The new macOS 26 Tahoe update is now official. It features the Liquid Glass redesign alongside other productivity upgrades.
macOS 26 Tahoe Features Liquid Glass and Brings a Ton of iPhone and iPad Features to the Mac
WWDC 2025 is all about Liquid Glass, and that’s where I’m going to start with macOS 26 Tahoe.
Liquid Glass
I think Liquid Glass looks more amazing on the Mac than it does on iPhone and iPad. Say what you want, but I feel this is the exact place where this new design language shines.
From the Lock Screen all the way to places like the Control Center toggle switches receive the Liquid Glass update.
The menu bar is now transparent, giving you an illusion of more space on the display.
Live Activities on the Mac
If your iPhone is nearby, Live Activities from it will now appear on your Mac’s menu bar. Just click on it in the menu bar, and you’ll instantly see the progress unfold. It’s a great and meaningful Continuity feature that makes perfect sense.
Spotlight Gets Massive Update
Spotlight finally gets the update it truly deserved. It’s not just a small splash of paint. It’s a big overhaul and now gives users results that are intelligently relevant.
Spotlight can even smartly take actions in certain apps. This means you can just type what you want to say in an email and who it should be sent to, and Spotlight will do it. This works on other apps as well.
Live Translation Comes to the Mac
Just like iPhone and iPad, Live Translation comes to the Mac, allowing you to converse with the other person normally, and macOS 26 will translate everything for you.
This works in Messages, during a call, and a bunch of other places too.
Mix Emoji with Apple Intelligence
A feature that was just announced for iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, the new macOS 26 update also lets you mix two emojis together to create a new one.
Games App
The Games app on iPhone and iPad is absolutely nothing compared to the one on the Mac. It looks stunning on the bigger display. With features like Game Overlay, allowing you to chat with friends, invite them to a game, and more, Games takes the experience to the next level.
Custom Background in Messages
Custom backgrounds are also coming to the Messages app. Whether you want to use your own image, create one using AI, it’s entirely up to you how you want to personalize your conversations.
Journal Now on Mac
Journal app is now available on the App Store. Since it works with iCloud, you can have your entries synced across devices for the ultimate journaling experience.
Compatibility
Apple has shared the list of Macs that support macOS 26 Tahoe, and you’ll find it here.
Download the macOS 26 Tahoe Developer Beta
The developer beta is available for download right now. More details can be found here.
