macOS Tahoe 26 is the next major version of the macOS operating system, unveiled by Apple on June 9, 2025 at WWDC.

Named after Lake Tahoe, located on the California-Nevada border, it continues the tradition of naming macOS after iconic California locations.

The focus of macOS Tahoe is on a new design, improved integration with other Apple devices, and enhanced Apple Intelligence capabilities.

Key features of macOS Tahoe:

Liquid Glass design:

• A completely redesigned interface using the new Liquid Glass visual language inspired by visionOS (Apple's Vision Pro operating system). Interface elements such as menus, toolbars, and the dock have become translucent, creating the effect of glass reflecting and refracting light.
• Fully transparent menu bar that visually expands the workspace.
• Updated app icons unified with iOS and iPadOS, with support for light, dark, and color options, as well as a new transparent style.

Apple Intelligence:

• Advanced artificial intelligence features, including Live Translation to automatically translate messages and subtitles in FaceTime.
• Genmoji and Image Playground updates: Users can create new emoji by combining existing ones, and generate images in styles such as oil painting or vector graphics.
• Improved reminders: Apple Intelligence analyzes emails, notes, and web pages, automatically categorizing tasks.

Improved Continuity integration:

• The Phone app is now available on Mac, allowing you to take calls, view contacts, view voicemail, and use features like Call Screening and Hold Assist.
• Live Activities support with iPhone: notifications such as shipping or travel status are displayed in the Mac menu bar.
  iPhone Mirroring lets you launch iPhone apps directly on your Mac via Spotlight.

Updated Spotlight:

• Significantly improved search engine that now not only searches for files and apps, but also performs actions such as creating events, starting podcasts, or sending messages.
• Support for customizable quick commands (like “sm” to send a message or “ar” to add a reminder).
  Integration with cloud services and the ability to search PDFs and other documents.

New apps and features:

• Games app with a catalog of installed games, support for chat, invitations, and an overlay for settings while playing.
• The Journal app is now available on Mac.
• Safari improvements: updated tab design and song lyrics translation in Apple Music.
• Removal of Launchpad, replaced by an “Apps” feature integrated into Spotlight, similar to App Library in iOS.

Accessibility:

• New features such as Magnifier (using the iPhone camera to zoom in), Braille support, and Vehicle Motion Cues to reduce motion sickness.
• Accessibility Nutrition Labels in the App Store that display information about supported accessibility features.

New numbering:

• Apple switched to a unified numbering system where all operating systems (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, etc.) got version 26, which corresponds to the year after the announcement (2025-2026). macOS still retains its unique name, Tahoe.

What's New:

Version 26.2 (25C56):

Edge Light:

• Edge Light video effect uses the Mac display to illuminate your face like a virtual ring light when you’re on a video call in low light
• Customizable light width and temperature give you control over how you’re lit
• Mouse awareness ensures that the light recedes when you need to access content underneath
• Option to have the light turn on automatically in low light situations on Mac computers introduced in 2024 and later

Podcasts:

• Automatically generated chapters make it easier to navigate more episodes
• Links to mentioned podcasts let you see and follow other podcasts mentioned in the episode you’re listening to directly from the player and transcript

Games:

• Filters in the Games library let you find games by category, size, and more
• In-game challenge score banners provide real-time updates when someone new has taken the lead

Connected controller support:

• This update also includes the following enhancements and bug fixes
• AirDrop codes offer an additional layer of verification when using AirDrop with unknown contacts by providing a code on the receiver’s device that the sender must enter to complete the transfer
• Apple News Section links in the sidebar of the News app offer easy navigation to popular topics like Sports, Politics, Business, and Food
  Tables in Freeform can hold text, images, documents, and drawings, with cells that intelligently resize to fit, bringing structure to the infinite canvas
• Favorite Songs playlist appears in Top Picks in Apple Music
• Fixes an issue where pre-release albums in the library were not immediately playable at their release time

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