macOS Tahoe with Liquid Glass design, phone app and Spotlight actions is here
Following the beta, Apple has introduced macOS Tahoe 26, the final version of the macOS operating system, for Macs and MacBooks. macOS Tahoe is a free update that can now be downloaded to compatible Macs. It runs on all Macs with Apple M-series chipsets, as well as the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro, the 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro, the 2020 iMac and later, and the 2019 and later Mac Pro.
Mac users can download the macOS Tahoe update from the Software Update pane in System Preferences. Apple has also released macOS 15.7 and macOS 14.8 for those unable to upgrade to macOS Tahoe.
macOS Tahoe adopts Apple’s Liquid Glass design. The translucent, glass-like appearance extends to desktop icons, folders, the Dock, in-app navigation, menus, toolbars, Control Center, and more. The menu bar and Control Center are more customizable, and folders can use custom colors and emojis.
Spotlight received a major update in macOS Tahoe, with improved search and the ability to perform hundreds of actions without ever opening a Mac app. Safari has an updated tab design, Live Activity now supports the iPhone, the Phone app has been extended to the Mac, and there’s a new Games app. Apple’s release notes for macOS Tahoe can be found below.
macOS Tahoe Changelog
Liquid Glass Design
The new Liquid Glass design makes the elements of macOS Tahoe feel fresh yet familiar. A transparent menu bar makes your display appear larger. Apps with Liquid Glass sidebars and toolbars reflect and refract what’s seen, drawing more focus to your content. And you can personalize icons and widgets, giving them a light, dark, tinted, or new, clean look to match your style.
Spotlight
With Spotlight, you can easily see all your apps, find recently used or suggested files, discover possible actions, and view your clipboard history. Simply launch Spotlight from the menu bar and select the “Applications,” “Files,” “Actions,” or “Clipboard” button that appears next to the search field.
You can now perform hundreds of new system and app actions directly from Spotlight, such as sending messages, creating events, and running shortcuts—all without taking your hands off the keyboard. And to help you work faster, Spotlight automatically assigns shortcuts to your actions so you can perform them with just a few characters.
Folders
To make folders easier to recognize, you can give them a distinctive look. You can now choose a unique color and add emojis or icons.
Control Center
Customize the display and arrangement of controls in Control Center. Add new controls from Mac and iPhone apps, including your favorite third-party apps. Arrange them however you like and even create pages of controls. For easier access, you can also place controls directly in the menu bar.
Live Translation
With Apple Intelligence, you can use Live Translation to automatically translate text in Messages, view live translated captions in FaceTime calls, or listen to a real-time audio transcription in the Phone app. The feature operates entirely on-device, keeping your personal conversations private.
Shortcuts
The Shortcuts app in macOS Tahoe is connected to Apple Intelligence. Smart actions can summarize text, create images, or directly access Apple Intelligence models. And with Automations on your Mac, you can have shortcuts run automatically based on certain conditions, such as the time of day, file or folder updates, connection to an external monitor, and more.
Genmoji
New options for creating Genmojis: Combine your favorite emojis with descriptions to create something completely new. And get more control over Genmojis inspired by family and friends, with new options like customizing their hairstyle so you can emulate their latest look.
Image Playground
More ways to create the perfect picture in Image Playground: Get more control over images inspired by people in your photo library. New options let you customize their expression or hairstyle to match their current look. You can also access new ChatGPT styles like “Watercolor” or “Oil Painting” and use “Any Style” to describe your preferences.
Live Activities
With Live Activities, Continuity’s features get even better. Easily keep track of activities you’ve started on your iPhone, such as the progress of your Uber Eats order, right from the menu bar on your Mac. You can even click on the Live Activity to open the app in the iPhone mirror.
Phone App
The new Phone app for Mac, powered by Continuity, lets you forward nearby cellular calls from your iPhone. Call screening helps you manage unwanted calls by finding out who’s calling and why without interruptions. You also have access to familiar features—including Recents, Contacts, and Voicemails—as well as new features like Hold Assist and Live Translation.
Messages
To help you focus on what matters most, new screening tools filter unknown numbers from your conversation list until you mark them as known. Built-in spam detection helps you filter out spam. You can also add a background to your conversation to give it a distinctive look. Send polls to friends and family via iMessage and follow the voting live.
Games App
The Apple Games app is your one-stop shop for games. Discover the latest updates for your games, like in-game events, important updates, and games your friends are playing. Access your entire game library. And compete with friends in challenges.
