a public beta in order that upcoming new options could be examined.

The macOS Tahoe 26.3 beta arrived on December 15, there have been updates for builders and public testers since.

Each betas are free, although the developer beta requires a free registration as a developer. Apple points updates to the betas pretty commonly. The general public beta updates have a tendency to come back a day or two after the up to date developer beta. If you’re involved in attempting out the beta, you may be a part of Apple’s beta program. For assist putting in the macOS beta, see our information to putting in the macOS beta.

What’s coming in macOS 26.3

macOS Tahoe 26.3 is presently in lively growth and testing.

This replace continues the refinement of the main options launched with the preliminary launch of macOS 26 Tahoe. It’s not but identified what new options are coming, nonetheless in iOS 26.3 there are a variety of EU-mandated adjustments coming. Learn our iOS 26 information for extra info.

What’s new in macOS 26.2

macOS Tahoe 26.2, launched in late 2025, launched a number of specialised updates specializing in video conferencing enhancements, AI growth instruments, and hardware-specific efficiency boosts. Whereas it was not thought of a large overhaul, it introduced a number of “genius” utility options that improved the each day person expertise, significantly for these working in distant or low-light environments.

• Edge Gentle: Essentially the most outstanding consumer-facing characteristic in macOS 26.2 is Edge Gentle, a digital ring mild designed to enhance webcam picture high quality. It locations a vivid white border across the show to imitate a selfie ring mild, considerably bettering visibility in darkish rooms. It makes use of the Neural Engine to detect the person’s face for applicable mild adjustment and may even detect the cursor to cover the sunshine when it’d intrude with navigation. Customers can alter the depth of the sunshine and select between hotter or cooler coloration temperatures. It requires an M-series Mac, however on M4 Macs and later, the characteristic could be set to allow robotically when low mild is detected .
• AI and Developer Enhancements: For builders and energy customers, macOS 26.2 launched important updates to machine studying frameworks and {hardware} clustering. Builders utilizing the open-source MLX framework can now leverage the Neural Accelerator within the M5 chip. The replace enhanced the power to create AI clusters utilizing the Mac Studio’s Thunderbolt 5 connectivity.
• Safety Updates: Essential patches for vulnerabilities, aligning with safety fixes present in iPadOS 26.2.
• Interface Polish: Continued refinement of the “Liquid Glass” UI, which launched extra translucency and visionOS-style results throughout the system.
• Efficiency: Common “under-the-hood” adjustments to enhance system stability and responsiveness .

What was new in macOS 26.1

The macOS 26.1 replace contains fixes for issues with video games controllers and another points. There are much more adjustments coming to iPhones with iOS 26.1.

New options in macOS 26.1 embrace:

• Liquid Glass: Skill to tone down Liquid Glass impact. Select between clear and tinted search for elevated opacity.
• AutoMix assist for Apple Music over AirPlay.
• FaceTime audio enhancements over low-bandwidth.
• Regional Communication Security and Internet content material filters for grownup web sites.
• Icons: Modifications to the Macintosh HD icon.
• New TV app icon with Apple TV+ rebranded to Apple TV.
• A brand new Outcomes from Clipboard setting for Highlight, the place the person can activate/off Highlight’s skill to go looking and show clipboard objects. Customers can even set an expiration time for the clipboard and clear the Clipboard historical past. (Settings > Highlight > Outcomes from Clipboard.)

Foundry

macOS 26 Tahoe issues & fixes

YouTube / Apple

Some M3 Extremely Mac Studio customers have reported that they’re unable to put in macOS Tahoe. It appears the problematic Mac Studios already had Sequoia 15.7 put in, and in the course of the tried set up, Tahoe would search for a driver, and when it failed to seek out it, it resulted in a failed set up.

