Jan 21, 2026
3 min read
All the features, compatibility, issues in macOS 26 Tahoe, what's in macOS 26.2 and what's coming in macOS 26.3.
- reported that macOS 26 Tahoe, released on September 15, 2025, offers the biggest design overhaul since 2013 with the new "Liquid Glass" interface with transparent elements and reflective effects.
- The latest version 26.2 adds Edge Light for improved webcam quality, live translation for calls and messages, and improved AI-driven shortcut automation, exclusive to the Mac M-series.
- Tahoe represents the last macOS version to support Intel Macs, version 26.3 beta is currently available and a full release is expected in early 2026.
Like its counterparts on other Apple devices, in September 2026 macOS got a completely new look along with a new name.Since Apple is aligning the names of all operating systems this year, the new version of macOS will be called macOS 26 instead of macOS 16.It also gets the name Tahoe, inspired by the lake, beaches and ski resorts in this area of California.
In addition to a major redesign, MacOS 26 adds new Continuity features that bring your iPad, iPhone, and Mac closer together, a new Phone app, and more.Spotlight gets its biggest update yet, adding the ability to send email directly from Spotlight and more.
Those with compatible Mac computers will be able to install macOS Tahoe after its release on September 15, 2025.If you haven't installed it yet, read on for how to do it, if it's possible, and if you need to.
macOS Tahoe may have been released, but Apple continues to develop with new features added every few months.You can check out upcoming new features through Apple's public and developer beta versions, which are available to download if you join the beta program (we explain how to do this below).
You'll find everything you need to know about macOS Tahoe and all its new features, including which Macs are compatible with macOS 26 and what new features you can expect, including what's been added since launch in September and what's coming in the next update.Stay tuned to this super guide for everything you need to know about macOS 26 Tahoe.
macOS 26 Tahoe: Overview
- A new version of macOS called macOS 26 Tahoe is released on September 15, 2025. Some M3 Mac Studio users had issues installing the update, but the macOS 26.0.1 update has fixed this issue.The current version is macOS 26.1.
- Macos 26THOE is still in development and you will have access to new features before they are released by developers and Public Beais.
- Tahoe works on Macs released since 2019. It works on all M-series Macs, but on a small number of Intel-based models.Apple has confirmed that macOS Tahoe will be the last version of macOS to support Intel-based Macs.Starting with macOS 27.Intel Macs are not supported.
- With its new Liquid Glass interface, macOS 26 has its biggest design change since 2013.
- New features in macOS Tahoe include more privacy options, improvements to the Spotlight and Shortcuts app, and the introduction of the Phone app and all related features on the Mac.
macOS 26 Tahoe latest version
The latest version of macOS is macOS Tahoe 26.2, which arrives on December 12, 2025.
Apple released the first version of macOS 26 Tahoe on September 15, 2025. The release coincided with the iOS 26 update. Since then, Apple has released the following updates.
- macOS September 26-15, 2025
- macOS 26.0.1 - September 29, 2025 (bug fixes)
- macOS 26.1 – November 3, 2025
- macOS 26.2 - December 12, 2025
Wondering if you should install macOS Tahoe?Read: macOS Tahoe vs macOS Sequoia: What's different, what's new, and should you update?
Upcoming macOS 26 Tahoe Update: Release date for macOS 26.3
- The current beta version is macOS Tahoe 26.3, the full version of which is likely to be released in 2026. In late January or early February.
Apple aims to introduce new features that have missed their original introduction dates, and development continues even after official macOS updates are released. Apple runs developer betas as well as public betas so you can test upcoming new features.
MacOS Tahoe 26.3 beta arrived on December 15, and since then updates have been made available to developers and public testers.
Both betas are free, although the beta program requires free registration as a developer.Apple releases beta updates from time to time.Public beta updates usually arrive a day or two after the beta program is updated.If you want to try the beta, you can join Apple's beta program.For help installing the macOS beta, see our macOS beta installation guide.
It comes with macOS 26.3
macOS Tahoe 26.3 is currently in active development and testing.
This update continues the great features introduced in the first release of macOS 26 Tahoe.It's unclear what new features will be coming, but iOS 26.3 includes a number of EU-mandated changes.Read our iOS 26 guide for more information.
