- This topic is empty.
-
-
Apple has officially confirmed that its next major Mac update, macOS Tahoe 26, will roll out on Monday, September 15. The update promises one of the boldest design changes in years, with an all-new Liquid Glass look, plus a lineup of new apps, smarter tools, and deeper integration with Apple Intelligence.
Available for MacBook, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro, and Mac Studio, macOS Tahoe introduces features like a redesigned Spotlight Search, Live Activities on Mac, an improved Shortcuts app, and more.
This update also marks the final major release for Intel-based Macs. Starting next year, Apple will push annual macOS updates exclusively to Macs running its M-series (Apple Silicon) chips.
With Apple’s official macOS Tahoe 26 release notes now available, we’ve got the full rundown of what’s included. After testing the public beta, we were impressed by the changes — but the full release brings the polished, final experience to all Mac users.
Here’s how to install the update and everything you can expect when macOS Tahoe 26 lands.
How to Download macOS Tahoe 26
macOS Tahoe 26 officially arrives on Monday, September 15. Based on Apple’s past release schedules, you can expect it to go live at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. BST.
Updating is simple:
-
Open System Settings (via the Dock or by clicking the Apple icon in the top left corner).
-
In the left-hand menu, select General.
-
Click Software Update and follow the prompts to install.
macOS Tahoe 26: What’s New
We now have the complete list of features thanks to Apple’s release notes (via MacRumors). Here are the highlights:
Liquid Glass Design
The biggest visual change in macOS. Menus, toolbars, and apps now reflect and refract content behind them, creating a sleek transparent look. Users can personalize icons and widgets with light, dark, tinted, or clear styles.
Customizable Folders
Give your folders personality by assigning them colors or even emojis — a simple but powerful way to organize your files.
Control Center Overhaul
Redesigned for flexibility, the Control Center now lets you customize which controls appear, rearrange layouts, and add shortcuts from both Mac and iPhone apps (including third-party apps). You can also pin controls directly to the menu bar.
Live Translation
Powered by Apple Intelligence, Live Translation automatically converts text in real time across your Mac. It works in Messages, FaceTime (with live captions), and even audio transcriptions from the Phone app.
Smarter Shortcuts
The Shortcuts app now taps directly into Apple’s AI models. Automations can trigger based on time of day, file or folder changes, connecting to an external display, and more.
Genmoji Upgrades
Apple’s custom emoji creator now offers even more personalization, including hairstyle options.
Image Playground Enhancements
Image Playground gets new creative tools: edit facial expressions and hairstyles from your photo library, apply styles like “Watercolor” or “Oil Painting,” or describe your own style and let AI generate it.
Live Activities on Mac
Macs now support Live Activities in the menu bar. You can track events like Uber Eats deliveries or open apps via iPhone Mirroring — a win for Apple’s Continuity ecosystem.
Revamped Phone App
The new Phone app for Mac lets you take cellular calls from a nearby iPhone. It also includes Call Screening, Recents, Contacts, Voicemails, plus Hold Assist and Live Translation.
Smarter Messages
The Messages app on Mac adds support for chat backgrounds, polls, and tools to filter out unknown senders (with options to mark them as known).
Upgraded Spotlight
Spotlight is now more powerful, handling natural language queries across the system. It also allows quick actions like sending messages or running shortcuts — and it can assign custom quick keys for faster commands.
All-New Games App
Apple introduces a dedicated Games app on Mac — a hub to discover new titles, see updates, and check what friends are playing, separate from the App Store.
The Bottom Line
That’s the complete lineup for macOS Tahoe 26 — alongside a series of minor bug fixes and performance improvements. From the flashy Liquid Glass design to productivity boosts in Spotlight and Shortcuts, this is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious Mac updates yet.
If you want to make the most of your Mac’s new features, stay tuned. We’ll be diving deeper into how Tahoe 26 can enhance productivity, creativity, and gaming once it’s officially live.
-
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.