Here’s the first look at macOS Tahoe
macOS Tahoe 26, Apple’s latest operating system for the Mac, receives many of the same changes as iOS. These include the new Liquid Glass design and changes to apps like Messages, Safari, and Phone, a new app for the Mac this year. There’s also a brand new spotlight system that’s really handy.
Liquid Glass on the Mac is very similar to that on the iPhone, which was also Apple’s goal. Apple wanted more design and navigation parity between operating systems – mission accomplished?
The menu bar in macOS Tahoe is now invisible, freeing up more space at the top of your Mac, and the icons use the same stacked glass look. You can also make the icons entirely glass or, for the first time, use iPhone-style color tones. The Control Center features the Liquid Glass design and, like the menu bar, is more customizable.
Toolbars, sidebars, and buttons have a more rounded design and a liquid glass aesthetic. Folders can be customized with colors and emojis, making them stand out more.
macOS Tahoe with a completely redesigned Spotlight
Spotlight has been completely redesigned and now lets you do almost anything on your Mac. It supports actions, so you can send emails and messages without having to open an app. Spotlight also includes a list of all your apps and a clipboard manager that stores your copied and pasted content. You can access Spotlight features with the Command key and the 1, 2, 3, or 4 keys. Actions can be initiated with short phrases like “SE” for “Send Email.”
Several iPhone apps, such as Phone and Journal, are now available on the Mac. The Phone app lets you make phone calls from your iPhone. It even supports the new Hold Assist and Call Filtering features. There’s a brand-new Games app that houses all your Mac games and helps you find new content. The Magnifier app lets you enlarge text on your iPhone to view it on your Mac.
macOS Tahoe is currently in beta, so some of these features may change, and Apple may add new features. The beta is currently available only to developers, but a public beta is planned for July. The final version of macOS Tahoe will be released in September.