What's new in macOS 26.2
Released in late 2025, macOS Tahoe 26.2 introduced several specialized updates aimed at improving video conferencing, AI development tools, and boosting real-world hardware performance.Although this is not considered a major overhaul, it has brought some "engineering" features that improve the user experience every day, especially for those working in remote or low-light environments.
- Edge Light: The most important feature for macOS 26.2 consumers is Edge Light, a virtual ring light designed to improve the quality of webcam images.It puts a bright white frame around the display to mimic the glow of a selfie ring, significantly improving visibility in dark rooms.It uses the Neural Engine to detect the user's face to adjust the light and can even hide the cursor to hide the light if it might interfere with navigation.Users can adjust the light intensity and choose between warmer or cooler color temperatures.Required for M-series Macs, but on Mac M4 and later, the feature can be activated automatically when low light is detected.
- Developer and AI improvements: For developers and advanced users, macOS 26.2 introduced significant updates to the machine learning and hardware clustering frameworks.Developers using the open source MLX framework can now take advantage of the Neural Accelerator on the M5 chip.The update improved the ability to create artificial intelligence clusters using Mac Studio's Thunderbolt 5 connection.
- Security Updates: Important fixes for security vulnerabilities that match the security fixes in iPadOS 26.2.
- UI Refinements: Continued improvements to the "Liquid Glass" UI, adding more transparency and visionOS-style effects throughout the system.
- Performance: General "behind the scenes" changes to improve system stability and responsiveness.
Miss on MacOS 26.1 out?
macOS 26.1 update includes fixes for game controls and other issues.There are many more changes to come in iPhone and iOS 26.1.
New features in macOS 26.1 include:
- Liquid glass: the ability to soften the liquid glass effect.Choose from transparent and tinted looks to increase opacity.
- AutoMix support for Apple Music via AirPlay.
- FaceTime audio enhancement in low bandwidth.
- Regional communication security and web content filters for adult websites.
- Icon: Changed to Macintosh HD icon.
- New TV app icon with Apple TV+ has been renamed Apple TV.
New results from Clipboard settings for Spotlight, where users can enable/disable Spotlight's ability to search and display clipboard entries.Users can also set clipboard time points and clear clipboard history.(Settings > Attention > Clipboard Results)
Macos 26 Tahoe Problems & Fixes
YouTube / Apple
Some M3 Ultra Mac Studio users have reported that they are unable to install macOS Tahoe.It turns out that the Mac Studios in question already had Sequoia 15.7 installed, and when trying to install Tahoe it looked for the driver and failed to install if it couldn't be found.
The macOS 26.0.1 update fixes startup bugs, including a Mac Studio installation error.
Devices supported by macOS 26 Tahoe: Which Macs are getting macOS Tahoe
- Requires an M-series chip or Intel-based Macs with a T2 security chip
- Apple Intelligence functions require M1 or later
-No Intel support from macOS 27 and above
When Apple updates the operating system for its devices, it sometimes means that certain versions are no longer supported.The good news is that macOS running macOS Sonoma will be able to run the new macOS.Apple says basic requirements include Macs with M-series chips and Intel-based Mac computers with T2 security chips.
Here are the Apple Silicon Macs that will be able to run macOS Tahoe:
- MacBook Air (M1/2020 and newer)
- MacBook Pro (M1/2020 and higher)
- iMac (M1/2021 and later)
- Mac mini (M1/2020 and later)
- Mac Studio (M1/2022 and later)
- Mac Pro (M2/2023 and newer)
There are four Intel-powered Macs that can run macOS Tahoe.These models do not support Apple Intelligence features:
- MacBook Pro (16 inches, Intel/2019)
- MacBook Pro (13 inches, Intel/2020, four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- iMac (Intel/Mid 2020)
- Mac Pro (Intel/2019)
Apple has confirmed that this is the last version of MacOS that will run on Intel Macs.
What are the main changes in macOS 26 Tahoe?
macOS 26 Tahoe is one of the most significant updates to Apple's desktop operating system in the last ten years.The update includes a dramatic visual redesign, the introduction of essential mobile apps on the Mac, and a complete overhaul of system-wide tools like Spotlight.
