Latest from TechRadar UK in Mac-os

I gave my wife a MacBook Neo for 2 weeks and she’s going back to Windows, here’s why

lance.ulanoff@futurenet.com (Lance Ulanoff) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:53:08 +0000

"You can take the MacBook back. I don’t have the patience to learn a new thing," said my wife as she slid the MacBook Neo back across the kitchen counter.

It was the unceremonious end to a two-week-long experiment in which I encouraged my wife, a decades-long Windows user, to give Apple a try, more specifically, the flavor of Apple found in a lovely, citrus MacBook Neo.

Look, I am no pusher. Ever since I started testing the $599 laptop, my wife had been eyeing it. She was becoming Mac curious. This had a lot to do with her creaky Microsoft Surface Pro 4, a decade-old system that would soon face the dreaded end of Windows 10 security updates (no TPM 2.0 on that old Surface Pro).

As a realtor, she kind of loved the old girl. It ably ran all of her Web-based business software, handled emails, basic art needs for whipping up new listing sheets, and social media materials. She also knew, however, that it was almost time for an upgrade. We both wondered if the affordable and mid-range-powered MacBook Neo could ably step in for the Surface Pro.

My wife even told me that, if she went with the MacBook Neo, Cirtus would not be her choice; the blush looked rather nice. Of course, Citrus is what I had on hand, so that's what she got.

I told her that, while different, macOS would not be completely foreign. Sure, it moved some things around, but my wife was no Luddite; she picked up new tech pretty well.

One thing about her, though, should have been a warning: she hates change.

Taking the macOS plunge

Simply buying her a MacBook Neo — even if there are some nifty Prime Day Deals right now — without knowing if she'd take to it made no sense, and since I'd been testing and using this on-and-off for months, we decided to set her up with it as if she'd bought the system brand new.

I reset the MacBook Neo. It's a $699 model with Touch ID and 512GB of storage, and I told her that this would likely be the one we would buy anyway since I wouldn't want her to run into storage issues.

Next, we sat side-by-side as I walked her through the setup. She took to this part quickly, though I realized that the placement of Touch ID on the power/sleep button was non-obvious. When I told her to register her finger to unlock the laptop, she stared at the system for a few seconds, clearly looking for something with a fingerprint symbol.

You're on your own

The MacBook Neo is in stock with all colors at Amazon today, with a small price cut, too. The latest MacBook packs a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and up to 16 hours of battery life, all for under $600. It's no wonder this latest model is already proving to be a bestseller.

Read our full MacBook Neo review

For the next couple of weeks, I would watch her slip the laptop into her work bag or use it at the dining room table. I did catch her occasionally trying to tap the screen, which was unsurprising. After all, she'd spent a decade with a touch-screen convertible. I'd ask her how it was going, and she'd give me a slightly less-than-enthusiastic "OK".

At work, she said she struggled to connect to the office printer and finally had a coworker step in and help her.

When she was at home, I showed her how to add her OneDrive account to access work files, a move that seemed to both confound and confuse her. The Windows system automatically integrates the drive. For the Mac, there's an app and then a few steps.

Even the benefits I found in adding a Mac to my Apple ecosystem were lost on her:
"Why do my iPhone notifications keep popping up on the MacBook? That's annoying."

I kept waiting for that moment, the epiphany that triggered, "Why didn't I make this switch years ago?"

It never came.

She found the need to use two fingers to enact right-click functions confusing and didn't seem all that thrilled with the trackpad.

It was clear she appreciated the MacBook Neo design, and yet, she told me, “It’s nice and sleek and all of that, but I could get a new PC that’s nice and sleek and all of that."

As we walked through a Best Buy looking at both MacBook Neo and a bunch of comparable Windows machines from Lenovo, HP, Dell, and Acer, it was clear that the MacBook Neo had not won her over.

After she returned the system, my wife told me that she just couldn't get used to all the differences. Why was the control center at the top? Why did the dock look like that? How could they not have a Start button?

For the average Mac user, like myself, there were all good reasons for these design elements and placements, but, having been a switcher myself, I understood the confusion. Working on a MacBook after 30 years on Windows means you are living in a constant state of "Who moved my cheese?" And when you, as my wife does, have important work to get done, you can't have a system's quirks getting in the way of your productivity.

Getting real

None of this is a commentary on the still excellent MacBook Neo, but it does say something about a certain class of users who, while Apple might try to attract them with the affordable MacBook Neo, are unlikely to make the switch.

The reality is that the best market for the MacBook Neo is still the back-to-school market, where it will likely have an easier time of swaying kids who've used Chromebooks or have only been on iPads.

They'll become Apple's newest customers. As for aging Windows users, getting them to make the switch might be more than Apple can or should hope for — even with the appealing MacBook Neo.

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The macOS 27 beta is already a 'mind-blowing' revelation for some MacBook owners — here are 3 reasons why it isn't the lowkey release it seems

Darren Allan — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Apple revealed macOS 27 Golden Gate at WWDC 2026 this week, with the first beta version of its next desktop operating system becoming available to download.

To be clear, this is an initial developer beta not intended for the general computing public – a beta for everyday users won't come until later – but even so, we saw an odd rush to grab this very first release of macOS 27.

Why? It certainly wasn't because Mac owners were very keen to get their pointers on a whole load of shiny, glitzy new features, because as we made clear, macOS 27 doesn't add anything particularly attention-grabbing. Indeed, one of the most notable things about macOS 27 is that it shuts the Golden Gate on Macs that don't run on Apple's M-series silicon (or the A18 Pro in the case of the MacBook Neo), with Intel chips officially being ditched.

Otherwise, macOS 27 is a case of general performance and stability work, as well as honing the interface, and a raft of minor feature additions. So, again – why are Mac owners falling over themselves to download the macOS 27 developer beta? Well, it's because that more humdrum-sounding work on generally fixing macOS when it comes to performance was badly needed after the release of the current iteration of the OS (macOS Tahoe).

In case you weren't aware, then, it isn't just Windows 11 that needs fixing – which Microsoft is in the midst of a major campaign to do – but also macOS. And the good news is that, apparently, Apple has done a great job right off the bat on the recovery front with the first macOS 27 beta – to an eye-opening extent, as you'll see.

Let's explore the broad reaction to macOS 27 with its initial debut in testing – including it being called 'mind-blowing', that's how positive some folks are being – and look at the three main reasons why Golden Gate isn't as lowkey a release as it may seem upon first glance.

1. Tahoe performance headaches seem to have been totally cured in macOS 27

(Image credit: Roman Samborskyi / Shutterstock)

Early adopters of the initial dev beta of macOS 27 are pretty much universally praising the performance boost compared to the current version of the OS, and essentially saying it feels like night-and-day compared to Tahoe.

This Reddit thread is a perfect example, where the original poster claims that: 'Performance is genuinely mind-blowing on the new macOS 27 beta'. They add that "macOS 27 feels incredibly fast compared to Tahoe", and that: "The lag, stutters, and general sluggishness I experienced on Tahoe seem to be completely gone. Apps launch faster, animations are smoother, and the whole system feels much more responsive and polished."

Others chime in with similar thoughts on that thread, and macOS 27 gets nothing less than a glowing write-up. For example: "Gets even better during high-end tasks! It [the MacBook] doesn't heat up as much, and isn't hogging RAM as much as Tahoe was."

Another Redditor says: "Agreed. I have an M1 Pro base as well and performance is so much better than Tahoe. It honestly feels like a new Mac now."

There's a common theme across many online comments from those who've already migrated from Tahoe to Golden Gate in that they're saying that their Mac now feels like a new computer (as per that last comment).

Of course, this is still early days – very early – but it's undeniably a positive sign that Apple is on the right track here. If you've avoided Tahoe due to performance-related concerns then it seems Golden Gate will be your golden ticket to upgrade from macOS Sequoia finally (assuming you don't have an Intel Mac).

2. The first macOS 27 beta is reportedly remarkably stable already – and that bodes well

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

As well as the observations on distinct and substantial performance improvements across the board, there's another theme with the reaction to macOS 27 so far, namely that it's very stable. And that's pretty remarkable given that this is the initial release of the pre-public (developer) version of Golden Gate – it simply doesn't get any more 'early adopter' than this.

Indeed, the original poster from the above Reddit thread concerning the great performance boost was wowed almost as much by the stability levels in evidence here. They noted: "It's still a beta, but so far the performance is absolutely amazing." And that: "It's pretty wild that a developer beta runs better than the stable version of Tahoe. I'd definitely recommend upgrading."

Someone else adds: "The beta of [macOS] 27 is more stable than macOS 26 during its entire run."

Indeed, there are a fair few Redditors who are chipping in and making comments saying that they'd never normally touch a first beta release, but having read these threads, they've been tempted into taking the plunge and leaving Tahoe behind.

On a more cautious note, I'd be careful about early betas in general, although at this point, macOS 27 is only open to developers anyway – and we explain more about what this means here.

At any rate, there's a double win with the first macOS 27 beta in terms of a big performance improvement combined with stability in spades given the early stage this work is currently at.

3. Apple has ironed out the interface wrinkles introduced with Tahoe

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

There were a number of frustrations aired about some of the decisions made with the interface in macOS Tahoe, and Apple has set about resolving these in macOS 27.

One key change is the menu icons, which have been widely criticized in Tahoe and even described as 'glaringly inconsistent and often utterly inscrutable', with app menus stuffed full of icons to a bewildering extent – but this has now been cleaned up.

Apple has also addressed complaints around window borders, and there are no more 'floating' sidebars, as they are now edge-to-edge inside their window, as noted by this Redditor. The changes to the Liquid Glass design are also singled out, with Apple ensuring that the transparency effect no longer makes text difficult to read.

As another Redditor put it more broadly: "Golden Gate is very sharp now. On Tahoe everything was so goddamn blurry and it's good now."

Note that Liquid Glass hasn't gone away, it's just been tweaked, and very much for the better by all accounts. There are a whole bunch of other UI tweaks for macOS 27 as highlighted by MacRumors in this list.

Only doing what had to be done?

(Image credit: Future)

So, that's all well and good. But while what Apple's done in terms of performance and stability for a first beta may be 'mind-blowing' in some respects, it could also be argued that this is merely to be expected. That's because macOS 27 is mostly about fixing Tahoe, and so that's what Apple has been concentrating on – hence the lack of any major feature additions.

Still, to be fair to Apple, it looks like the company has done a great job. And it is indeed unusual to see feedback praising stability so highly for an initial (dev) beta release. So, let's give credit where it's due, even if this is more a case of necessary refinement, honing, fixing, and generally 'recovering' from Tahoe than it is Golden Gate being any kind of standout leap over its predecessor.

It seems like macOS 27 is going to please a lot of Mac owners when it's released later this year, particularly those with older MacBooks (not too old, though – sorry Intel folks). Meanwhile, on the other side of the fence, Microsoft's efforts to fix Windows 11 – a project set to span the course of this year – are also going well thus far. All this makes me optimistic that perhaps 2027 could be a golden year for desktop operating systems.

I tried Siri AI on the iPhone, Mac, and iPad — here's why I'm convinced Apple's long-overdue next-gen assistant will win you over

lance.ulanoff@futurenet.com (Lance Ulanoff) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:39:22 +0000

I come here to celebrate Apple delivering. It's not overshooting the mark with the new Siri AI, which it unveiled at WWDC 2026, but it is finally delivering on the promises it made at WWDC 2024.

