macOS Tahoe 26 Brings Overhauled Spotlight, Shortcuts, and Live Activities

macOS Tahoe 26, named after Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border, brings significant updates to Apple’s desktop OS, including new features and a fresh design language called Liquid Glass. This design, which first appeared in Apple’s recent software releases, introduces a more transparent and dynamic look to macOS. The new visual changes include a see-through menu bar and Control Center, with added theme colors and folder customizations like new colors and emojis. The updates focus on making the interface sleeker and more cohesive across Apple’s ecosystem.

Among the most exciting updates is the integration of features previously available on iOS. The Phone app now works on Macs, letting users take and receive calls directly, though it requires an active iPhone. Additionally, Live Activities, which allow users to track things like food orders or ride-hailing requests in real time, now reside in the menu bar, offering users easy access to ongoing tasks. Both of these features are enabled through Continuity with an iPhone.

Spotlight, Apple’s built-in search tool, has received one of its most substantial updates yet. You can now do tasks like sending emails, creating notes, or running Shortcuts, all from within Spotlight without having to open other apps. It also lets you perform actions directly from the menu bar, and the results are ranked based on relevance to the user, streamlining your workflow.

Shortcuts is also getting revamped, offering the ability to run tasks at specific times or based on user actions, making it even more versatile. Safari gets a design overhaul as well, aligning with the new Liquid Glass aesthetics, while also boosting speed and improving battery life. For gamers, the new Apple Games app brings enhanced features, including a game overlay with controls for sound, brightness, and battery level, alongside a growing library of titles. Metal 4, Apple’s graphics framework, is also introduced, with features like Frame MetalFX, Frame Interpolation, and MetalFX Denoising for improved gaming experiences.

Developers can start testing macOS Tahoe 26 today with the developer beta, while the public beta will be available next month. The official release is set for this fall and will be compatible with all Apple Silicon Macs with the T2 security chip, including MacBook Pro and Air models from 2018 onward. However, Intel-based MacBook models are not supported, with only a few Intel models from 2019 and 2020 being compatible.