MacOS Tahoe 26 announced on WWDC 2025 with a new look and new numbering schedule: these are the best functions for your new Mac or MacBook
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Apple has announced the latest version of MacOS on WWDC 2025, the annual developer conference.
According to Apple, the new version of MacOS Tahoe 26, the operating system used by MacBooks and MacsWill come later this year, but an early beta version has been made available for developers to ensure that their apps work well with the new operating system. We’ll show you How to download the MacOS Tahoe 26 Developer Beta If you want to give it an early attempt.
After that, Apple will launch a public beta with which anyone with a compatible Mac can test the operating system – although you only have to do this with the concept that this is an early version of the software and can have functions and the bugs can include (the reason for releasing a beta version is for people to help with the testing of the software and the height of the trouble of the problems).
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As usual, MacOS Tahoe 26 Will be a free update for anyone with a compatible Mac or MacBook, so for most people I recommend keeping around for the official launch around October or November, as most, if not all, of the bugs and problems found in the Bèta version have been solved.
Until then, read on for all the information we know so far about MacOS Tahoe 26, plus the new functions that we are most enthusiastic about.
Cut the chase
- What is it? The latest operating system for Macs and MacBooks
- How much is it? As usual it is free for compatible Macs
- When is it out? Developer Beta Out Now, Public Beta Out in July 2025, final release Autumn 2025
Which Macs and MacBooks are compatible with MacOS Tahoe 26?
These are the Mac and MacBook devices that, according to Apple MacOS, can perform Tahoe 26:
MacBook Air M1 Or later
MacBook Pro 16-inch 2019 Or later
MacBook Pro 2020 Or later
MacBook Pro 13-inch 2020 With four Thunderbolt 3 -gates
iMac 2020 Or later
Mac Mini 2020 Or later
Mac Pro 2019 Or later
Mac Studio 2022 and later
A new look
The rumors were good – Apple has overhauled the appearance of macOS (as with its other operating systems), with a uniform design language, which means that macOS, iPados and iOS will look the same.
Known as ‘liquid glass’, this part of the user interface does not only look good, it responds depending on the task that you perform.
The dock, the sidebar and the toolbars of MacOS 26 Tahoe have been redesigned, with the menu bar now completely transparent. The idea behind this seems to be to mix the user interface in the background, giving the prominent place where you are working on the screen.
App icons have also been given a new look to fit into the design of the liquid glass, and these will also change, depending on whether you use the light or dark macOS theme.
Apple also expands the adjustment options of MacOS 26 Tahoe, so it should be even easier to make the operating system match your style.
A new numbering convention
At WWDC, Apple announced the official name for the latest macOS: Tahoe. Again, based on a milestone in Apple’s birthplace California.
Surfarm (if you did not keep track of the rumors), Apple also confirmed that there will be a new numbering schedule for macOS and its other operating systems. Instead numbering according to version (the current version is macOS 15), it will now be based on year, so there are no macOS 16, but macOS 26, as well as iOS 26, iPados 26 and more.
This is quite a change, but it shows how serious Apple is about the fact that all its operating systems feel that they are parts of the same ecosystem.
Spotlight in the … Spotlight …
Spotlight has been an important part of macOS for centuries, so that you can find and open applications that you have installed. On WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that MacOS Tahoe 26 will contain the ‘biggest update ever’, with all search results between apps, files, folders, messages and more are all mentioned together and ‘intelligent ranked based on relevance for the user’.
Advanced filter controls must help you limit your results, and Spotlight can also search for files stored on third -party cloud drives, such as Google Drive or OneDrive.
You can also perform promotions directly from the spotlights – so that you can send an e -mail, play a media file and more without having to open the app first. These can also be used via shortcut keys, and according to Apple, Spotlight learns how to use your Mac and offers you personalized actions for tasks that you often perform. The example that Apple gives is quickly sending a message to someone with whom you regularly talk.
Live translation
As you would expect, Apple has put a lot of AI functions in MacOS Tahoe 26, and perhaps the most interesting (and useful) is live translation, which automatically translates messages, depending on the language of the person you talk to (and their answer is translated for you).
During Facetime calls live captions are also shown, and if you are old school and still use the phone -you can see a translation of what they are talking about -and all this happens on devices, so that conversations remain private.
Call from the phone -app directly from MacOS Tahoe 26
An active theme of WWDC 2025 seems to make Apple Ecosystem from devices work better, and with continuity, the app with which you have access to your iPhone via your Mac, you can now use the phone app to answer phone calls on your Mac, instead of removing your iPhone from your pocket.
The telephone app in macOS 26 is designed to be immediately known to iPhone users, and you can gain access to recent calls, favorite contacts and your voicemails -plus useful functions such as call screening and holds assistant.
If someone goes from an unknown telephone number, the call screening will answer the call and ask for information, so that you can decide whether or not you want to answer the call.
If you are put on hold, Hold Assist holds your place in line so that you can work on your Mac until your turn is discussed. Handy!
Mac Gaming gets better with Apple Games -App
Gaming on a Mac is no longer the joke it used to be thanks to a steady stream of AAA games that come to macOS, and with macOS Tahoe 26 it seems that gaming can get even better.
A new app, called Apple Games, will act as a launcher for all your games, and emphasize new games that match your taste. It is not clear whether this app will only show games that you have bought and installed at Apple’s App Store, or whether you can add games from other services such as Steam. Hopefully it’s the last one.
A Game -Overlay, known by PC Gamers who use Windows 11 And Steam, is also included in the Apple Games app and allows you to change your settings quickly and chat with friends without leaving the game.
A new Low Power mode should also make playing games on a MacBook that is less demanding from the battery, so you should be able to play longer – although I hope it doesn’t have too much impact on game performance.
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