Sure, it's beta (again), and there's a wait list (again), but I've now seen it at work, in person, in live and potentially unpredictable demos. Siri AI, as it's now called, works across platforms, and it has the potential to change how you use your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

While I waited for my access to the new Siri on my iPhone 17 Pro, I visited one of the countless rooms in Apple's massive Apple Park headquarters, where I round-robined through a series of stations at which I could see Siri AI in action on iOS 27 Dev Beta, iPadOS 27 Dev Beta, and macOS Golden Gate Dev Beta. This is all a work in progress.

I'll admit that while I was probably most interested in the new Siri on the iPhone, I was most surprised by how it works on the iPad. On every platform, this smarter, more aware, and more personable Siri looks different than before. It's bigger, brighter, floatier (I made that a word), and it has a new sense of confidence.

On the iPad, you can summon Siri with your voice, but you can also swipe down from the top of the screen, and a sort of black teardrop will form until it releases from the top of the screen and is displayed as the small Siri AI window. It's a nice, classy touch.

Lance Ulanoff / Future

Of course, you can type into Siri, and I watched as we searched for top PGA golfers, and I noticed how anxious new Siri was to get to work, auto-filling answers before we'd even finished our query. Since it initially had just 'Top PGA Golfers', it quickly spit out Jack Nicklaus before refining on the fly to more contemporary players like Scottie Scheffler.

I also noticed during this process a new 'working' iconography that looks unlike any previous form of Apple's 'Please wait for an answer' spinner. Sometimes Siri AI seems whip-fast; other times, you can watch that icon spin as it works. There's no obvious sense of, "Oh, it's heading out to the Private Cloud Compute for that."

I watched here and on other platforms as Siri AI effortlessly kept context, without demanding a restate or telling us it couldn't answer that, and "did we want to check the web?" or "Use ChatGPT?" In fact, ChatGPT appears to have been almost fully deprecated here. It does not show up as an option, though I believe you can still request it.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

As we dug in on Scheffler's career, Apple was quick to show me how Siri AI always shows its sources. I appreciate the care.

The little Siri AI window that appears in a session can be easily expanded, and then you're suddenly in the new Siri app. Apple takes a slightly different approach here than, say, Gemini or ChatGPT: the chat window is familiar-looking, but the conversation history is card-based, with almost headlines for your query topic, and either a brief summary or image. I did not see an option for a tighter list form, which I might prefer.

iPhone, meet the new Siri

On the iPhone 17 Pro Max, we summoned Siri with a long press of the power button, which launched that new, large, almost alien spaceship-like floating blob. I say 'floating' because throughout the demo I noticed that Apple had made the effort to put very subtle shading under the new Siri interface so that it looks like it's floating just above the screen. It's a neat little effect.

Siri AI's superpower is not that it's smarter or more chatty (in fact, Siri will steer you away from conversations that might be better had with humans or, say, mental health support professionals); it's that it understands you through the data on your phone.

This is where the fulfillment of a promise comes in. Siri AI really does appear to know the contents of your phone in a way that could be truly helpful. Its needle-in-the-haystack approach means that, if you have a thread of memory about a bit of data, something someone mentioned to you in an email or message, Siri can dig it out for you.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

In the demo I saw, we asked about a "podcast our sister recommended recently," and Siri searched across first-party apps (developers will have to build hooks into Siri AI in future versions of their apps) and pulled up a casual mention of a Sherlock Holmes podcast in Messages. Again, once we had that detail, we only had to say, "Play it," and Siri launched the podcast app.

The obvious benefit is the end of endless searching and then backing out and finding the right app. I could imagine a lot of your daily interactions with your iPhone getting done through Siri AI. Of course, much of this will depend on developers of apps like WhatsApp, Gmail, and others building in those Siri connections.

Still, the power here is exciting. Taking someone's lengthy emails full of useful but disorganized details and turning them into, say, a useful Camping Gear list in Notes is a significant leap from the current and endlessly disappointing "Sorry, I can't do that" Siri.

Over the course of my demo, I watched as Siri pulled up random references relating to queries about travel and meteor showers. It's sort of a de-randomizer. Like all good AI, Siri AI can see the patterns in your endless reams of data, and make sense of it.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

I also got a look at Siri in the Camera app. That's right, it now has a menu item right next to 'Photo,' and once launched it works a bit like Visual Intelligence. Choosing it does mean that Siri can 'see what you see,' which may or may not comfort you, but if you're wondering what you're looking at or, say, want Siri to help you make a choice, it's ready. I did notice that the Camera app takes a photo of whatever Siri is analyzing.

At one point, we mispoke in the demo, but Siri sussed out the proper prompt and results without any intervention from us. Kind of impressive.

In a demo where it helped me decide which book to read next, I listened as Siri's new 'expressive' voice told me why I should read Blindsight next. I noticed, though, that the new voice sounded a bit odd. I don't know if the emotion sounded forced or missing, but I'm assuming this is an element that's still being tweaked in iOS 27 Dev Beta.

Spotlight on the Mac

Most of my Mac demo revolved around how Siri AI transforms Spotlight, the Mac's system-wide search engine. You can, it turns out, still use it to launch apps like Preview, but the new interface almost compels you to go further with the words, 'Search or Ask'.

Ask basically transforms Spotlight into a generative search box where almost any general knowledge question is welcomed. We asked about the Hawaiian islands for families. If the system deems the question as 'complex,' it will default to Siri and Apple's world Knowledge Engine. That's right, even though the new Siri is using, in part, Gemini Foundation models, Apple is not using Google's Search knowledge graph.

Lance Ulanoff / Future

Once you launch a search, you're inside Siri, and you can keep that window open while you multitask on other desktop chores.

In Apple Intelligence, you select text and right-click to access AI-powered writing tools, but the new Siri is embedded in more subtle ways that still give you full access to its new power. We selected a bunch of text in Notes and, while we could still have Siri rewrite it, Writing Tools-style, we can also use this as a launch point to weave together other Apple first-party app capabilities. In this case, we asked it to use the notes to draft a structured email in Mail.

Again, this is a pair of first-party Apple apps working together, and Apple is well aware that your email client may not be Apple's Mail.

Overall, it's still just a glimpse of what Siri AI can do, but I find it a promising one, especially for beta software. The plumbing clearly works, and if you allow it, Siri can finally see across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac to understand you and your needs. It's been a long time coming, but I think Apple finally got this right.

Apple quietly kills off support for Intel Macs and MacBooks

matthew.hanson@futurenet.com (Matt Hanson) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:33:41 +0000

If you're using an older Mac or MacBook with an Intel chip, then we have bad news, as Apple has quietly killed off support for any device sold before 2020 that doesn't have an Arm-based Apple silicon chip (that is, Macs with M1 chips or newer, or the A18 Pro, in the MacBook Neo's case).

Apple announced macOS 27 Golden Gate at WWDC 2026, and highlighted new features and performance improvements. However, it didn't reveal which Macs would be getting the upcoming operating system, which is due to release 'this Fall', so expect it about October.

Instead, we found confirmation tucked away at the bottom of the macOS news site. This is a bit cheeky, as it's a major change that will impact a lot of people, though it's also not that surprising, as it was only a matter of time before Apple dropped support for older Macs.

This also means there's no Mac Pro or iMac Pro model which can run macOS 27. Will Apple silicon models come out this year for those super-powerful workstations? Let's hope.

Bye bye Intel

Here is the list of Macs and MacBooks that will be able to run macOS 27 Golden Gate:

MacBook Air M1 or later
MacBook Pro M1 or later
MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 2020 or later
MacBook Pro 14-inch M1 Pro 2021 or later
MacBook Pro 16-inch M1 Pro 2021 or later
MacBook Neo
iMac M1 2020 or later
Mac mini M1 2020 or later
Mac Studio 2022 and later

By concentrating on its own chips, which use Arm architecture, Apple also no longer has to worry about Macs running on Intel's x86 chip tech, which will hopefully mean the macOS team has more scope to improve the performance of the software and add features in the future.

If you have an Intel Mac, you can continue to use it with macOS 26, though running an older operating system that might not get security updates in the future isn't recommended. So, it might be time to consider a new Mac — see below for some top deals.

MacBook Air M1 or later
MacBook Pro M1 or later
MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 2020 or later
MacBook Pro 14-inch M1 Pro 2021 or later
MacBook Pro 16-inch M1 Pro 2021 or later
MacBook Neo
iMac M1 2020 or later
Mac mini M1 2020 or later
Mac Studio 2022 and later

How to download the macOS 27 Golden Gate developer beta

matthew.hanson@futurenet.com (Matt Hanson) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:23:01 +0000

Apple has announced macOS 27 Golden Gate, the latest desktop operating system for the best MacBooks and Macs at WWDC 26, and in this guide, I'll show you how to install the developer beta, which is available to download right now. However, before we get into that, it's important to note that for most people, you won't want to download the developer beta unless you know what you're doing.

This is because the developer beta, which, as the name makes clear, is for developers to test their apps with. It's not for public consumption, as this early version will have missing features and plenty of bugs.

Instead, you're better off waiting at least until July, when the public beta will be released. By that time, a lot of bugs will hopefully have been caught and fixed, though there will still likely be some glitches. If you can wait, then the final release later this year (hopefully around October) will be much more stable.

You should also note that you need to have a developer account to download the developer beta, which costs money. If you absolutely can't wait, and don't mind paying, then follow my steps below - otherwise, hang tight until next month.

How to install the macOS 27 Golden Gate developer beta on your Mac

First of all, you must have a compatible Mac to install macOS 27 Golden Gate - see below to make sure your Mac is included.

Also, remember that this is early beta software, so it’s not advisable to put it on your daily driver Mac. Ideally, you want to instal this on a secondary device.

If you’re intent on having a macOS Tahoe developer beta on your main PC, then understand that it’s risky to run a pre-release operating system on it – and definitely be sure to back up before proceeding (you should do this in any case).

MacBook Air M1 or later
MacBook Pro M1 or later
MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 2020 or later
MacBook Pro 14-inch M1 Pro 2021 or later
MacBook Pro 16-inch M1 Pro 2021 or later
MacBook Neo
iMac M1 2020 or later
Mac mini M1 2020 or later
Mac Studio 2022 and later

You also need to be a software developer. If you are, you must be signed into your Apple Developer account: head here, and click on Account, top-right, then log in.

If you don’t have a developer account, then you’ll need to create one here, signing up as an individual, which requires an Apple Account (with two-factor authentication enabled). You’ll need to provide a payment method, and a developer membership costs $99 per year, so it’s hardly cheap.

Once Apple verifies you and sets up your Apple Developer membership – or if you already have one and are logged in – you can then download macOS 27.

Head to System Settings > General > Software Update on your Mac, and where it says ‘Beta Updates’ click the Info (i) icon on the right. In the panel that opens, along from Beta Updates, click the button on the right, where it says ‘Off’ and you’ll get a list of options. Choose the macOS Developer Beta from that list, click Done, and then click Upgrade Now.

That’s it – the upgrade will go ahead, and after a reboot, you should be faced with an early version of Apple's new operating system. When the public beta is released, it'll be worth installing that rather than sticking with the developer beta, as it should be more stable. The developer beta will likely continue until the final macOS 27 Golden Gate release later this year, but will focus on cutting-edge features that need to be tested before they get rolled out.

That might sound exciting, but it does increase the possibility of bugs appearing; after all, that's part of the reason why beta versions exist.

macOS 27 Golden Gate announced at WWDC 2026 — here's everything you need to know

matthew.hanson@futurenet.com (Matt Hanson) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:15:04 +0000

WWDC 2026, this year's edition of Apple's software-focused developer conference, has been particularly notable due to it being the last one with Tim Cook as CEO — he'll be handing over the reins to John Ternus later this year. But it's also given us a glimpse of what the future holds for Macs and MacBooks, with the announcement of macOS 27 Golden Gate.

