Apple announces macOS 26 Tahoe with new design and revamped search features

Apple announced a new version of macOS during its WWDC 2025 keynote presentation. The new update, expected later this year, is called macOS 26 Tahoe. Upon release this fall, Tahoe will be available for M-series Mac Pros, Mac Studios, MacBook Pros, and MacBook Airs. Developers can start beta testing it today, and a public beta is scheduled next month.

While Apple is sticking with California-themed names in Tahoe, this marks the first time Apple is numbering macOS to align with its yearly update schedule — with 26 replacing last year’s macOS 15. The year is of course 2025 right now, but most of macOS 26’s time in the limelight will be during 2026. (Think of it like the model year of cars, which never gets confusing.)

The big new change for macOS 26 Tahoe is an overhauled design, following Apple’s new Liquid Glass aesthetic it also announced at WWDC 25. The glass-like style encompasses the Dock, toolbars, app icons, widgets, and colors. Now, similar to the iPhone, users will be able to theme their Macs with color-matched folders and app icons that can be tinted.

Tahoe is getting its own Phone app for use with a paired iPhone via Continuity. The app is modeled after the iPhone version, complete with Favorites, Voicemails, Call Screening, and Hold Assist. There’s also support for Live Activities from a nearby iPhone, allowing you to see live updates from your phone — like the status of an Uber on its way to you — on your Mac’s menu bar.

Apple claims Spotlight is getting its biggest update to date, allowing users to take direct actions through it, like taking a note, sending an email, or running a shortcut. Additionally, Spotlight search results are listed and ranked based on what should be most relevant to you, with the ability to filter your search further.

Tahoe also has new Apple Intelligence features, such as Live Translations, improved Shortcuts, and updates to Genmoji, Image Playground, and Reminders. You’ll be able to get live, automatic language translations in the Messages app — both incoming ones and outbound ones you write. And, similar to Windows 11’s feature from last year, you can get translated live captions to someone speaking on a FaceTime call.

Apple is also putting a new Games App in macOS 26 Tahoe. Apple Games gives users a dedicated app for cataloging and launching their games, discovering new titles, and syncing up with friends for playing online. There’s also a Game Overlay for adjusting settings, chatting, and sending game invites. Macs may still not be the go-to for most hardcore gamers, but in addition to the Games App and Overlay, Apple is also introducing Metal 4 for developers, including MetalFX Frame Interpolation and Denoising to improve frame rates.

Last year’s macOS 15 Sequoia was also first announced at WWDC, and it gave Mac users new features like iPhone mirroring, proper window tiling, and access to Apple Intelligence.

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