Below, we'll take an in-depth look at each new feature, including the Liquid Glass redesign, Spotlight overhaul, new apps, new iPhone features coming to Mac, and more...
MacOS 26 Tahoe Design: Liquid Glass is another design change
At the WWDC event in June, Apple presented some exciting new features for macOS that will arrive later in 2025. Many new features and interface improvements are promised, but one of the biggest changes has occurred across all Apple products: a new model based on the graphical user interface that Apple calls Apple Glass.
Apple unveiled all new features for macOS at its WWDC keynote.Like other Apple operating systems, macOS Tahoe uses Apple's new Liquid Glass effect to create reflective, shiny elements around the interface.Liquid Glass elements will change color to reflect the content underneath as you scroll and will respond dynamically.Buttons look more hollow and less.
You'll see the effect in the dock, sidebars, toolbars, and other places.The menu bar is fully transparent and you can adjust the transparency of icons in the dock, for example.If you don't like the new transparent look or it affects the way you can see items, there is a way to minimize it and in some cases turn it off completely.Read: How to Reduce Transparency in MacOS Tahoe
This is the first time in years that Apple has made significant changes to the visual style of macOS, and it certainly makes the operating system look more modern.
Changes to the macOS Tahoe interface
Apple says the design overhaul enhances the core elements of macOS and improves the macOS experience.The sharper design is meant to help the user focus on their content instead of other distractions, while elements like the translucent menu bar make the screen appear larger.
Users will be able to choose to add third-party apps to the menu bar and even drag widgets and buttons from Control Center, thanks to a customizable feature, similar to iOS 18. Users will also be able to add controls to their favorite programs in Control Center.We have a tutorial on how to use Control Center in macOS Tahoe where you can read how to add controls, remove the ones you don't want, and arrange it in a way that makes sense to you.
Apple is taking advantage of the introduction of Liquid Glass to bring new icon designs to the Mac and help give macOS a new look.Some icons look very different, some changes are more subtle.The "hard drive" icon will now be replaced with one that looks like an SSD, for example.
The new icons often take on a "dirty" look. These changes may make some third-party icons hard to recognize. Check it out: 21 new macOS Tahoe icons, including redesigns for the Finder, Automator, Calendar, Contacts icons and more. If you need to change the icons, read: How to change the macOS storage device icon.
macOS also introduces a feature introduced in iOS 18 on iPhone and iPad: tinted and dark app icons.
Users can also customize their Mac in other ways, such as changing the color of folders and adding emoji or icons to help identify folders.Users can choose custom wallpapers and choose theme colors.If you want to change the color of your folder, read: How to change folder color and add icons in Tahoe.
New dynamic screensavers will be included.One, based on the macOS Tahoe default wallpaper, shows the landscapes of South Lake Tahoe in an artistically stylized way, available in light and dark versions.See what it looks like in the beautiful new Tahoe screensaver.
There are up to 15 other new screensavers featuring images of Tahoe at different times of day, the Himalayas, Goa, the Ganges and more.
Review the Macross Tahoe Spotlight
Spotlight has always been more than a built-in search tool in macOS, helping users find everything on their Mac, perform calculations and conversions, and more.Spotlight on macOS Tahoe will be able to do more.
Spotlight's design and functionality have been completely rethought for MacOS 26, and these changes will help Mac users get their work done faster.
Instead of a single bar, to the right of the Spotlight search box, you'll find icons for things like Applications, Files, Shortcuts, Actions, and Clipboards.Select one of these buttons, and the Spotlight box will expand to include related content for easy viewing.When searching, you'll see relevant filters below the search terms - click one to apply quickly.
Not only is Spotlight the easiest way to find anything on your Mac, but with macOS 26 Spotlight is contextually aware and can make recommendations based on what you're doing.Search results are listed based on their relevance to you, and new filter options are available for specific search results.
Spotlight will also have the ability to perform actions that would normally require you to be in the app.For example, you'll be able to create a calendar event, start an audio recording, or play a podcast with Spotlight. It'll even let you fill in parameters for actions like entering an email address.e-mail and enter the recipient and subject. Basically, you can create an e-mail without opening it using the Spotlight mail programs.