Unlike Microsoft's rival Windows operating system, Apple releases yearly major updates to its macOS operating system which come with a new name (usually taken from a Californian landmark) and number, which now reflects the year of release. While macOS 27 will release at the end of 2026, Apple will count 2027 as its main release year, so it doesn't feel outdated a few months after it lands on people's hard drives.

While WWDC 2026 is noteworthy for being Cook's last event, this year's macOS update is less exciting, and is mainly focused on performance improvements (which are always welcome), and AI integration (less welcome).

Still, it's an update anyone with a Mac or MacBook will want to download, as long as your device is compatible, so read on to find out what's new.

A note about compatibility: perhaps the most noticable change with macOS 27 Golden Gate is that Intel-based Macs and MacBooks are no longer supported. Only Macs that have Apple silicon chips (so, M1 Macs and MacBooks or newer) will be able to install macOS 27.

macOS 27 Golden Gate: at a glance

What is it? The newest operating system for Macs and MacBooks
When will it be out? A beta for developers is available to download right now, full version likely in October 2026 ('coming this Fall' according to Cook)
How much will it cost? As usual, macOS 27 will be a free upgrade for everyone who has a compatible device

macOS 27 Golden Gate: Compatibility

Want to know if your Mac will be compatible with macOS 27 Golden Gate? Here’s the full list of Macs that’ll be able to run the operating system:

MacBook Air M1 or later
MacBook Pro M1 or later
MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 2020 or later
MacBook Pro 14-inch M1 Pro 2021 or later
MacBook Pro 16-inch M1 Pro 2021 or later
MacBook Neo
iMac M1 2020 or later
Mac mini M1 2020 or later
Mac Studio 2022 and later

You'll notice that no Macs made before 2020 are supported. That's because macOS 27 Golden Gate is only compatible with Macs running on Apple's own M-series chips (or the A18 Pro, in the MacBook Neo's case).

This is a major change, and could see a lot of people unable to upgrade. Apple likely sees dropping older Intel models as a clean break, and means macOS 27 Golden Gate can include a big focus on AI features — the old Intel chips don't have NPUs for on-device AI.

By concentrating on its own chips, which use Arm architecture, Apple also no longer has to worry about Macs running on Intel's x86 chip tech, which will hopefully mean the macOS team has more time to improve the performance of the software and add features in the future.

If you have an Intel Mac, you can continue to use it with macOS 26, though running an not-updated operating system isn't recommended. So, it might be time to consider a new Mac — see below for some top deals.

macOS 27 Golden Gate: release date

(Image credit: Apple)

The developer beta preview for macOS 27 is available today, but you probably don't want to install that.

For a start, you need to be a developer to download this beta, and that requires signing up and paying for a developer account. The public beta, which will come out in July, will be free, as will the final version when it launches later in the year.

Secondly, developer betas are very early versions of software that are mainly designed for (as the name suggests) software developers to test and make sure their apps are compatible. So, they're often very barebones, with missing features and plenty of bugs.

The public beta will hopefully be more stable, but there could still be problems, so I recommend most people wait until the final version is released, especially if you're installing macOS 27 on a device you rely on every day.

macOS 27 Golden Gate: new features

1. Liquid Glass tweaks

(Image credit: Apple)

Last year's macOS 26 brought a major design change with its Liquid Glass theme. While macOS 27 doesn't bring another major change to the interface, it does address some of the common complaints about Liquid Glass, especially the issue with transparency effects (which gives the interface its name) making text hard to read.

(Image credit: Apple)

It will diffuse shadows to make it easier to read, and there's a new slider to adjust the transparency of Liquid Glass.

2. General performance improvements

(Image credit: Apple)

The major focus of macOS 27 will be making the operating system feel faster and more responsive on Macs and MacBooks, so while the new features might not be that exciting, you should hopefully notice an improvement in the overall performance of your Mac — and for free!

Apple

'Responsiveness' is an important word, with animations feeling faster, and Apple promises that Mac apps will load 30% faster thanks to pre-loading.

Photos should appear in your gallery faster, and AirDrop sharing is up to 80% faster.

3. Better Search in macOS

Search has been rebuilt on iOS and macOS for Spotlight, Photos, and Mail (new ranking system for more relevant results), so finding files and folders on your Mac should be a lot easier.

4. Improved parental controls

(Image credit: Apple)

This is quite a hot topic at the moment, and it's good to see Apple has taken the protection of children seriously. Alongside the existing parental controls, macOS 27 Golden Gate will let parents put a block on apps, and there are now tools that will prevent unsuitable images, including nudity and gore, from being seen.

"We're giving powerful tools to parents," according to Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Apple.

5. Siri AI

(Image credit: Apple)

Personally, I've never felt the need to use Siri much on a Mac, unlike on iPhones and iPads where the virtual assistant feels like a more natural fit.

That could change with the new overhauled Siri, which after several delays, will be a key part of macOS 27 Golden Gate. With advanced AI features, courtesy of Google's Gemini, the new and improved Siri will be able to complete tasks with just a voice command (or text prompt), such as write emails for you, and it can also detect what's on your screen.

(Image credit: Apple)

Siri will also make using the Calendar app in macOS better, as you can ask it to create events for you, and it can even check to see if you're available before you respond to invites.

There will be a new Siri app for macOS, where you can have conversations with the assistant, as well as see previous chats, much like you would see text messages in the Messages app. Conversations are synced with iCloud, so you'll be able to continue them on your iPhone or iPad.

(Image credit: Apple)

You also get system-wide context menus, and Siri AI is now integrated directly into Spotlight, where you can ask Siri questions without going into an app. A keyboard shortcut will bring up Visual Intelligence, so you can ask Siri about things on your screen.

6. Image Playground improvements

(Image credit: Apple)

Image Playground, the generative AI tool that turns prompts into images, has a new look that's easier to use, and it's getting an option that allows you to create wallpapers using AI.

A new model allows for photo-realistic images, and you can use it on your own photos, and nothing is uploaded or shared - it's all done on-device.

7 of the best Mac apps to level up your new MacBook Neo

alexblake.techradar@gmail.com (Alex Blake) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:05:34 +0000

The MacBook Neo is a fantastic laptop, and a welcome benefit of owning one is that you get to dive headfirst into the world of macOS apps. Apple’s operating system is overflowing with incredible apps, including those made by Apple and a thriving ecosystem of third-party developers.

Here, we’ve rounded up 7 of the best apps that are guaranteed to lift your MacBook Neo to new heights. Install them on your new Mac and you won’t look back.

Microsoft 365

(Image credit: Future)

If you’ve ditched Windows and made your first foray into macOS with your MacBook Neo, Microsoft 365 might be familiar to you. It’s the premier toolset for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and more. And despite it being made by Microsoft — Apple’s archrival — the app collection is available on macOS.

Not only that, but Microsoft 365 actually works brilliantly on Apple’s operating system. Microsoft has ensured that Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more all slot seamlessly into macOS, so if you’re already familiar with those apps, you’ll feel right at home, even as you find your bearings on macOS.

Fantastical

(Image credit: Future / Flexibits)

Staying organized — whether in your work or personal life — can help you keep on top of your daily goings on. While macOS comes with Apple’s Calendar app, it’s somewhat limited in its scope and abilities. Instead, get Fantastical from Flexibits.

This calendar app is the real deal. It’s both smart and easy to use: just type in natural language when creating events and it will add all the relevant details (for instance, create an event called “lunch with Tom tomorrow at 1pm” and it’ll be perfectly added to your calendar). With a clean user interface, support for reminders and to-dos, compatibility with popular platforms like Microsoft 365 and iCloud, and much more, it’s an essential starter app for your new Mac.

A new web browser

(Image credit: Future)

Browsing the internet is a core part of any Mac user’s experience, and that’s no different with the MacBook Neo. While macOS comes with Apple’s Safari browser built in, you might want to look around for alternative web browsers.

Google Chrome is a popular choice thanks to its speed and simple interface, and there’s a good chance you’ve used it before on Windows. Personally, I prefer Firefox thanks to its robust privacy policies and large library of extensions. Whatever your choice, installing a new web browser could be a great way to boost your new Mac.

While you’re at it, it’s worth adding a couple of handy browser extensions to your Mac. My top two picks are uBlock Origin and Consent-O-Matic. The former blocks ads on web pages, which not only improves the reading experience but shuts out potentially scammy and dangerous ads too. The latter automatically rejects cookies on the ever-present consent forms that are a nuisance these days, protecting your privacy and saving you clicks in the process.

App Cleaner & Uninstaller

(Image credit: Nektony)

Managing the apps you’ve installed on your Mac can be a pain, especially if you’re new to Apple’s operating system. Thankfully, there’s a reprieve in the form of Nektony’s App Cleaner & Uninstaller, which is a one-stop shop for keeping your apps in tip-top condition.

As the name suggests, Nektony’s offering ensures that any uninstalled apps are removed properly by cleaning leftover files that macOS might miss. It also tackles startup programs and extensions, keeping your Mac running smoothly. And although it’s not hinted at in the name, it can also keep your apps up to date, ensuring that patches are downloaded and installed so your Mac stays safe and up to speed with the latest new features.

SoundSource

(Image credit: Future)

The MacBook Neo comes with volume buttons on the function row at the top of the keyboard, meaning you can quickly change the volume or mute your Mac with a quick key press. But with a clever app called SoundSource, you can get much more control over the audio on your new laptop.

SoundSource lets you change audio on a per-app basis. You can set different volumes for sound effects and general output or change certain apps to be louder or quieter than others. Output from one app can be routed to your MacBook’s speakers while sound from another can go to your headphones. That kind of control comes as standard with SoundSource, making it a brilliant way to manage Mac audio with ease.

Zoom

(Image credit: Zoom)

Want to stay in touch with friends, family and colleagues? Then you need Zoom. This video-calling app cut its teeth during the Covid pandemic and has gone from strength to strength ever since. It’s incredibly easy to set up and use, making it ideal for calling grandma as well as your tech-savvy amigos.

It comes loaded with backgrounds and filters to improve your picture, group calling and conference features for larger meetups, and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to transcribe and summarize your calls. Whatever you want to phone someone about on your Mac, it’s a great option.

VLC

(Image credit: VideoLAN)

Modern video files come in all sorts of formats, and there’s no guarantee that QuickTime, Apple’s bundled video player, will be able to play them. If you’re concerned about that, VLC should be on your Mac.

This free video app works with a huge array of file extensions — if you’ve got a video, chances are VLC can play it. With its straightforward interface, compatibility with multiple operating systems (including macOS, Windows and Linux) and toll-free asking price, there’s a lot to love here.

Gemini is now a native macOS app, making it faster and better integrated than ever before

Graham Barlow — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Gemini is now a native macOS app, so you can use Google’s AI chatbot directly from your desktop without opening a browser
The app lets you share your screen, access local files, and launch instantly with a new Option + Space shortcut
It also supports AI image generation and video creation, with extra features unlocked via Google’s AI Pro and Ultra plans

Google has just released a native Gemini app for the Mac, so its AI chatbot is now available right on your macOS desktop with no need to launch a browser just to use it.

The new native app means Gemini now joins both Claude and ChatGPT, which already have macOS apps on the Mac App Store. Gemini is free to use, but while the free limits are quite generous, especially for image generation, you’ll need to subscribe to Google’s AI Pro or Ultra packages if you need more access.

What it can do — more integrated than ever before

Using Gemini as an app offers several key advantages for Mac users over using it in a browser. For a start, you can now share anything on your screen with Gemini, including local files, and get help with exactly what you’re looking at.

