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

Like its counterparts on the opposite Apple gadgets, in September 2026 macOS received a model new look together with a brand new identify. As a result of Apple is aligning the names of all of the working techniques this 12 months, the brand new model of macOS is known as macOS 26 quite 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 convey 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 flexibility to motion issues like sending emails immediately from Highlight. 

These with appropriate Macs have been capable of set up macOS Tahoe because it was launched on September 15, 2025. For those who haven’t but, learn on to learn the way to take action, whether or not you’ll be able to, and whether or not it is best to.

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

You’ll discover 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’ll be able to 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 thing you should find out about macOS 26 Tahoe.

macOS 26 Tahoe newest model

• Newest model of macOS is macOS Tahoe 26.3, which arrived on February 11, 2026

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 do you have to replace?

macOS 26 Tahoe subsequent replace: macOS 26.4

• Subsequent beta will probably be macOS Tahoe 26.4

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 26.4 beta just isn’t but out. It must be out there quickly.

Each betas are free, although the developer beta requires a free registration as a developer. Apple points updates to the betas pretty repeatedly. 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 serious about attempting out the beta, you’ll be able to be part of Apple’s beta program. For assist putting in the macOS beta, see our information to putting in the macOS beta.

What’s in macOS 26.3

This replace continues the refinement of the foremost options launched with the preliminary launch of macOS 26 Tahoe. Nevertheless in iOS 26.3 there are a selection of EU-mandated adjustments. Learn our iOS 26 information for extra data.

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 improvement instruments, and hardware-specific efficiency boosts. Whereas it was not thought of an enormous overhaul, it introduced just a few “genius” utility options that improved the each day consumer expertise, notably for these working in distant or low-light environments.

• Edge Gentle: Essentially the most distinguished consumer-facing characteristic in macOS 26.2 is Edge Gentle, a digital ring mild designed to enhance webcam picture high quality. It locations a vibrant white border across the show to imitate a selfie ring mild, considerably enhancing visibility in darkish rooms. It makes use of the Neural Engine to detect the consumer’s face for applicable mild adjustment and may even detect the cursor to cover the sunshine when it’d intervene with navigation. Customers can regulate the depth of the sunshine and select between hotter or cooler colour 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 vital 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 flexibility 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: Normal “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 embody:

• Liquid Glass: Potential to tone down Liquid Glass impact. Select between clear and tinted search for elevated opacity.
• AutoMix help for Apple Music over AirPlay.
• FaceTime audio enhancements over low-bandwidth.
• Regional Communication Security and Internet content material filters for grownup web sites.
• Icons: Adjustments 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 consumer can activate/off Highlight’s skill to look 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 throughout the tried set up, Tahoe would search for a driver, and when it failed to search 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 gadgets: 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 help from macOS 27 onwards

When Apple updates the working system for its gadgets, it typically signifies that sure fashions are not supported. The excellent news is that Macs that ran macOS Sonoma will have the ability 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 can have the ability 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 capable of run macOS Tahoe. These fashions received’t help 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 can run on Intel Macs. 

What have been the largest adjustments in macOS 26 Tahoe

macOS 26 Tahoe represents one of the vital 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 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 attractive new options for macOS that will probably be coming later in 2025. A variety of 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 consumer interface that Apple is looking Liquid Glass.

Apple confirmed off the model new search for macOS within the WWDC keynote. As with Apple’s different working techniques, macOS Tahoe makes use of Apple’s new Liquid Glass impact to create reflective, shiny components across the interface. The Liquid Glass components will change colour to replicate 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 regulate the transparency of icons within the Dock, for instance. For those who don’t like the brand new clear look or if it impacts how nicely you’ll be able to see objects, there’s a method to cut back it, and in some cases, flip it in off altogether. Learn: How you can cut back transparency in macOS Tahoe.

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

macOS Tahoe interface adjustments 

Apple

Apple says the design overhaul will elevate the important thing components of macOS and improve the macOS expertise. The cleaner design is meant to assist the consumer to concentrate on their content material quite than different distractions, whereas components just like the translucent menu bar will make the display really feel bigger. 

Customers will have the ability 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, due to a customizable format, much like iOS 18. Customers can even have the ability to add controls for his or her favourite apps to the Management Centre. We now have a information to find out how to use Management Centre in macOS Tahoe the place you’ll be able to examine find out how to add controls, take away those you don’t need, and organize them in a means that is sensible for you.

