At WWDC 2025, Apple pulled the curtain back on macOS Tahoe 26, the next big update for Mac users (yes, Mark Gurman was right on the name leak). It’s bringing a new look, better iPhone integration, smarter AI tools, and big changes to Spotlight and gaming. Here’s everything coming to your Mac later this fall. Finally, the phone app is now on Mac!
Fresh New Design
- Liquid Glass Look: New translucent Dock, toolbars, and menus that reflect your wallpaper and surroundings.
- Custom Colors & Icons: You can tint folders, icons, and widgets — and even add symbols or emoji.
- Transparent Menu Bar: Makes your screen feel bigger and less cluttered.
- Control Center Upgrades: More customization over layout and visible controls.
Better Continuity with iPhone
- Phone App on Mac: Get Recents, Contacts, Voicemail, and even make calls from your Mac.
- Call Screening: Unknown callers are auto-screened before you decide to answer.
- Hold Assist: Automatically listens for a real agent so you don’t have to.
- Live Activities on Mac: Track flights, rides, and scores in real-time in your Mac’s menu bar via your iPhone.
Spotlight Gets Supercharged
- All-in-One Search: Files, apps, messages, and more now grouped and sorted by relevance.
- Browse View: Lets you quickly look through clipboard history, apps, and files.
- Quick Actions: Send emails, make notes, or play podcasts directly from Spotlight.
- App Shortcuts: Developers can add custom Spotlight actions from their apps.
- Quick Keys: Type a short phrase to instantly trigger a task or action.
Apple Intelligence on Mac
- Live Translation: Translates text or audio in real-time in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone.
- Smarter Shortcuts: AI can auto-summarize text, create images, or run tasks based on your usage.
- Genmoji & Image Playground: Make your own emoji or AI art with personal style controls.
- AI-Powered Reminders: Scan content to pull out action items, and auto-sort your to-do list.
Apple Games App + Game Overlay
- Apple Games App: New hub for all your games, including Apple Arcade.
- Game Overlay: Adjust settings, chat with friends, or invite people — without leaving your game.
- Low Power Mode for Gaming: Keeps battery going longer during long sessions.
- Metal 4 Engine: Boosts graphics with features like MetalFX for smoother, high-frame-rate visuals.
- New Games: Big titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Crimson Desert, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows are on the way.
Other New Features
- Safari Updates: Faster than Chrome, new floating tab design, sidebar refresh, and stronger privacy.
- Messages App: New backgrounds, polls, better group typing indicators, and smarter search.
- Journal App on Mac: Write long entries, view them on a map, and sync across devices.
- Photos App: Cleaner design, customizable views, and pinned collections.
- FaceTime: New look, floating controls, and quick access to SharePlay and translation.
- Notes App: Export notes as markdown, and record + transcribe phone calls.
- Passwords: Track past versions of your saved passwords.
- Accessibility Upgrades: Zoom in using your iPhone camera, systemwide reading mode, Braille support, and anti-motion sickness cues for vehicles.
Release Info
- Developer Beta: Available now
- Public Beta: Coming next month
- Final Release: Fall 2025
- Apple Intelligence Support: Macs with M1 or newer (plus iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro, and some iPads)
Just a reminder, based on our own collective prior experience – what they announce and what actually makes it to the next OS can be – and often is – two different things.
And almost inevitably, features best described as 'Squirrel!" distractions – like 'Liquid Glass' desktop – will arrive as promised with v.1 of the OS, while the truly useful bug fixes and features will somehow be missing until much later.
And there still better be a way to turn off Apple Intelligence – ever the oxymoron.