For example, if you are reviewing a complex document, you can simply share your window and ask, ‘What are the three biggest takeaways here?’ and it will give you an answer based on what’s on your screen.

There’s also a new keyboard shortcut — Option + Space — that you can use to instantly bring up Gemini. It’s a much faster way to access the chatbot without switching tabs or digging through open windows.

(Image credit: Google)

Nano Banana image generation included

Gemini offers strong image creation abilities with Google’s Nano Banana image generation engine, and it can also create AI-generated videos thanks to Google’s Veo 3.1 being built in.

You can download the new Gemini app now from the Mac App Store, where it’s available to all users aged over 13 years, or from Google. A Google account and macOS 15 or greater is required.

Google says this first release of Gemini as an app is just the beginning, adding, “We're building the foundation for a truly personal, proactive, and powerful desktop assistant, with more news to share in the coming months.”

Bizarre bug in macOS is a 'ticking time bomb' that takes out networking capabilities if a Mac is left on for too long

Darren Allan — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:35:00 +0000

A very strange bug in macOS has just been found
If a Mac is left on for (just over) 49 days, its networking functionality will completely fail
The only cure is a reboot, apparently, but presumably Apple will now be working on an official fix

Ever wondered what would happen if you left your Mac on for a couple of months solid? Probably not, but you might be interested to learn that if you did, the networking side of the OS would fall over.

Tom's Hardware reports that Photon wrote a blog post on how it "found a ticking time bomb in macOS TCP networking", an explosive element in the code that "detonates after exactly 49 days."

Well, 49 days, 17 hours, two minutes, and 47 seconds to be precise. When macOS has been running continuously for that exact length of time, the operating system will experience an 'integer overflow' that "freezes the internal TCP timestamp clock".

When that happens, existing TCP network connections won't expire as they should, remaining frozen in place, and eventually, as Photon explains: "Ephemeral ports slowly exhaust, and eventually no new TCP connections can be established at all. ICMP (ping) keeps working. Everything else dies."

In short, networking on the Mac goes completely kaput, and the only cure is to reboot the machine. Yes, the old 'turn it off and turn it on again' solution.

Photon — a company that facilitates building AI agents — found this bug on the Macs it uses to monitor Apple's Messages service, and the company successfully reproduced the glitch on two systems.

Analysis: Apple following in Microsoft's footsteps

(Image credit: Future)

Obviously, this isn't a problem that most of you — assuming that you own a Mac — will have to worry about. No everyday user leaves their machine on for 50 days solid; but in case you're ever inclined to do so, at least you're now forewarned. This is, of course, more of a glitch that'll hit servers (which do run continuously for long periods), and one which businesses like Photon need to be aware of.

The root cause of the issue is, as mentioned, integer overflow. This is where macOS assumes a counter is only going to go up in numerical value, when in fact, it wraps back round to zero after 50 days of ticking up – and this is something that's caught out Microsoft in the past, too. Photon reminds us that Windows 95 suffered a similar 49.7-day crash where the kernel's 32-bit millisecond tick counter overflowed, in this case causing the PC to completely freeze up.

Apparently Photon is working on a solution to avoid having to reboot in order to fix the Mac, but presumably now that this bug has been brought to Apple's attention we should see an official fix before long.

Lil Finder Guy is the cutest thing Apple has made in its 50-year history — and it has a secret

lance.ulanoff@futurenet.com (Lance Ulanoff) — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:45:00 +0000

Adorable. That's the only way to describe Apple's Lil Finder Guy, who arrived without much fanfare alongside the MacBook Neo. The two-tone, 3D character is a physical embodiment of Apple's iconic Finder icon in macOS. It's also more than that.

No one is quite certain of where Lil Finder Guy comes from. Apple's never issued a press release. Instead, some eagle-eyed Apple fans first noticed Lil Finder Guy using a tiny MacBook Neo in the background of an Apple TikTok livestream.

During all the excitement surrounding Apple's most affordable and excellent $599 / £599 / AU$899 MacBook Neo, I certainly didn't notice the pale-and-deep-blue guy. However, possibly as part of Apple's unexpectedly massive 50th Anniversary celebrations, the spungy little guy has appeared in a handful of clever Tok Tok ads, where Lil Finder Guy is seen in a director's chair, with his squishy head resting on a desk, face down on the floor, and using the Edge Light in a FaceTime call.

In other words, Lil Finder Guy is now a sort of proxy for you, the user. It's also like Apple's unofficial mascot. I always thought that was the role of the Apple with a bite out, but that's a logo, and lacks, if not personality, humanity.

Lil Finder Guy is different. With his cherubic features, he's automatically comical and eminently watchable.

50 years of Apple

(Image credit: Future)

We're celebrating Apple's 50th birthday with a week of content about the tech giant. It covers everything from personal recollections from our writers to the greatest — and worst — Apple gadgets as voted for by you, and you can read it all on our 50 years of Apple page.

People have such affection for him that they figured out how to make 3D printouts of Lil Finder Guy, complete with magnetically attached appendages (so you can pose him, of course). Others have used Gemini to create a whole library of Lil Finder Guy poses.

I have to admit, I'm smitten with him, and wonder if Apple will expand his presence. Could Apple add a digital version of him in macOS 27, a helpful little guy that appears on screen and offers to answer your questions? What if Lil Finder Guy takes over for Siri? Every time you summon Siri, Lil Finder Guy pops up and then runs around the desktop, doing your bidding.

With that Gemini Foundational Model integration, Lil Finder Guy could be the face of a much smarter Siri. Of course, we're edging into Clippy territory here, so maybe Apple shouldn't do this.

The secret

There's another reason Lil Finder Guy can never be a stand-in for Siri: he has a very specific purpose. He's the Finder, and the Finder is not just a locator for all your Mac folders and files. To understand Finder's true purpose, we need to look at the original design. I did not figure this out myself.

I was listening to the Retrocast podcast discuss the cute Lil Finder Guy (and the need for a real name) when they started delving into the Finder's design.

Here's the secret: it's not a face. It's two faces. The one on the right is you, the user, and the one on the left is the computer. It's an image of a user looking at the Mac startup face on the computer!

As the Retrocast hosts explained, the design evokes the "special relationship between people and high technology." It's a design manifestation of how Apple approaches technology, as a deeper connection between human and digital, and how tech does not have to be impersonal. The Macintosh launched with a face and instantly made something remote and unfeeling accessible.

Granted, this means Lil Finder Guy's face is two faces, which is a bit weird, but he pulls off the look nicely and is still just as cute.

I don't know what Apple's long-term plans are for the Lil Finder Guy. At the very least, I expect physical copies to show up in Apple Stores, where you can buy them alongside the t-shirts and pins. But I hope Apple considered letting him stick around to promote future products and show us how to do things on our MacBooks. He instantly seems like a TikTok citizen. Apple could build him his own account and probably amass more than the Apple account's 8 million followers.

What is the macOS Finder on your new MacBook Neo? Here’s your complete beginner’s guide on the Mac’s file organizer

alexblake.techradar@gmail.com (Alex Blake) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Of all the features in macOS, the Finder will feel like one of the most familiar if you’ve recently made the switch from Windows. It’s Apple’s equivalent of Microsoft’s File Explorer, so finding your way around should feel simple and familiar.

Beyond being a basic file organizer, though, the macOS Finder is a surprisingly deep tool, and it can put a lot of power in your hands if you know how to use it. To help with that, we’ve put together this beginner’s guide to give you everything you need to quickly master the Finder on your brand-new Mac.

What is the Finder?

(Image credit: Future)

The Finder’s icon – a blue and white smiley face – is one of the most recognizable symbols of macOS. The app is permanently housed in your Dock (the bar of icons that runs along the bottom of your Mac’s screen). To open the Finder, click its icon in the Dock.

When the Finder launches, you’ll see a left-hand sidebar listing common locations (such as your Applications folder, your desktop and your downloads). There’s a toolbar along the top, while the main body of the Finder window displays your files and folders.

The Finder can show items in various different ways. On the right-hand side of the app’s top toolbar is an icon depicting four boxes in a square shape. Click it, then pick either “as Icons,” “as List,” “as Columns” or “as Gallery” to change how files are displayed. When you’re using the List view, you can also sort files by clicking the column headers at the top of the Finder window.

To the right of this square button is an icon for grouping your files (it looks like six squares arranged in two rows). Click this to group items by name, kind, date modified, and more. And if you want files to adhere to a grid in the Icons view, right-click an empty space and select Sort By > Snap to Grid, then right-click again and pick the Clean Up option.

(Image credit: Future)

What if you want to sort your files into folders? That’s easy enough. Just right-click an empty area of the Finder window and select New Folder. You can also press the … button in the top toolbar followed by New Folder; click File > New Folder in the Finder menu bar; or press Shift + Command + N on your keyboard. Give the folder a name, then press Return. Rename a folder by clicking it, pressing Return, then entering a new name.

Moving files is as simple as dragging and dropping them into folders. By default, files will be moved, not copied. To copy a file into a folder, click it, press Command + C on your keyboard, then double-click the destination folder and press Command + V.

To move several files at once, drag your mouse pointer over the files or hold Command and click them individually, then either move or copy them in place. If the files are next to each other, you can click the first one, hold Shift, then click the last one to quickly highlight them all.

Items can be viewed and edited in the Finder without opening them – just click the file and a preview pane should open on the right showing the item’s details, including a larger view if it’s an image. If you don’t see the preview pane, click View > Show Preview in the Finder’s menu bar (that’s the bar of control menus that runs along the top of your Mac’s screen).

Alternatively, click the file in the Finder and press the Space bar to open a preview (this feature is called Quick Look). When the preview pane is enabled, click View > Show Preview Options to customize what information is displayed in the preview window.

Dive deeper

(Image credit: Future)

Finder has many advanced controls that can speed up your work, of which Smart Folders are particularly handy. Smart Folders automatically add files that meet your set criteria. To create one, click File > New Smart Folder in the Finder menu bar. In the search bar, type a criterion (for example, type “recipe,” then click “Contains ‘recipe’” under the Content header. This will find any files whose contents contain the word “cake”), then click the + button to add further refinements (like the type of file you want to include). When you’re done, click Save.

Tags are a similarly useful way to organize your files in the Finder. Right-click the file you want to tag, then pick one of the colored dots, or click Tags to add your own (for the latter, enter a name and click a color to create the new tag). You can find tagged items by searching for the tag name in the Finder’s search box (in the top-right corner), clicking the tag name in the left-hand sidebar, or by clicking the grouping button in the top toolbar and picking Tags.

Not to be confused with tags, tabs are another helpful Finder feature. They let you keep two separate Finder instances within one window, aiding organization. Just press Command + T or click File > New Tab to add one.

(Image credit: Future)

Don’t like how folders look? Their appearance can be changed by selecting one, clicking the … button in the top toolbar, then choosing Customize Folder. Here, you can change the folder’s color and add a symbol or emoji to it for quick identification.

You can even add a photo to a folder’s icon by opening the image in the Preview app, clicking Edit > Copy in the menu bar, then right-clicking the destination folder and selecting Get Info. From here, click the folder icon at the top, then press Edit > Paste from the menu bar. The image should now be displayed over the folder.

We spoke earlier about moving files, but Finder offers a lot of advanced ways to do this. To keep a file in its original location and put a copy somewhere else, for example, click the item, press and hold the Option key, then click and drag the file into a new folder.

