Apple announces macOS Tahoe 26 at WWDC 2025: Key features and everything else you need to know

macOS

At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, Apple unveiled the next big update to its Mac operating system — macOS Tahoe 26. This new release brings a complete visual makeover, smarter tools powered by Apple Intelligence, improved continuity between devices, and a host of features designed to make using a Mac more personal, productive, and powerful.

A fresh new design, without losing what’s familiar

Apple has introduced a gorgeous new design language with macOS Tahoe. The interface now uses a new material called Liquid Glass, which gives apps and system elements like the Dock and menu bar a translucent, reflective look. Icons have been redesigned with new tints and themes, and users can now customize folder colors and add emojis or symbols for a more personal touch.

The menu bar is now completely transparent, offering a more immersive feel, and the Control Center can be personalized to show exactly what you want, where you want it.

Seamless iPhone and Mac integration

One of the most exciting additions is the Phone app for Mac. Now, Mac users can make and receive calls through their iPhone, access Recents, Voicemail, and even use new features like Call Screening (which filters unknown callers) and Hold Assist, which waits on hold for you while you keep working.

Live Activities from your iPhone—like Uber rides, flights, or game scores—now show up on your Mac’s menu bar. Clicking them opens iPhone Mirroring so you can act right from your Mac.

Spotlight gets smarter than ever
Spotlight, Apple’s system-wide search, has received its biggest update yet. You can now not only search but also take action directly—like sending an email, creating a note, or playing a podcast—all without leaving Spotlight. It also intelligently ranks results and adds new browsing views and quick keys to speed things up.

Apple Intelligence becomes more helpful
With Apple Intelligence, macOS Tahoe brings new capabilities while keeping privacy front and center. Some of the standout features include:

–Live Translation in Messages, FaceTime, and even phone calls—translating text and audio in real-time.

–Image Playground and Genmoji for creating fun, custom visuals and emojis with greater control.

–Smarter Shortcuts, powered by Apple Intelligence, to automate tasks like comparing notes from a class lecture or summarizing documents.

–New Journal app for writing, reflecting, and syncing across devices.

You can even use ChatGPT within Apple Shortcuts when you want broader AI capabilities, all while keeping your data private through Apple’s Private Cloud Compute.

A new home for gamers
With macOS Tahoe, Apple is going big on gaming. There's a new Apple Games app that organizes all your games in one place and introduces Game Overlay—letting you tweak settings or invite friends without exiting your game. Plus, new game titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Crimson Desert are coming to Mac, making use of advanced graphics tech like MetalFX Upscaling and support for M3/M4 chips.

Other handy features
–Safari gets a redesigned look with floating tabs and faster performance—Apple claims it’s 50% faster than Chrome for frequent websites.

–Messages now supports group polls, typing indicators, and custom backgrounds.

–Photos and Notes apps get redesigned with better organization and support for Markdown and audio transcriptions.

–Accessibility sees big gains with features like Magnifier using your iPhone camera and a new Braille interface.

–Passwords now let you check older saved versions and when changes were made.

Availability
Developers can try macOS Tahoe 26 starting today via the Apple Developer Program. A public beta will launch next month at beta.apple.com, and the full version will roll out as a free update this fall.

However, Apple Intelligence features will only work on supported devices—iPhone 15 Pro and newer, iPads with A17 Pro or M-series chips, and Macs with M1 or later. Supported languages at launch include English, Spanish, Japanese, and more, with others like Swedish and Vietnamese coming later in the year.