Make it even simpler with Quick Keys, which let you type a short string of characters to trigger an action, such as typing "sm" to start messaging a friend.The App Intents API will make it possible for third-party developers to add Spotlight shortcuts to their applications.
One of the most exciting new features in Spotlight is Clipboard History, something we've wanted for years.Instead of being limited to pasting the last item you copied, you can review the previous text and photos you copied and re-paste as needed.Why did it take Apple so long to offer this?
To the new spotlight is the new apps, which replaces launchpad, which was a feature on Max for more than a decade and provides users a home-like view of all their apps.Instead, Spotlight will be the way to find apps.This will take some adjustment, especially if you were a launchpad user.Learn more about apps that replace launchpad, and if you want to get launchpad back, we have a guide to show you how.
macOS 26 Tahoe: new and updated apps
Many updates are also coming to Apple's apps, including iPads, iPhones, and Macs.Most of the changes are shared across all new apps, but there are some Mac-specific updates coming.
The Phone app on Mac is the latest continuity feature introduced in macOS.Continuity is Apple’s name for features that work seamlessly across Macs, iPads, and iPhones, including features like Handoff (which allows you to start a task on one device and then switch to another to complete it), Universal Clipboard (which lets you copy something on one device and paste it on another), and Universal Controls (which lets you use a mouse and keyboard to connect to multiple Macs).
With the new Phone app, users will be able to receive their calls and voicemails on Mac.The phone app gets some new features, including Call Screening, designed to help avoid spam calls, and Hold Help, which means you'll never have to listen to music on hold again.
With call screening, the anonymous caller will be asked to provide their name and reason for the call before the call is made and you will be provided with this information.When you use Hold Help to queue up for a user to call and the music on hold starts, you can choose whether you want to be called back.
YouTube / Apple
Another feature that shows the cooperation of iPhone and Mac is live activity.
In iOS 18, you can see live updates on the lock screen related to orders taken.For example, live activities show the process of a food delivery driver.Now, this feature is coming to Mac.
It is powered by the iPhone Mirroring function and will be an iPhone-style widget that you can see on your Mac screen.
The Games app is another one available in all three major operating system updates: iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.Like the Games app for iOS, the Games app on Mac brings together all the games on your Mac (purchased from the App Store, Apple Arcade, and elsewhere), as well as your friends' lists, achievements, and leaderboards.Cards make it easy to find the games you and your friends are playing.
The new Game Overlay makes it easy to adjust settings for specific games.You can even chat with your friends and ask them to play.
There is also a new Low Power Mode, which players will be able to turn on to increase battery life when playing games.
And in related news, Metal 4 is coming, which will enable next-generation features for Mac game developers, like MetalFX Frame Interpolation and MetalFX De-noising.
The Shortcuts app is getting an update in macOS Tahoe.
Shortcuts are tools used to automate and automate tasks.For those with more specific needs, Automator is also available on Mac, but the shortcut is easy to use and is available on iPhone and iPad.
In Tahoe, shortcuts will be able to run workflows based on things like the time of day or when a specific person arrives in response to an email.This functionality was previously limited to the iPhone and iPad versions.
There are new Smart Actions that can be used to create smart shortcuts.These shortcuts can be optimized with Apple's Smart ChatGPT.Apple says that "Users will see special actions for features such as using the text tool to compose text or create images in the image gallery."
One of the most useful new features announced at WWDC is live translation.With live translation, you can send a text message to a friend who speaks a different language and have the translation appear in real time, or get an instant translation during a phone call or FaceTime conference.Everyone gets their own translator.
You'll be able to take advantage of real-time translation in the Phone app, Messages and FaceTime on your Mac.
Coming to iOS in 2023, the Journal app is coming to Mac (and iPad).
The terminal will get a colorful redesign and liquid glass treatment, with support for 24-bit colors and the ability to use Powerline fonts.
Reminders get help from Apple Intelligence.Reminders will scan a web page, note, email or other content and then determine the most relevant actions for you based on the results.You'll be able to automatically categorize your reminders using Apple Intelligence, making them easy to find.
Safari, Messages, Photos, FaceTime and Notes are also getting the change