To duplicate a file within its parent folder, select it and press Command + D. Or to move an entire folder’s contents somewhere else in one go, move your mouse to the immediate left of the folder’s name in the top toolbar until a folder icon appears, then click and drag this folder wherever you want it to go.

And given how deeply Apple integrates all of its devices, it might not be a surprise to learn that the Finder can be used to sync files from one Apple product to another. When you connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac, it’ll appear in the left-hand sidebar of the Finder. Click it to sync items – such as movies or music – onto your device.

How does the Finder compare to Windows 11?

(Image credit: Future)

Both the macOS Finder and Windows’ File Explorer have a lot of similarities, which should make it fairly painless to switch between them.

For instance, while Windows has shortcuts, macOS’s Finder has aliases. Despite the different names, they do similar things. An alias (or shortcut) lets you create a virtual copy of a file and place it anywhere you want. Double-click the alias and you’ll open the original file. To create an alias, click the file, then select File > Create Alias from the Finder’s menu bar. You can then move the virtual copy wherever you want.

There are some small differences, though. For one thing, your current folder’s location is at the top of the File Explorer in Windows, whereas it sits at the bottom of the macOS Finder (if you don’t see it, open the Finder and click View > Show Path Bar in the menu bar).

And unlike the File Explorer in Windows, the Finder’s left-hand sidebar does not let you navigate through folders. Instead, the folder view is found in the main Finder pane. You can see the folder structure by using the List view or the Columns view.

How do you customize the Finder?

(Image credit: Future)

We’ve already covered a few ways you can customize the Finder to your needs. That includes changing the view, adding custom colors and images to your folders, and more. But those aren’t the only ways you can adjust Apple’s file organizer.

Let’s start with the Finder’s sidebar. To add a folder to the sidebar, just drag and drop it into the Favorites section. Apps and files can be added by holding Command before moving them to Favorites.

You can remove a folder from the sidebar by dragging it out until an X icon appears, then letting go of your mouse pointer. Similarly, sidebar items can be rearranged and reordered using your mouse. For a more comprehensive way to change what’s in the sidebar, click Finder > Settings > Sidebar in the menu bar.

To hide the sidebar entirely, click View > Hide Sidebar in the Finder’s menu bar. To resize it, move your mouse pointer to the sidebar’s right-hand edge until the pointer changes to a left-and-right-arrow icon, then click and drag.

The top toolbar can also be changed as required. You can hide it by clicking View > Hide Toolbar and show hidden items by clicking the >> button (this only appears if your Finder window is too small for the entire toolbar to fit). Rearrange items by holding Command and dragging them around. Like the sidebar, you can add apps and files by holding Command and moving them into place. To add or remove toolbar buttons, click View > Customize Toolbar.

If you want changes you make to one folder to apply to every folder on your Mac by default, click View > Show View Options, make your changes, then click Use as Defaults at the bottom.

And that should be everything you need to get to grips with the macOS Finder. Its beauty lies in its ability to be both simple and deep at the same time, giving you a quick way to manage your files and power tools when you want something a little more advanced. It’s easy to see why it’s become such an iconic part of macOS.

What is the macOS menu bar? Here’s how new MacBook Neo users can get the most out of Apple’s app control bar

alexblake.techradar@gmail.com (Alex Blake) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:04:10 +0000

While macOS and Windows have plenty of similarities, the menu bar is one area where anyone who has switched from Windows to macOS – perhaps in light of the new MacBook Neo – might feel a little lost. That’s because it takes a slightly different approach to what Windows fans might be used to, combining app controls with features commonly found in the Windows taskbar.

But don’t worry, because like most features in macOS, the menu bar is very easy to adapt to. With our helpful guide by your side, you’ll be acclimatized in next to no time. Read on to see what the macOS menu bar is, how it works, and how you can adjust it however you like.

(Image credit: Future)

Simply put, the menu bar is a control strip located at the top of your Mac’s display. It’s divided into two sections: on the left are app menus, whereas the right-hand side houses status icons.

Starting with the left-hand menus, these are relevant for your currently open app. For example, you’ll find common menus like File, Edit and View here, alongside app-specific menus (that includes Format when using Pages or the Song menu in Apple Music). You can use the menu bar to change app settings, perform tasks and more. If you need assistance with your app, click the Help menu at the far right-hand side.

You always know which app the menus apply to because the currently active app’s name is shown on the left next to the Apple logo. For instance, if you’re using Safari, you’ll see “Safari” in the menu bar. All the menus to the right of the app name are used to control that app. The app name is itself a menu – click it to see options like closing the app, accessing its settings, and more.

Now, about that Apple logo on the left-hand side of the menu bar. This contains controls for your Mac rather than for the app you have in the foreground. That means you can use the Apple logo for tasks like restarting or shutting down your Mac. It also provides a shortcut to the System Settings app.

On the right-hand side of the menu bar are your Mac’s status icons, such as the date and time, the Spotlight search icon, your battery level (if you’re using a MacBook), and more. Think of this area like the Windows taskbar. You can add or remove icons from this section by opening the System Settings app and clicking Menu Bar (in macOS 26 Tahoe or later) or Control Center (in macOS 15 Sequoia or earlier) in the left-hand sidebar. Click the date and time to open the Notification Center, which houses widgets and recently displayed alerts.

Among the status icons is the Control Center. Its icon looks like two toggles, one on top of the other. The Control Center provides quick access to common macOS functions, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirDrop and Focus modes. It can show your currently playing music, adjust display brightness and system volume, and more.

Finally, the menu bar also lets you know when potentially sensitive Mac features – like your webcam or microphone – are being used. It does this by showing colored dots on the right-hand side of the menu bar.

An orange dot indicates that your microphone is in use. A green dot means an app is using your webcam. And if you see a purple dot, it means that system audio is being recorded. Most of the time, these dots will probably relate to expected app usage, such as when you’re on a video call with a friend. But if you see these dots appear for no good reason, it might mean your webcam or microphone is being used without your knowledge. In that case, you might want to run a virus scan to ensure your Mac has not been hacked, just in case.

(Image credit: Future)

In Windows 11, app control menus are stored at the top of each app window. Each app window has its own control bar, letting you adjust settings for that app on the fly.

In macOS, things are a little different. App controls (menus like File, Edit and View) are stored in a bar that permanently sits at the top of your screen. That means these controls are not attached to app windows but instead exist separately. There’s only one menu bar (as opposed to the multiple control bars in Windows) and its contents change when you switch apps.

When you click the X button to close an app window in Microsoft’s operating system, in most cases the app is fully closed. In macOS, clicking the red X button in an app only closes that particular window – the app itself is still open. You can see this by the fact that the menu bar will still say the name of the app, even after its window has been closed. If you want to close the app completely, you should either press the Command + Q keyboard shortcut or click the app’s name in the menu bar, then click Quit [App Name].

Aside from that, though, the menu bar should be fairly familiar to Windows users. Both it and the Windows control bar house important app controls and settings, so the learning curve should not be particularly steep.

While Microsoft is apparently experimenting with a feature much like the macOS menu bar (found in the Command Palette section of Microsoft PowerToys), it’s not a mainline feature of Windows 11 just yet.

(Image credit: Future)

As we noted earlier, you can add or remove status icons from the menu bar by opening the System Settings app and going to either Menu Bar or Control Center (depending on your macOS version). You’ll find System Settings by clicking the cog icon in the macOS Dock at the bottom of your screen or by clicking the Apple logo in the menu bar and selecting System Settings.

In macOS 26 Tahoe, the Menu Bar section has a few options at the top. Here, you can automatically hide and show the menu bar (it will disappear by default and reappear when your mouse moves to the top of the screen). You can also show or hide the menu bar’s background and limit the number of recent documents and servers that can be displayed there.

Under Menu Bar Controls, you’ll see a list of status icons that can appear on the right of the menu bar. These relate to Apple’s own features and functions (like Wi-Fi status or the Weather app), not those of third-party apps. Tick or untick whichever icons you want to see. Some icons have further options, such as always appearing in the menu bar or only when they are active.

At the bottom is a section called Allow in the Menu Bar. This is where you can decide which third-party apps can show controls in the menu bar.

(Image credit: Apple)

If you want to change the order of the menu bar status icons, just hold the Command key on your keyboard and click and drag them around. Let go to drop an icon into a new position. Similarly, you can quickly remove a status icon from the menu bar by holding Command and dragging it out of the menu bar. When you see the word “Remove” appear above the icon, let go of your mouse button and it’ll disappear from the menu bar.

That’s how you customize the menu bar, but to adjust the Control Center in macOS 26 Tahoe, you’ll first need to open it and click Edit Controls at the bottom. Drag an item out of the Control Center or click the minus button (-) to remove it. Alternatively, drag a control from the main Control Center window (called the Controls Gallery) to add it. You’ll find various categories of controls that can be added in the left-hand sidebar.

In macOS 15 Sequoia, Control Center settings are found by opening System Settings and navigating to Control Center in the sidebar.

To reset the Control Center back to factory settings, open System Settings > Menu Bar and click Reset Control Center at the bottom of the screen, then click Reset.

With that, you’ll have everything you need to master the menu bar on your brand-new Mac. As with a lot of things in macOS, it’s intuitively designed and straightforward to learn. Once you’ve got the hang of it, it’ll feel like second nature.

What is the macOS Dock? Here’s how to master Apple’s taskbar rival on your brand-new MacBook Neo

alexblake.techradar@gmail.com (Alex Blake) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:01:02 +0000

If you’ve just switched from Windows to macOS (possibly because the affordable MacBook Neo has won you over), there’s a lot to learn. While the two operating systems have plenty of similarities, there are many ways in which they do things a little differently – and you might have questions about how exactly Apple’s software works.

One of the key elements you’ll want to learn about is the macOS Dock. On the surface, this might look similar to the Windows taskbar, and that makes it a good place to start learning about macOS. Here, we’ll show you what the Dock is, how it works, and how you can customize it to make it your own.

What is the Dock?

(Image credit: Apple)

Like the Windows taskbar, one of the Dock’s primary functions is to store your favorite apps. That gives you a quick way to launch apps, switch between them, and shut them down. To open an app, just click its icon as you would in Windows. Flicking between apps is as simple as clicking the Dock icon of an open app (you can tell it is open by the small dot that appears below its icon). To close an app, right-click its icon and select Quit. Depending on the app, this right-click menu might show extra choices, like opening a new window in Finder.

By default, the macOS Dock is loaded with a selection of Apple’s apps, the Downloads folder, and the Trash (unlike Windows, the Trash sits in the Dock rather than on your desktop). You can change which apps are present in the Dock – we’ll come back to that later – so you don’t have to stick with Apple’s layout.

As the Downloads folder shows, the Dock can hold more than just apps. The right-hand section of the Dock, which is divided by a separator, can hold files, folders and more. That gives you quick access to items that you regularly use, saving you the need to regularly rummage through folders in search of them.

Any apps that want to alert you to something will have a red badge on their Dock icon. For example, if you have an unread message in the Mail app, you’ll see a red ‘1’ appear on the Dock icon. That way, the Dock doubles up as a basic notification system.

Finally, it’s also a way to close unresponsive apps. When an app freezes, you can close it – or ‘force quit’ it – by right-clicking the icon of the frozen app in the Dock and clicking Force Quit.

How does the Dock compare to Windows 11’s taskbar?

(Image credit: JJ Rocha on Unsplash)

As we alluded to earlier, the Dock and Windows 11’s taskbar have some common aspects. Like the taskbar, for example, the Dock is also a way to quickly access and open apps. By default, both the Dock and the taskbar sit at the bottom of your screen, too.

