Here are my top 3 favorite changes in macOS Tahoe—watch the video and see which one you’d pick!
macOS Tahoe (26) beta is Apple’s boldest Mac update yet: a full “Liquid Glass” redesign, next-level Spotlight, and deeper Apple Intelligence all rolled into one. For the complete list of changes straight from Apple, check out the official release notes.
1. Liquid Glass & Theming
“Your Mac, now translucent and personal.”
- Translucent “Liquid Glass” UI across windows, the Dock, widgets, and built-in apps
- New theme engine: pick highlight colors, icon styles, and accent hues beyond just Light/Dark
Question: Which accent color are you trying first?
2. Widgets on Your Desktop
- Widgets now float freely on the desktop—goodbye, Notification Center panel
- Fully transparent Menu Bar (with an Accessibility toggle for a filled background)
(Pro tip: watch how your wallpaper peeks through!)
3. Spotlight Revolution
“Search at the speed of thought.”
- Four quick-access tabs: Apps, Files, Shortcuts, Clipboard
- Custom keyboard shortcuts for each tab—Raycast who?
Poll: Which tab will you bind to ⌘+Space?
4. Continuity & Apple Intelligence
- Deep Phone integration + Live Activities on Mac
- System-wide AI: Live Translations in Messages, smarter Shortcuts, Genmoji & Image Playground boosts
(Imagine automatic meeting translations without leaving Messages.)
5. Core App Refreshes
- Terminal: vibrant color windows + new toolbar icons
- Finder & Safari: Liquid Glass accents, speed boosts, and WebKit security hardening
6. How to Install the Beta
- Open System Settings → General → Software Update
- Enable Beta Updates → Select macOS Tahoe 26 Developer Beta
- Restart when prompted and explore the new UI
What’s Next & Your Feedback
Apple’s public beta lands next month, final release this fall. Try Tahoe now and let me know:
- Which feature impressed you most?
- Any bugs to report before 26.1 lands?
Drop your thoughts below or tag me on Twitter with your custom themes!