Key Takeaways
1. New Interface: macOS Tahoe 26 introduces a Liquid Glass design with a translucent Dock, customizable folder colors, and new Control Center layouts.
2. Phone App Integration: Users can make and receive calls directly from their Mac with the new Phone app, featuring Call Screening and Hold Assist.
3. Spotlight Enhancements: Spotlight now allows users to perform actions directly from the search bar, with improved filtering tools and relevance-based sorting.
4. Apple Intelligence Upgrades: Live Translation will be available in Messages and FaceTime, with new AI capabilities for Shortcuts and the option to connect with ChatGPT.
5. New Apple Games App: The Apple Games app will consolidate games and features a Game Overlay for in-game adjustments and social interactions.
Apple has given a sneak peek of macOS Tahoe 26, the upcoming version of its desktop operating system. The announcement was made during WWDC 2025. This update presents a new look called Liquid Glass, enhanced Continuity tools like the Phone app and Live Activities, and modifications to Spotlight which introduce more functions and integration capabilities.
New Interface Features
With macOS Tahoe 26, the interface gets a fresh look, featuring a translucent Dock, revamped sidebars, and a new menu bar. Users can personalize folder colors, change the Control Center layout, and toggle between various icon styles. There are new settings that enable the addition of emojis and symbols to folders, along with extra options for themes and appearance.
Phone App and Live Activities
For the first time, the Phone app will be available on macOS, allowing users to make and receive cellular calls directly from their nearby iPhone. The Mac version will include familiar features such as Recents, Voicemail, and Favorites, plus new functionalities like Call Screening and Hold Assist.
Call Screening will automatically prompt unknown callers to identify themselves before the call connects. Hold Assist helps keep the user’s place in line while waiting for a live agent, enabling them to continue working without interruptions.
Enhanced FaceTime and Spotlight
Live Activities from the iPhone will also make their way to macOS. These real-time updates, including flight arrivals, Uber rides, and sports scores, will show up in the menu bar of the Mac. Clicking them will launch a mirrored view of the related iPhone app.
FaceTime is getting a fresh layout with Contact Posters for recent callers, repositioned controls using the new design, and a More button for options like SharePlay and Live Translation. These changes will also be seen on iPhone and iPad.
Spotlight Improvements
Spotlight is also getting significant upgrades in macOS Tahoe 26. Users will have the ability to perform actions straight from the search bar, such as sending emails, starting timers, or creating notes.
Furthermore, Spotlight will now feature filtering tools and quick keys—short character strings that trigger specific actions. Search results will be sorted and grouped based on their relevance as determined by the system, reflecting recent user behavior. Similar updates are expected for iOS and iPadOS as well.
Apple Intelligence Expansion
Apple Intelligence will see enhancements with this release. Live Translation will be available in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, providing real-time transcription and language conversion. Shortcuts can now utilize both on-device and cloud-based AI models for multi-step workflows, such as comparing transcripts to notes or creating images with tools like Genmoji and Image Playground. Users will also have the option to connect with ChatGPT for more extensive text or image generation tasks. These features will also be rolled out on iPhone and iPad.
The New Apple Games App
macOS Tahoe will also introduce the Apple Games app, which consolidates all installed games and adds a Game Overlay. This floating panel allows gamers to adjust settings, chat with friends, or invite others to join in without leaving their current session. Games like Crimson Desert, Cyberpunk 2077, and Lies of P: Overture are being optimized for Apple’s latest M-series chips, featuring ray tracing and MetalFX.
Safari and Other Updates
Safari is set to undergo a redesign and is claimed to load frequently visited sites up to 50 percent quicker than Chrome, according to Apple’s internal testing. The Messages app will add polling features and customizable backgrounds. A new journaling app is also on the way for macOS. Accessibility updates will include Magnifier support via Continuity Camera and a new Braille Access interface. Many of these features are also coming to iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS.
Photos and Notes Apps Upgrades
The Photos app will be enhanced with a new interface and features like pinned collections, quick filtering and sorting tools, and adjustable tile sizes. These updates will align with the redesigned Photos experience on iPadOS.
The Notes app will support importing and exporting markdown files, as well as saving and transcribing phone call recordings. Similar features will also be available on iPhone and iPad.
Password Management Enhancements
The Passwords feature is receiving version tracking, allowing users to see changes made to saved credentials along with timestamps. This functionality will be consistent across all Apple devices.
macOS Tahoe 26 is currently available for developers, and a public beta is anticipated in July. The update will be released as a free software upgrade for compatible Macs in the United States and other areas this fall. A limited selection of Intel-based models, such as the 2019 Mac Pro and 2020 iMac, will still be supported. The Apple Intelligence features will require an M1 chip or newer (like the one found in this Mac mini on Amazon) and will initially be available in select languages.
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