One of the most famous parts of Windows’ taskbar is the Start button. The Dock, on the other hand, has the Apps button (in macOS Tahoe or later) or the Launchpad (in macOS Sequoia and earlier). These work in slightly different ways but are broadly similar in that they’re a quick way to find all of your installed apps.

One key difference is that the Windows taskbar has a search box, which the Dock lacks. That doesn’t mean macOS lacks a search feature, though – in macOS, you can bring up the Spotlight search feature by pressing the Command + Space keyboard shortcut. In macOS Tahoe or later, you can also find a Spotlight search bar by clicking the Apps icon in the Dock.

Apple is known for the tight integration of its devices. If you are using an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch alongside your Mac (and you’re using the same Apple Account on all your devices), you’ll see an app icon of your currently open iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch app appear in your Dock. Click this icon and you can open the app on your Mac. This feature is part of Apple’s Handoff system.

There are other useful Dock features that are a little different to Windows. If you drag a file over an app icon in the Dock and then let go of it, for instance, macOS will open the file in the app you chose. If you hold the Command key and click a Dock app or file, Finder will open with the app/file’s location shown. Or hold the Option key and click a Dock item to hide that app and show the previously open app instead. Finally, if you want to switch to an app and hide every other open app, hold both Option and Command, then click the app icon that you want to switch to.

How do you customize the Dock?

The Magnification setting for the macOS Dock. (Image credit: TheRegisti on Unsplash)

So, how do you start making changes to the macOS Dock? After all, you might not want to just stick with Apple’s preset look and feel.

One of the most basic changes you can make is to add apps and remove others that you no longer need. Adding an app or file is easy – just drag it onto the Dock and let go (you can drag apps from the Applications folder, which is found on the left-hand side of the Finder app, or by clicking the Apps icon in your Dock). Or open an app, right-click its icon in the Dock, then select Options > Keep in Dock.

If you want to reorder Dock apps rather than add more, they can also be dragged into new positions.

To remove something from the Dock, all you have to do is click and hold it, then drag it out of the Dock. After holding it outside the Dock for a second, you’ll see the word Remove appear above the icon. Let go of your mouse button, and the app will be removed from the Dock. And don’t worry, the app itself is not uninstalled from your Mac when you do this. Alternatively, you can right-click an item in your Dock and select Options > Remove from Dock.

There are a few other ways to adjust the Dock. First, move your mouse pointer over the vertical dividing line on the right-hand side of the Dock. The pointer should become an upward and downward-facing arrow. Now right-click. You’ll see some options:

Turn Hiding On will automatically hide the Dock until you move your mouse pointer to where the Dock used to be (usually the bottom of the screen), whereupon it will reappear
Turn Magnification On scales up app icons as you mouse over them, making them easier to identify
Position on Screen will move the Dock to the left, bottom or right-hand side of your display, depending on your choice
Minimize Using gives you two choices: Genie Effect, which makes apps appear to flow into the Dock as they’re minimized, or Scale Effect, which uses a simpler effect to shrink the app when it is minimized
You can open the Dock’s controls in the System Settings app by clicking Dock Settings. We’ll address that in more detail below

Adjust Dock settings

(Image credit: Future)

If you want to dig deeper, you’ll find a large array of options in the System Settings app. There are a few ways you can open the System Settings app. It’s the cog icon in the Dock, for one thing. Or click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. Once System Settings opens, click Desktop & Dock in its left-hand sidebar.

The Dock’s settings are located at the top of the Desktop & Dock section. Use the Size slider to increase or decrease the size of the Dock. The Magnification slider next to it controls how large icons are magnified when you mouse over them. You’ll need to enable magnification first, as detailed in the ‘How do you customize the Dock?’ section above.

Below the two sliders are several more options. You can change the Dock’s position on your screen, alter the minimizing animation, and choose whether apps minimize into the right-hand section of the Dock or into their own app icons.

The ‘Window title bar double-click action’ determines what happens when you double-click the top of an app window (this is the title bar – it stretches across the top of an app at around the height of the red, yellow and green buttons in the top-left corner). You can increase the window’s size, minimize it, make it fill the screen, or set it to do nothing.

There are a few more options at the bottom of the Dock section in System Settings. These include automatically hiding and showing the Dock; adding a bouncing animation to icons when you open an app; showing dots under Dock icons to indicate that an app is open; and showing suggested and recent apps on the right-hand side of the Dock.

As you can see, the Dock is a very feature-rich aspect of macOS, despite appearing unassuming at first glance. Learn how it works and you’ll have a powerful operating system tool at your fingertips.

Apple sets WWDC for June 8 — and this may be its last best chance to fix Siri and deliver the AI we were promised

lance.ulanoff@futurenet.com (Lance Ulanoff) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 20:25:02 +0000

Apple has officially announced its all-important WWDC 2026 keynote for June 8, setting the stage for a slew of platform updates that will impact the near future of iPhone, iPad, Macs, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and, yes, even Vision Pro.

No category may be more closely watched during this keynote and the sessions that follow at Apple's World Wide Developers Conference than AI or, more specifically, Siri.

If you don't think AI is top-of-mind for the Cupertino tech giant, just take a look at this line from the press release announcing the event: "WWDC26 will spotlight incredible updates for Apple platforms, including AI advancements and exciting new software and developer tools."

It's no accident that AI is called out in a sentence that doesn't even mention iOS by name. Little is known about the event right now, except that the keynote and "State of the Union" will be on June 8. Much of the conference will be held online via 100 video sessions. However, there will be an in-person component for developers on the 8th, which will let them participate in "special labs and activities."

Still, the focus will be on the possibly two-hour keynote that should finally clarify how Siri will ingest Gemini, or at least the Gemini foundation models will be used to enhance Apple Intelligence and Siri.

(Image credit: Apple)

Since Apple Intelligence and Siri are available across iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and Vision Pro, this update should have wide-ranging and significant implications.

WWDC is generally not a moment where Apple officially releases any new hardware platform. Instead, they'll show us what each platform update can do and then set a schedule for developer and public betas. The keynote will, though, give us a timeline for when we can finally try out the smartest and most AI-ready Siri ever, assuming that's what we get.

As in previous years, we expect Apple CEO Tim Cook to briefly take the stage at Apple Park Campus to introduce the video presentation. He might take a moment or two to recognize the company's 50th birthday, but then it will be a whistle-stop tour through all the platforms:

iOS 27
iPadOS 27
macOS 27 (Redwood?)
watchOS 27
tvOS 27
visionOS 27

Each platform should get its moment in the sun. We may hear more about some new development kits (like HomeKit, StoreKit, AppKit, etc.). But the lion's share of the day might be devoted to Apple Intelligence and Siri.

Surely Apple knows it has to not only wow us with Siri's new intelligence, but convince us that what we're seeing on stage and in the videos is real. After all, it's been almost two years since Apple promised us a Siri that could, with your permission, know everything about you based on the data in your phone and could see what you were doing on your phone, all to be a more proactive and helpful assistant.

That promise was never fulfilled, and Apple's AI offerings generally pale in comparison to those of Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic. Now Apple has a blockbuster deal with Google that will let it use Gemini Foundation models to power part of Siri's intelligence.

Many thought we'd see these changes sooner rather than later, but with WWDC fast approaching, it just makes more sense for Apple to wait a little more than two months to really wow us.

Tim Cook at WWDC 2025 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

As for what else we might see on the day, expect lots of details on iOS 27 that help us form a mental vision of what the iPhone 18 might look like.

There might be some adjustment of Liquid Glass, which seems to have split consumers. iPad and macOS will grow even closer, with the former adopting more of the latter's desktop capabilities.

Some have predicted a touch-screen MacBook, which would mean a major touch-enhancement to macOS, but I wouldn't hold your breath.

There's always a chance we see a hardware tease. Remember, Vision Pro was the surprise reveal at WWDC 2023. Maybe this is the moment for a big visionOS update that rides on the back of a much more affordable, lightweight Vision Pro Lite.

If we do see any hardware, the more likely reveal is a glimpse of the iPhone Fold. That would make sense, especially if iOS 27 has any special, flexible display-centric features.

There's also a good chance that we won't see any hardware, just more software updates than we can count.

Whatever happens, TechRadar will be on the ground, covering every single bit (and byte) of it.

I’ve been using Mac for decades - here are 5 new features in macOS Tahoe that I can’t live without

Lloyd Coombes — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Everyone remembers their first Mac. For me, it was a 2007 iMac (oh, how I miss the 24-inch model), and everything about macOS felt unique (and this was OS X Leopard, if memory serves).

Much has changed since then, of course. Continuity, Apple Silicon, iPhone mirroring, and more have all come to the platform in recent years, but macOS Tahoe feels like a sizeable update even alongside those predecessors, and now I've been using the operating system for a few months now, here are my favorite new features.

1. Liquid Glass

(Image credit: Apple/Lloyd Coombes)

We have to start with the new look that's not just for macOS, but all of the company’s major platforms.

Liquid Glass is rather striking, it must be said, and the option to tweak it to match your desktop image with icon tinting feels like a much more successful trick here than it is on iOS where things get a little cluttered.

There are some minor flies in the ointment at the moment (some apps haven’t updated their icons yet, for example, and I’m not overly convinced of the borders on Finder windows), but I appreciate Apple working to make a sweeping change that even touches iconic features like the Macintosh HD icon (no longer a mechanical drive, hooray!).

2. The Phone App

(Image credit: Apple/Lloyd Coombes)

It feels like a small addition on the surface, but with the arrival of the Phone app on macOS, I think the gap between Apple’s platforms has been effectively closed and stitched together pretty comprehensively by Continuity.

Being able to make and receive calls, and listen to voicemails, might seem a situational feature, but if you’ve ever been in the middle of work, in the zone, and wearing AirPods only to have your phone start ringing, you’ll appreciate the new heads-up as to who it is.

That goes hand in hand with the call screening feature carried across from iOS 26, meaning you don’t even need to answer until you know exactly who’s on the line. Being able to use Hold Assist to know when you’re through to an agent while you’re working on, say, a listicle about the best macOS Tahoe features, even without using your phone, is very helpful, too.

3. Journal

(Image credit: Apple/Lloyd Coombes)

While some apps are the type I’ve opened once and then swiftly forgotten about (I’m looking at you, new Apple ‘Games’ app), Journal is something I know will be particularly useful.

It always felt odd that it was confined to the iPhone before, but as I explained earlier, I can see myself writing in there much more often on a platform attached to a keyboard.

The iCloud integration does half the work for you, filling in your workouts, places you’ve been, and adding photos, meaning you can just add as much (or as little) as you want with words.

4. Live Activities

(Image credit: Apple/Lloyd Coombes)

I have a problem: I just love ordering coffee too much. It’s my biggest vice, and while having to order on my phone if I wanted to enjoy Live Activities was a small price to pay, Apple now has a first-world solution to my first-world problem: Live Activities on Mac.

Now, I can track my Uber Eats order in my Menu Bar while I get on with work, safe in the knowledge I won’t miss a notification when it arrives - even if my phone is elsewhere.

5. Spotlight

(Image credit: Apple/Lloyd Coombes)

I may have buried the lede putting this last, but make no mistake: Spotlight is the most impressive part of macOS Tahoe.

As a big productivity enthusiast (I acknowledge how peculiar that designation is), being able to send a message, open an app, or even access menu bar items without taking my hands off my keyboard is something that’s very welcome.

I’ve long been a user of Alfred, and may yet revert to using it because I have my own workflows in there, but having it built into the OS will undoubtedly allow for much more experimentation.