The macOS 26.0.1 replace addresses the preliminary bugs, together with the Mac Studio set up bug.

macOS 26 Tahoe supported units: Which Macs get macOS Tahoe

• Requires M-series chip or Intel-based Mac computer systems with a T2 Safety Chip
• Apple Intelligence options require M1 or later
• No Intel assist from macOS 27 onwards

When Apple updates the working system for its units, it typically implies that sure fashions are now not supported. The excellent news is that Macs that ran macOS Sonoma will be capable to run the brand new macOS. Apple states that the bottom requirement contains Macs with M-series chips and Intel-based Mac computer systems with a T2 safety chip.

Listed here are Macs with Apple Silicon that may be capable to run macOS Tahoe:

• MacBook Air (M1/2020 and later)
• MacBook Professional (M1/2020 and later)
• iMac (M1/2021 and later)
• Mac mini (M1/2020 and later)
• Mac Studio (M1/2022 and later)
• Mac Professional (M2/2023 and later)

There are 4 Intel-powered Macs in a position to run macOS Tahoe. These fashions received’t assist Apple Intelligence options:

• MacBook Professional (16‑inch, Intel/2019)
• MacBook Professional (13‑inch, Intel/2020, 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports)
• iMac (Intel/mid 2020)
• Mac Professional (Intel/2019)

Apple confirmed that that is the final model of macOS that may run on Intel Macs. 

What have been the most important adjustments in macOS 26 Tahoe

macOS 26 Tahoe represents one of the vital important overhauls to Apple’s desktop working system in over a decade. The replace is characterised by a dramatic visible redesign, the introduction of core cellular apps to the Mac, and an entire rethinking of system-wide instruments like Highlight.

We’ll run by way of every new characteristic intimately beneath, together with the Liquid Glass redesign, Highlight overhaul, new apps, new iPhone options which might be coming to the Mac and extra…

macOS 26 Tahoe design: Liquid Glass and different interface adjustments 

Apple

At WWDC in June, Apple confirmed off some engaging new options for macOS that shall be coming later in 2025. Quite a few new options and interface enhancements have been promised, however one of many largest adjustments is coming to all of Apple’s merchandise: a brand new design primarily based on a graphical person interface that Apple is asking Liquid Glass.

Apple confirmed off the model new search for macOS within the WWDC keynote. As with Apple’s different working methods, macOS Tahoe makes use of Apple’s new Liquid Glass impact to create reflective, shiny parts across the interface. The Liquid Glass parts will change coloration to mirror the content material beneath as you scroll and can dynamically react. Buttons seem extra curved and fewer flat.

You’ll see the impact within the Dock, sidebars, toolbars, and elsewhere. The menu bar is absolutely clear, and you’ll alter the transparency of icons within the Dock, for instance. When you don’t like the brand new clear look or if it impacts how nicely you may see objects, there’s a technique to scale back it, and in some cases, flip it in off altogether. Learn: How you can scale back transparency in macOS Tahoe.

That is the primary time in years that Apple has made important adjustments to the visible fashion of macOS, and it definitely makes the OS seem extra trendy.

macOS Tahoe interface adjustments 

Apple

Apple says the design overhaul will elevate the important thing parts of macOS and improve the macOS expertise. The cleaner design is meant to assist the person to give attention to their content material reasonably than different distractions, whereas parts just like the translucent menu bar will make the display really feel bigger. 

Customers will be capable to select so as to add third-party apps to the menu bar and even drag widgets and buttons from the Management Centre into the menu bar, because of a customizable format, much like iOS 18. Customers may also be capable to add controls for his or her favourite apps to the Management Centre. We’ve a information to methods to use Management Centre in macOS Tahoe the place you may examine methods to add controls, take away those you don’t need, and prepare them in a approach that is sensible for you.

Apple is making the most of the Liquid Glass introduction to carry some new icon designs to the Mac as nicely to assist in giving macOS a contemporary look. A number of the icons look drastically completely different, for others the adjustments are extra refined. The ‘laborious drive’ icon will now get replaced with one that appears extra like an SSD, for instance.