Apple is benefiting from the Liquid Glass introduction to convey some new icon designs to the Mac as nicely to assist in giving macOS a recent look. A number of the icons look drastically completely different, for others the adjustments are extra delicate. The ‘arduous 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 in order for you, learn: How you can change the icon of a macOS storage machine.

Apple

macOS can even achieve a characteristic that arrived on the iPhone and iPad with iOS 18: tinted and darkish app icons.

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

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

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

macOS Tahoe Highlight overhaul

Apple

Highlight has at all times been far more than a search device constructed into macOS, serving to customers discover something on their Macs, make calculations and conversions, and extra. In macOS Tahoe, Concentration is going to have the ability to do much more.

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

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

Not solely will Highlight be the simplest method to discover something in your Mac, however in macOS 26, Highlight will probably be contextually conscious so it could actually make options primarily based on what you’re doing. Search outcomes will probably be listed primarily based on their relevance to you, and it is going to be doable to make use of new filtering choices for extra particular search outcomes. 

Highlight can even have the flexibility 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’ll even allow you to fill out parameters for actions, reminiscent of typing out an e-mail message and filling within the recipient and topic. You’ll be able to basically compose an e-mail from inside Highlight, with out opening your e-mail app.

This will probably be simplified additional with Fast Keys, with which it is possible for you to to kind a brief string of letters to launch an motion, reminiscent of typing “sm” to begin sending a message to a good friend. An App Intents API will make it doable for third-party builders so as to add Highlight shortcuts for his or her functions.

Probably the most thrilling new arrivals in Highlight is Clipboard Historical past, one thing we have now needed 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 images 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 supplies customers with a Residence web page like view of all their apps. As a substitute Highlight would be the technique of discovering apps. It will take some adjustment, particularly in the event you have been a Launchpad consumer. Study extra about Apps changing Launchpad, and if you wish to get Launchpad again we have now a tutorial to indicate you the way.

macOS 26 Tahoe: New and up to date apps 

There are additionally plenty of 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 selection 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 embody Handoff (which allows you to begin a process on one machine and swap to a different to complete it), Common Clipboard (which lets you copy one thing on one machine and paste it on one other), and Common Management (the place you should utilize one mouse and keyboard to interface with a couple of Mac), amongst different options. 

With the brand new Telephone app, customers will have the ability 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 implies you’ll by no means need to pay attention to carry music once more.

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

YouTube / Apple

Dwell Actions

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

In iOS 18, you’ll be able to see a stay replace in your Lock Display referring to issues like a takeaway order. Dwell Actions present the method of a meals supply driver, for instance. Now, that performance is coming to the Mac.

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

Video games app

The Video games app is one other one that’s out there throughout all three most important working system updates: iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. As with the iOS Video games app, the Video games app on the Mac will convey collectively all of the video games you’ve got in your Mac (purchased from the App Retailer, Apple Arcade and elsewhere), in addition to your folks record, achievements, and leaderboards. Tabs will make it straightforward to search out the video games you and your folks are enjoying.

A brand new Recreation Overlay will make it straightforward to regulate settings for a specific recreation. You’ll additionally have the ability to chat with associates and ask them to play.

There’s additionally a brand new Low Energy Mode coming, which avid gamers will have the ability to activate to maximise battery life when enjoying video games. 

And in associated information, Steel 4 is coming, which is able to allow next-gen options for Mac recreation builders, reminiscent of MetalFX Body Interpolation and MetalFX De-noising. 

Apple

Shortcuts 

Apple

The Shortcuts app is getting an overhaul in macOS Tahoe.

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

In Tahoe, Shortcuts will have the ability to run workflows primarily based on components like time of day, or in response to an e-mail from a selected individual arriving. This performance was beforehand restricted to the iPhone and iPad variations.

There are new clever actions out there that can be utilized to create Good 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 pictures with Picture Playground.”

Dwell Translation 

Probably the most helpful new options introduced at WWDC is Dwell Translation. With Dwell Translation, you’ll be able to textual content a good friend who speaks a special language and have the translations seem in actual time, or get on the spot translations throughout a telephone name or FaceTime convention. Everybody will get their very own translator. 

You’ll have the ability to reap the benefits of Dwell 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 help for 24-bit colour and the flexibility to make use of Powerline fonts.

Reminders

Reminders is getting some assist from Apple Intelligence. Reminders will scan an internet site, word, e-mail or different content material, then resolve probably the most related motion objects for you primarily based on its findings. You’ll have the ability to use Apple Intelligence to robotically categorize your reminders into sections, making them simpler to search out

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