MacOS Tahoe

macOS Tahoe was announced by Apple's senior vice president (SVP) of software engineering Craig Federighi at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 9, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Benedetto |first=Antonio G. Di |date=2025-06-09 |title=Apple announces macOS 26 Tahoe with new design and revamped search features |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/678268/macos-version-wwdc-2025-announcement |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}} The first developer beta was released the same day.{{Cite web |last=Liszewski |first=Andrew |date=2025-06-09 |title=The first developer betas for iOS 26, macOS Tahoe, iPadOS 26, and more are now available |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/682871/apple-developer-beta-ios-26-watchos-26-macos-availability |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}

During WWDC, Apple announced that the version numbers of its operating systems would now be unified and based on the year which follows that of their release (similarly to vehicle model years), moving them all forward to version 26 (e.g. iOS 26). Federighi stated that macOS will still primarily be marketed using its release name (in this case, "Tahoe"), since he believed the macOS "demands more" than just a version number.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-09 |title=iOS 26 is official: Apple changes from version numbers to years for its OS names |url=https://www.engadget.com/apps/ios-26-is-official-apple-changes-from-version-numbers-to-years-for-its-os-names-172129166.html |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Pandey |first=Rajesh |date=2025-06-09 |title=Goodbye iOS 19, hello iOS 26: Apple switches to year-based names |url=https://www.cultofmac.com/news/goodbye-ios-19-hello-ios-26-apple-switches-to-year-based-name |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Cult of Mac |language=en-US}}

macOS Tahoe introduces several new features and improvements, mainly focused on the user interface:{{Cite web |title=macOS Tahoe 26 makes the Mac more capable, productive, and intelligent than ever |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/06/macos-tahoe-26-makes-the-mac-more-capable-productive-and-intelligent-than-ever/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Apple Newsroom |language=en-US}}

• The UI has been completely redesigned for the first time since macOS Big Sur to use Liquid Glass, replacing Aqua, making it even more consistent with Apple's other platforms, which also receive it. The menu bar is now fully transparent. The cursor has been redesigned, now having a more rounded appearance. App icons have been unified with iOS and iPadOS, and can have dark and tinted variants as introduced in iOS with iOS 18/iPadOS 18, as well as a new clear variant.
• Some system sound effects are refined.
• Folder icons can now have custom colors, emblems, and emojis, and can also abide to the accent color.
• Spotlight Search has been redesigned and gains quick actions, "quick-key" shortcuts, menubar search, and Apple Intelligence integration.
• Many iOS and iPadOS features have been brought over to the Mac, such as Live Activities.
• The Phone and Journal apps are now included as part of macOS. The Phone app uses Continuity to integrate with the iPhone.
• The Control Center has been redesigned, now functioning like and resembling the iOS version introduced in iOS 18/iPadOS 18. The volume, brightness and keyboard brightness sliders have been redesigned, ditching the appearance that had been introduced in OS X Yosemite.
• The Launchpad, introduced in OS X Lion and mostly unchanged afterwards, has been removed and replaced by the Applications feature which is similar to the App Library, used on iOS since iOS 14 and iPadOS since iPadOS 15. It is integrated into the Spotlight interface. iPhone apps also appear in the Applications list through Continuity from the user's iPhone, and will launch through iPhone Mirroring.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-09 |title=macOS Tahoe Transforms Launchpad Into App Library |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/09/macos-tahoe-launchpad-app-library/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=MacRumors |language=en}}
• A Magnifier app, Vehicle Motion Cues, a system-wide Accessibility Reader, and support for Braille displays comes as part of expanded accessibility features.
• Terminal gains support for 24-bit color and Powerline fonts.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWXxy_6D4t4 |title=WWDC25 Platforms State of the Union: Lightning round |date=2025-06-09 |last=Apple Developer |access-date=2025-06-12 |via=YouTube}}

• Home only supports the redesigned Apple Home architecture introduced with iOS 16 and macOS Ventura and ends support for the legacy architecture.{{Cite news |last=Christoffel |first=Ryan |date=2025-05-12 |title=Apple confirms iOS 19 will end support for legacy Home app system - 9to5Mac |url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/12/apple-confirms-ios-19-will-end-support-for-legacy-home-app-system/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250516071831/https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/12/apple-confirms-ios-19-will-end-support-for-legacy-home-app-system/ |archive-date=2025-05-16 |access-date=2025-06-10 |work=9to5Mac |language=en-US}}

macOS Tahoe supports all Macs with Apple silicon and some of those with Intel's 9th generation Coffee Lake Refresh, 10th generation Ice Lake and Comet Lake, and Cascade Lake-based Xeon-W processors, including:{{Cite web |date=2025-06-07 |title=macOS Tahoe Might Support One Fewer Mac Than Previously Rumored |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/07/macos-tahoe-compatibility-rumor/ |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=MacRumors |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Mayo |first=Benjamin |date=2025-06-09 |title=Apple will end support for Intel Macs next year, macOS 27 will require Apple Silicon |url=https://9to5mac.com/2025/06/09/apple-will-end-support-for-intel-macs/ |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=9to5Mac |language=en-US}}

• MacBook Air (M1, 2020) or later
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) and (13-inch, M2, 2022)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
• MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021) or later
• MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) or later
• Mac Mini (M1, 2020) or later
• iMac (2020) or later
• Mac Studio (2022) or later
• Mac Pro (2019) or later

During its Platforms State of the Union event at WWDC 2025, Apple announced that macOS Tahoe will be the last version of macOS that supports Intel-based Macs.{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=2025-06-09 |title=Apple details the end of Intel Mac support and a phaseout for Rosetta 2 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/apple-details-the-end-of-intel-mac-support-and-a-phaseout-for-rosetta-2/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}} The only remaining Intel-based Macs supported by Tahoe are the Mac Pro (2019), the MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019), the MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, four Thunderbolt 3 ports) and the iMac (2020); the release only supports MacBook Air and Mac Mini models with Apple silicon.

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Category:MacOS versions

Category:2025 software

Category:ARM operating systems

Category:X86-64 operating systems