macOS 26 Tahoe Announced at Apple's WWDC 2025—What's New for Mac Users

Apple's next macOS software is called macOS 26 Tahoe. While keeping in line with the new nomenclature for its operating systems, Apple has found Tahoe — a scenic lake in California — as the name for the Mac software. With Liquid Glass design language at the helm, macOS 26 brings new app icons, translucency in menus and windows, and more fluidity in animations. But the biggest update is aimed at the productivity tools on the Mac — which it is known for.

macOS 26 Tahoe features

With what Apple's Craig Federighi calls a fresh and timeless design, macOS 26 Tahoe brings new widgets, a revamped dock, and a new gaming experience on the Mac. The menu bar is now completely transparent, while the Control Center now features expanded widgets — just like the iPhone. Apple has also introduced Live Activities to macOS 26 to give you real-time updates from your iPhone apps like Zomato, Swiggy, and Uber.

Spotlight, the tool that lets you search anything on your device or the internet, has been upgraded to execute actions without needing to open apps. So now, you can send an email or create a note right from Spotlight, and even browse the internet right from Spotlight.

“Whether you're a power user or just getting started on Mac, there's something for everyone, with even more features to turbocharge productivity and make working across Mac and iPhone more seamless than ever before,” said Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi.

Mac now supports expanded Continuity features like iPhone's Recents, Contacts, and Voicemails through the arrival of the Phone app in macOS 26. It allows you to relay phone calls from a nearby iPhone, alongside features such as Call Screening and Hold Assist.

New Live Translation offers real-time translation, while Genmoji and Image Playground have been updated to let you combine two emojis to create a new one. Shortcuts now let you summarise text using Writing Tools and create images using Image Playground.

macOS 26 also adds Apple Games, a new dedicated app that hosts a collection of installed games and those from Apple Arcade. It also brings Game Overlay to allow you to adjust system settings, chat with friends, and invite online players without having to leave the game.

macOS 26 Tahoe rollout

The developer beta for macOS 26 Tahoe is now available, but the stable build will be rolled out later this year.