The brand new icons are inclined to take the type of ‘squircles’. The adjustments might make some third social gathering icons much less recognisable. Check out: 21 of the brand new macOS Tahoe icons with new designs for the Finder, Automator, Calendar and Contacts icons amongst others. You’ll be able to change the icons if you need, learn: How you can change the icon of a macOS storage gadget.

Apple

macOS may also acquire a characteristic that arrived on the iPhone and iPad with iOS 18: tinted and darkish app icons.

Customers will be capable to personalize their Mac in different methods, too, similar to altering the colour of folders and including emoji or symbols to assist them establish folders. Customers can even choose personalised wallpapers and select theme colours. If you wish to change your folder coloration learn: How you can change folder coloration and add icons in Tahoe.

New dynamic screensavers shall be included. One, primarily based on the default macOS Tahoe wallpaper, depicts the landscapes of South Lake Tahoe in a stylized creative method, is offered in each mild and darkish variations. See the way it seems in Tahoe’s attractive new display saver.

There are as much as 15 different new screensavers with photos of Tahoe at varied time of the day, Himalayas, Goa, The Ganges and extra.

macOS Tahoe Highlight overhaul

Apple

Highlight has at all times been rather more than a search instrument constructed into macOS, serving to customers discover something on their Macs, make calculations and conversions, and extra. In macOS Tahoe, Concentration is going to be capable to do much more.

Highlight’s design and performance have been fully rethought for macOS 26, with adjustments that may assist Mac customers get issues achieved quicker.

Relatively than being a single bar, on the right-hand aspect of the brand new Highlight search field, you’ll find icons for issues like apps, recordsdata, Shortcuts, Actions, and clipboard. Choose one among these buttons, and Highlight’s field expands to accommodate related objects in an easy-to-browse view. Whenever you seek for one thing, you’ll see related filters below your search phrases – click on one to shortly apply it.

Not solely will Highlight be the best technique to discover something in your Mac, however in macOS 26, Highlight shall be contextually conscious so it may possibly make strategies primarily based on what you’re doing. Search outcomes shall be listed primarily based on their relevance to you, and it will likely be attainable to make use of new filtering choices for extra particular search outcomes. 

Highlight may also have the power to carry out actions that usually require you to be inside an app. For instance, it is possible for you to to create a calendar occasion, start an audio recording, or play a podcast from inside Highlight. It’s going to even allow you to fill out parameters for actions, similar to typing out an electronic mail message and filling within the recipient and topic. You’ll be able to basically compose an electronic mail from inside Highlight, with out opening your electronic mail app.

This shall be simplified additional with Fast Keys, with which it is possible for you to to sort a brief string of letters to launch an motion, similar to typing “sm” to start out sending a message to a pal. An App Intents API will make it attainable for third-party builders so as to add Highlight shortcuts for his or her purposes.

One of the thrilling new arrivals in Highlight is Clipboard Historical past, one thing we’ve wished for years. As a substitute of being restricted to pasting the final copied merchandise, it is possible for you to to view earlier textual content and pictures you’ve copied and re-insert them as wanted. Why did it take Apple so lengthy to supply this?

Apple

Tied to the brand new Highlight is the brand new Apps app, which replaces Launchpad, which has been a characteristic of Macs for greater than a decade and gives customers with a Residence web page like view of all their apps. As a substitute Highlight would be the technique of discovering apps. This may take some adjustment, particularly when you have been a Launchpad person. Study extra about Apps changing Launchpad, and if you wish to get Launchpad again we’ve a tutorial to point out you ways.

macOS 26 Tahoe: New and up to date apps 

There are additionally numerous updates coming to Apple apps which might be included with iPads, iPhones, and Macs. Most of the adjustments are shared throughout all the brand new apps, however there are a variety of Mac-specific updates coming. 