Working hand-in-hand with Shortcuts, it’s not a foolproof automation launcher (I wish I could kick off a certain Spotify playlist when activating a ‘work mode’ macro), but it could help users get ‘under the hood’ in a way they never even considered before.

What are your favorite features of macOS Tahoe? Let us know in the comments below!

How to use Spotlight in macOS Tahoe

Lloyd Coombes — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In case you’ve not updated yet, macOS Tahoe is here, and it’s packing more than just a new Liquid Glass style for your Mac computer.

Aside from the arrival of the Journal app and a customizable Control Center, there’s a big new update for Spotlight. Apple’s launcher has been relatively unchanged for years now, and many users will no doubt have gravitated toward third-party alternatives like Alfred and Raycast.

Still, this latest update adds a lot of power-user functionality to the long-running tool, and I’ve put together this handy guide to help you make the most of it.

Set up your keyboard shortcut

(Image credit: Apple/Lloyd Coombes)

Before we do any tweaking of Spotlight, you’ll need to know how to enable it. By default, it’s CMD and Space on your Mac’s keyboard, but if it doesn’t open then you’ll need to adjust that setting.

To do so, open System Settings and search ‘Spotlight’, then look in the sidebar for Keyboard settings. Make sure the ‘Show Spotlight search’ checkbox is ticked.

Launch some apps

(Image credit: Apple/Lloyd Coombes)

It’s not new functionality, but if you’ve not used Spotlight before, then you might be surprised how much quicker it is to open apps using your keyboard as opposed to grabbing your mouse and navigating to the relevant folder.

Simply start typing, and you’ll be presented with a list of options. Move down with the arrow keys and hit return to jump into any of them.

Select what Spotlight surfaces

In System Settings, Spotlight’s sidebar entry will allow you to toggle on and off what you want to be able to find.

This includes results from apps, apps themselves, or files from certain folders and drives. If you don’t want to be able to look through certain folders or want to disregard, say, a Google Drive folder, this is the way to do it.

Enable Clipboard History

(Image credit: Apple/Lloyd Coombes)

We’ve all been in that awkward spot where you’ve copied something from a page or app and can’t find it because you’ve hit CMD + C in the seconds since then, but Clipboard Search makes things much simpler.

By default, this is switched off, but at the bottom of the Spotlight section of System Settings, you can find a toggle for Clipboard Search. Enabling it will keep clipboard items available for eight hours, and you can find them by pressing CMD + 4.

Why’s it off by default? Because, as Apple mentions, it can involve storing personal information and having it available to paste. That’s worth considering if you share your Mac.

(Image credit: Apple/Lloyd Coombes)

New with macOS Tahoe is a subtle toolbar that appears if you start typing something in Spotlight.

Think of this as a filter of sorts, helping you drill down to the action you want to achieve. For example, being able to search for just folders or files can help save time rather than combing through apps, photos, and anything else.

You can trigger these filters with a ‘/’ command on your keyboard, which brings us nicely to…

Experiment with keyboard shortcuts

(Image credit: Apple/Lloyd Coombes)

Apple has done a great job of putting keyboard shortcuts front and center when you jump into Spotlight, and it’s worth remembering them.

CMD with numbers 1 - 4 will bring up different options. CMD + 1 will give you your applications for quick launching, while CMD + 2 will do the same for Files. CMD + 3 triggers Actions and Shortcuts (more on that in a moment), while CMD + 4 is for clipboard history.

You can also use the up arrow to see your search history.

Have fun with Shortcuts

(Image credit: Apple/Lloyd Coombes)

Shortcuts are a pretty intuitive way to set up Mac automations, and the whole system has progressively gotten more useful in recent years.

With that said, Spotlight’s new version gives a great way to trigger these automations since they’re always visible right when you need them. Can’t remember the keyboard shortcut you set to enter a meeting mode? Now you can hit Spotlight and trigger it from there with ease.

It’s not that you couldn’t do it before, but it’s just much easier to do so now without being flooded with a barrage of results when you hit CMD + Space.

macOS Tahoe 26.2 has landed, with a helpful new upgrade for your video calls

David Nield — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 16:30:00 +0000

macOS Tahoe 26.2 is rolling out to Macs and MacBooks now
It features a new Edge Light feature for illuminating your video calls
Other minor improvements and bug fixes are also included

Alongside iOS 26.2, Apple has also released the equivalent software updates for its other devices, and those updates include macOS Tahoe 26.2 – with a useful new Edge Light feature to illuminate your face during video calls on Apple Silicon Macs.

As MacRumors reports, the addition of Edge Light is the biggest change with this release. It will use your Mac display "to illuminate your face like a virtual ring light when you're on a video call in low light". With newer Macs, introduced in 2024 and later, you can have the light turn on automatically in low light conditions too.

The feature offers customizable light width and temperature settings, so you can tweak the illumination as you prefer, and when you use a mouse or trackpad the light will instantly recede so you can see what you're doing on screen.

We wrote about this feature when the developer beta for macOS Tahoe 26.2 was released, and it sounds like it could be particularly handy when you're rushing to get set up for a call and don't have as much time as you might like to sort out the lighting.

Minor updates and an AirDrop tweak

You need an Apple Silicon Mac like the 14-inch 2025 M5 MacBook Pro for this (Image credit: Future)

Other new features in macOS Tahoe 26.2 include automatically generated chapters in podcasts, embedded links to mentioned podcasts, improved filters in the Games library, in-game challenge updates, and support for connected controllers.

There are also a bunch of bug fixes and smaller tweaks too, as usual for a macOS update like this. Navigation has been improved within the Apple News app for example, while tables in the Freeform app are now more flexible in terms of what they can hold. A Favorite Songs playlist has been added to Top Picks in Apple Music too.

Apple also says that with this update, "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".

We'll have to wait and see whether or not that breaks the AirDrop support that Google recently added to its Pixel 10 phones – but it wouldn't be a huge surprise. The macOS Tahoe 26.2 update is rolling out globally now.

I've been using macOS Tahoe 26 for a month – here are the 5 features you should try first

David Nield — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:12:19 +0000

Having been announced in June and beta tested for several months, macOS Tahoe 26 is now being pushed out to millions of Mac users worldwide – and so if you have one of the many Macs that are compatible with the update, you should now be seeing prompts to install it.

I've been testing out the developer betas since they were first launched in June, so I can write from first-hand experience about the many new features, both in terms of the operating system overall and the individual Apple apps running on top of it.

There's also a complete visual overhaul of the interface, making use of the same Liquid Glass theme being introduced on all of Apple's software platforms, including iOS 26.

Once you've accepted the prompt to install macOS Tahoe 26 on your own machine, here's what to try first.

1. Spotlight has been given a huge upgrade

Spotlight has a new look (Image credit: Future)

Spotlight has always been a useful way of launching apps and searching through the files on a Mac, but with macOS Tahoe 26, it gets what is probably the biggest upgrade in its history. There are now four sections to jump between via icons or keyboard shortcuts, covering apps, files, shortcuts, and the macOS clipboard.

Those first two options work in a similar way to how they have done previously, though there are more comprehensive browsing options (you're able to see apps sorted by category or name, for example). It's also really helpful to have access to the clipboard history, so you can quickly bring back something you copied recently – it means I've been using Spotlight much more regularly.

The really significant upgrade comes with shortcuts, though. Not only can you launch any existing shortcut, you're able to create new ones from right inside Spotlight, and even assign keyboard combinations to them: send messages, start timers, open playlists, and more. On top of that, there's added Apple Intelligence, so you can make calls to various AI features from within Spotlight too.

2. Tour around the Liquid Glass interface

The new Liquid Glass Control Center (Image credit: Future)

By now, you've probably seen plenty of Liquid Glass screenshots, so you have an idea of the visual changes Apple is rolling out across its various software platforms, including macOS Tahoe 26. However, it's not until you actually start using these operating systems that you realize what a step forward it is in terms of aesthetics.

I'll admit it took some getting used to, but I'm now very much a fan of Liquid Glass on macOS. With the various demands of tech journalism to keep up with, I've been switching between different versions of Apple's desktop software, and going back to macOS Sequoia 15 feels like entering an old-fashioned, outdated world.

Everything looks clean and fresh, and the translucent effects are really well done, without being overbearing or affecting legibility – the Control Center is one of the key panels that looks more modern, for example. You get more in the way of curves and smoothness too, and I think most people are going to be on board with the changes.

3. Stay updated with Live Activities

Live Activities will sync from your iPhone (Image credit: Apple)

Live Activities has become a pretty essential feature on the iPhone, keeping you right up to date with real-time information, and it's proved so useful that it's making its way to the Mac as well. Live Activities will now be mirrored at the top of your macOS screen, once they pop up on iOS.

You may already be familiar with the convenience of Live Activities for apps that track flights, deliveries, and sports scores. Having these updates available on macOS is a real bonus. It's one of those features where you don't really realize how useful it is until you actually get it.

The upgrade builds on the impressive syncing between iOS and macOS that's already in place, including iPhone Mirroring. You're even able to click on a Live Activities widget on your Mac and open up the relevant iPhone app on your macOS desktop, through the mirroring link between your computer and your phone.

4. Apple Intelligence adds Live Translation

macOS Tahoe 26 comes with bonus Live Translation features (Image credit: Future)

You may have seen the new Live Translation feature Apple is rolling out to its new AirPods Pro 3 and some older models, and the feature is appearing across Apple's other devices too – including Macs, with macOS Tahoe 26. It means you can get audio translations in real time, even as people are speaking.

The feature is going to show up in various places across macOS, including the Messages, Phone, and FaceTime apps (you can use it on calls made via your iPhone too). In Messages, for example, you'll see a prompt to start translating at the top of a chat if another language is detected.

Apple hasn't said much about Apple Intelligence recently – perhaps because it's had to delay the much-hyped AI upgrades for Siri – but this is a genuinely useful AI upgrade that a lot of people are likely to want to make use of. It's ideal if you spend much time talking to people in a foreign language.

5. Macs get even more gaming upgrades

macOS is getting another gaming upgrade (Image credit: Apple)

Apple has been trying to convince us that it's serious about gaming on the Mac for many years of course, but there's evidence that this time we can believe it. The new macOS update features a new Metal 4 graphics rendering engine, adding in denoising tech and frame interpolation (similar to the equivalent Nvidia offering on Windows).

Now I admittedly haven't tested this out extensively – but these features are likely to get better over time, especially considering that some tweaks will be needed on the developer side too. This is going to be well worth checking back in on as macOS Tahoe 26 gets further refined in the coming months.

There's also the new Games app, a central hub for launching games, checking your scores and gaming chats, and discovering new titles. It's all neatly done, and looks to be another significant improvement for gamers – with the potential to get a few more users gaming on the Mac. The same hub is appearing for iPhones and iPads at the same time too.

macOS Tahoe 26 comes with a big money-saving upgrade for fixing Macs - and it's landing next week

Darren Allan — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 15:47:06 +0000

Repair Assistant is in the release candidate of macOS Tahoe
This feature facilitates making fully calibrated repairs, as previously seen with the iPhone and iPad
It means Mac owners and independent repair shops can implement hardware fixes and ensure they work correctly

In macOS Tahoe 26, Apple is expanding the potential for repairing its Macs along the same lines as previously seen with the iPhone and iPad.

Apple Insider reports that macOS Tahoe is going to arrive with the Repair Assistant, which was introduced with the iPhone last year. This allows the owner of the device - or an independent repair shop - to perform a repair and check that it's been correctly done, and that the new part is fully recognized and functional (going through a calibration process).

Code relating to the feature was uncovered in the macOS Tahoe release candidate, the final version of the OS that's just arrived before it's launched to the public next week.