Telephone app

A Telephone app on the Mac is the most recent Continuity characteristic to come back to macOS. Continuity is Apple’s identify for the options that work seamlessly between Macs, iPad and iPhones, these embrace Handoff (which lets you begin a activity on one gadget and swap to a different to complete it), Common Clipboard (which lets you copy one thing on one gadget and paste it on one other), and Common Management (the place you need to use one mouse and keyboard to interface with a couple of Mac), amongst different options. 

With the brand new Telephone app, customers will be capable to obtain their calls and voicemail on the Mac. The Telephone app is getting some new options of its personal, together with Name Screening, which is designed that can assist you keep away from spam calls, and Maintain Help, which suggests you’ll by no means should hear to carry music once more.

With Name Screening, earlier than a name is put by way of, an unknown caller should share their identify and cause for calling, and you’ll then be supplied with that info. With Maintain Help, whenever you be a part of a queue to attend for a name operator and the maintain music begins, you may select to be known as again. 

YouTube / Apple

Stay Actions

One other characteristic that demonstrates the interoperability between the iPhone and Mac is Stay Actions.

In iOS 18, you may see a dwell replace in your Lock Display referring to issues like a takeaway order. Stay Actions present the method of a meals supply driver, for instance. Now, that performance is coming to the Mac.

Will probably be powered by the iPhone Mirroring operate, and can take the type of an iPhone-style widget that you will note on the display of your Mac.

Video games app

The Video games app is one other one that’s obtainable throughout all three principal working system updates: iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. As with the iOS Video games app, the Video games app on the Mac will carry collectively all of the video games you’ve in your Mac (purchased from the App Retailer, Apple Arcade and elsewhere), in addition to your folks checklist, achievements, and leaderboards. Tabs will make it simple to seek out the video games you and your folks are taking part in.

A brand new Sport Overlay will make it simple to regulate settings for a selected sport. You’ll additionally be capable to chat with buddies and ask them to play.

There’s additionally a brand new Low Energy Mode coming, which avid gamers will be capable to activate to maximise battery life when taking part in video games. 

And in associated information, Metallic 4 is coming, which is able to allow next-gen options for Mac sport builders, similar to MetalFX Body Interpolation and MetalFX De-noising. 

Apple

Shortcuts 

Apple

The Shortcuts app is getting an overhaul in macOS Tahoe.

Shortcuts is a instrument for automating duties and repetitive actions. For these with extra particular wants, there may be additionally Automator on the Mac, however Shortcuts is easy to make use of and obtainable on iPhone and iPad as nicely.

In Tahoe, Shortcuts will be capable to run workflows primarily based on components like time of day, or in response to an electronic mail from a selected particular person arriving. This performance was beforehand restricted to the iPhone and iPad variations.

There are new clever actions obtainable that can be utilized to create Sensible Shortcuts. Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT can be utilized to boost these Shortcuts. Apple says that “Customers will see devoted actions for options like summarizing textual content with Writing Instruments or creating photos with Picture Playground.”

Stay Translation 

One of the helpful new options introduced at WWDC is Stay Translation. With Stay Translation, you may textual content a pal who speaks a distinct language and have the translations seem in actual time, or get immediate translations throughout a cellphone name or FaceTime convention. Everybody will get their very own translator. 

You’ll be capable to make the most of Stay Translation within the Telephone app, Messages, and FaceTime in your Mac.

Apple

Journal

The Journal app, which arrived on iOS in 2023, is coming to the Mac (and iPad).

Terminal

Terminal is getting a colourful redesign and the Liquid Glass therapy, with assist for 24-bit coloration and the power to make use of Powerline fonts.

Reminders

Reminders is getting some assist from Apple Intelligence. Reminders will scan a web site, observe, electronic mail or different content material, then determine essentially the most related motion objects for you primarily based on its findings. You’ll be capable to use Apple Intelligence to robotically categorize your reminders into sections, making them simpler to seek out

There are additionally adjustments coming to Safari, Messages, Pictures, FaceTime, and Notes.