The catch is that the feature will only work with Macs that have an Apple chip inside, so older PCs with an Intel CPU will not get the Repair Assistant.

macOS Tahoe is confirmed to arrive on September 15, packing a whole new look in the form of a Liquid Glass interface, which has been much talked about (and indeed joked about). We're also getting a pepped-up Spotlight, new Continuity features - specifically the Phone app on the Mac - a dedicated app for gamers, and more.

Analysis: reparations across the nations

(Image credit: Future)

Repair Assistant is important as it means you don't have to go to Apple for a fix should a component break in your MacBook or Mac running macOS Tahoe. Very technically confident Mac owners can theoretically repair their computer themselves, or an independent repair shop can do so.

Using the Repair Assistant, it's also possible to cannibalize a part from an old Mac and use it to repair another device.

As Apple Insider points out, this is going to be particularly handy for replacing fiddly components, like the Lid Angle sensor on newer MacBooks. This is a sophisticated sensor that needs to be accurately calibrated, which is exactly what the Repair Assistant will allow for, meaning the replaced sensor won't play up and cause screen-related glitches (which might be the case otherwise).

The arrival of Repair Assistant on Mac is a welcome one, giving users even more flexibility and control over their computers.

One of my favorite iPhone features arrives on the Mac with Tahoe – and I can’t stop using it

jacob.krol@futurenet.com (Jacob Krol) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

While the new ‘Liquid Glass’ look and a way more powerful Spotlight might be the leading features of macOS Tahoe 26, I’ve found that bringing over a much-loved iPhone feature has proven to be the highlight after weeks of testing.

Live Activities steal the show on the iPhone, thanks to their glanceability and effortless way of highlighting key info, whether it’s from a first or third-party app. Some of my favorites are:

Flighty displays flight tracking details in real-time, for myself, family, or friends
Airlines like United show my seat, a countdown for boarding, or even baggage claim
Rideshare apps tell you what kind of car you're driving is arriving in
Apple Sports displays your favorite teams' live scores in real-time with the game

Now, all of this is arriving on the Mac – right at the top navigation bar, near the right-hand side. They appear when your iPhone is nearby, signed into the same Apple Account, and mirror the same Live Activities you’d see on your phone. It’s a simple but powerful addition.

Considering Apple brought iPhone Mirroring to the Mac in 2024, this 2025 follow-up isn’t surprising. But it’s exactly the kind of small feature that makes a big difference. I’ve loved being able to check a score, track a flight, or see my live position on a plane – without fishing for my phone.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

I’ve used it plenty at my desk, but to me, it truly shines in Economy class. If you’ve ever tried balancing an iPhone and a MacBook Pro – or even a MacBook Air – on a tray table, you know the awkward overlap. I usually end up propping the iPhone against my screen, hanging it off the palm rest, or just tossing it in my lap. With Live Activities on the Mac, I can stick to one device and keep the tray table clutter-free.

Considering notifications already sync, iPhone Mirroring arrived last year, Live Activities were ultimately the missing piece. On macOS Tahoe, they sit neatly collapsed in the menu bar, just like the Dynamic Island on iPhone, and you can click on one to expand and see the full Live Activity. Another click on any of these Live Activities quickly opens the app on your iPhone via the Mirroring app – it all works together pretty seamlessly.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

You can also easily dismiss them, as I have found they automatically expand for major updates, saving screen real estate on your Mac. If you already have a Live Activity that you really enjoy on your iPhone, there’s really no extra work needed from the developer, as these will automatically repeat.

All-in-all, it’s a small but super helpful tool that really excels in cramped spaces. So, if you’ve ever struggled with the same balancing act as I have with a tray table, your iPhone, and a MacBook, know that relief is on the way.

It's arriving in the Fall (September or October) with the release of macOS Tahoe 26. If you want it sooner, the public beta of macOS Tahoe 26 is out now, but you'll need to be okay with some bugs and slowdowns.

Apple Mac users should install this new update right now, as macOS Sequoia bows out with a crucial bug fix

Isaiah Williams — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:33:01 +0000

Apple has released an important new update for macOS Sequoia
The update prevents a potential bricking issue for users utilizing DFU mode for device recovery
It may be the last macOS Sequoia update before macOS Tahoe 26's arrival

Apple's macOS Tahoe 26 is now on the horizon, slated for release later this year. However, Apple isn't quite done with macOS Sequoia, and it's just released an important update for Mac users.

As reported by 9to5Mac, Apple has released macOS Sequoia 15.6, a new update with an important bug fix. This resolves an issue with Finder and Apple Configurator's inability to restore devices from DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade) mode, which could result in a bricked device if unsuccessful.

Users would need to specifically enter DFU mode (which serves as an alternative to recovery mode for device restoration) for this to occur. While users who aren't planning on using DFU may still be safe on Sequoia 15.5 (and older), it's better to eliminate the chance of bricking a device entirely by updating to Sequoia 15.6.

This could be one of the last updates of Sequoia we see before it eventually bows out to Tahoe 26, which promises a variety of improvements to the macOS experience – it's already available in public beta, and it looks set to be ideal for multitaskers and gamers.

With new tools like MetalFX Frame Interpolation, a Game Overlay, and an upgraded Game Porting Tool kit, macOS Tahoe 26 is another step in the right direction for Apple and its gaming support.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

Analysis: macOS Tahoe 26's features are making me wish I had an M-series MacBook...

Having only used Intel-powered MacBooks, I've been debating a potential switch from Windows laptops to M-series MacBooks for a while now – and the arrival of macOS Tahoe 26 looks like the perfect time for it.

I'm a big gamer (if that wasn't clear enough already), and I'm not opposed to spending a hefty sum when a laptop can provide exceptional performance in productivity and multitasking, alongside gaming. Yes, gaming laptops exist, but MacBooks using the latest M-series chips look like the ideal answer due to their power efficiency.

I'm growing tired of Windows for gaming, and I'd rather use SteamOS for its console-like UI and better game performance – but using Discord for streaming to friends on SteamOS' game mode, isn't a simple task. Until that's addressed, I'll stick to SteamOS/Bazzite for handhelds exclusively.

As for gaming on a laptop, macOS is becoming a more appealing operating system after each update, especially with a growing game library with titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Resident Evil 4 remake on Macs. Apple is continuously proving that gaming is on its radar, and it might just convince me to join the party.

Benchmarking Macs: 3DMark and other testing tools that make it easy to test your Apple Mac’s performance

Cliff Joseph — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 21:57:08 +0000

It's been a few weeks since Apple's WWDC 2025 event, and while Apple did announce a new Games app that will be included in the new macOS Tahoe later this year, there wasn’t a lot of news on forthcoming titles that Mac gamers can look forward to playing.

There was, however, one important games-related announcement during WWDC that might have gone a little bit under the radar. The announcement came from UL Solutions, with the launch of a new Mac version of its 3DMark benchmarking app.

This is an important development for Mac gamers, as 3DMark is one of the most popular tools used to test the graphics performance of gaming PCs - and its arrival on the Mac reflects the fact that Macs are finally being taken seriously as a gaming platform. With that in mind, I'd like to take some time to discuss how exactly you can go about benchmarking the best MacBooks and Macs.

3D Mark's Solar Bay test is great for testing and comparing 3D graphical performance. (Image credit: UL Solutions)

And, with A-List games such as Assassin's Creed: Shadows and Cyberpunk 2077 now available for Macs, many of us Mac gamers are wondering how well these games will run on our Macs. As the name suggests, 3DMark does focus specifically on testing performance with games and 3D graphics, but there are other options available that you can use to benchmark your Mac (and also to compare your Mac’s performance with Windows PCs, too).

DIY Benchmarking

Some games (including the aforementioned AC: Shadows and Cyberpunk) do have their own benchmarking tools already built in, which allow you to test your Mac’s performance and see the frames-per-second (FPS) score that it can achieve while running the game.

Assassin's Creed: Shadows is one of the latest triple-A games to make it to macOS - and it features a built-in benchmark. (Image credit: Ubisoft)

These tools can be handy as they allow you to experiment with different graphics settings within the game in order to strike the best balance between graphics quality and performance for your particular Mac model. But, of course, these tools only work within individual games, so they don’t give you much indication of how your Mac will work with other games, or how it compares with other Macs or PCs - plus, you'll have to actually buy the game to run the benchmark in most cases.

PC gamers who use Steam probably know that the Steam app includes an option for showing framerates in-game. Unfortunately, the Mac version of Steam can be... a little erratic, and its FPS counter went AWOL sometime around 2023. However, another welcome bit of gaming news that arrived during WWDC was Valve’s announcement that it’s currently testing a new version of Steam, updated specifically for the latest Macs with Apple Silicon processors, so hopefully it'll work more reliably in the future.

Metal Guru

Steam aside, Apple actually provides its own option for testing gaming performance. It’s called the Metal HUD (heads-up display), as it’s part of the Metal software that Apple uses to display 3D graphics on Macs and other Apple devices. The Metal HUD was originally designed for developers who need to test their games or apps in macOS, but anyone can use it if they don’t mind dipping into the Terminal app on their Mac.

A closeup of the Metal HUD, which appears in the corner of the screen as an overlay while playing games. (Image credit: Apple)

The Terminal is found in Applications/Utilities, and you can just double-click on it to launch it, like any other Mac app. When the Terminal window appears on screen, you can activate the Metal HUD by typing the following command:

/bin/launchctl setenv MTL_HUD_ENABLED 1

You won’t see anything happen immediately, but the Metal HUD will appear automatically the next time you launch a game with 3D graphics on your Mac. The Metal HUD displays quite a lot of technical information for developers, but your screen resolution and refresh rate are right at the top, followed by the current average FPS score. This allows you to adjust resolution and other graphics settings within any game so that you can see how they affect performance.

And, when you’ve finished with the Metal HUD, you can simply turn it off by typing another command into the Terminal window:

/bin/launchctl setenv MTL_HUD_ENABLED 0

Testing with Geekbench 6

The popular Geekbench test suite has been available on the Mac for many years, and it runs on Windows PCs, Linux, and Android as well, so it’s a good option for comparing your Mac’s performance with a variety of PCs and other devices. There’s also a huge database of test results on geekbench.com that you can search through as well.

Geeknench is one of the most reliable Mac benchmarking tools. (Image credit: Geekbench)

Geekbench includes two main sets of tools, with a CPU benchmark that tests the performance of your computer’s main processor, and a GPU benchmark for graphics performance. However, the GPU tests tend to concentrate on 2D graphics tasks, such as applying filters for photo-editing work, so it’s not necessarily the best indicator of 3D performance for gaming. Even so, Geekbench is still a useful tool for getting a general overview of your Mac’s performance, and there’s a free version that you can download from geekbench.com, as well as a Pro version that costs $99.00 for people who need to test computers on a regular basis (like TechRadar's own diligent reviewers).

3DMark For Mac

Mac gamers will probably start jumping up and down at this point, telling me that 3DMark has been available on the Mac App Store for several years. That’s true - but if you look closely at the Mac App Store, you’ll find the small print that states that this version of 3DMark was “designed for the iPad, and not verified for Mac”. It’s also pretty old, so it doesn’t include tests for the latest graphics techniques, such as ray-tracing.

However, the new version of 3DMark for Macs that we look at here is currently only available on Steam, and is specifically written to run on the latest Mac models with Apple Silicon processors. There’s a demo version of 3DMark available on Steam, which lets you run the main performance tests free of charge. The full version costs £29.50/$34.99 and includes additional features, such as the ability to adjust the screen resolution used in the various tests. And, when you buy 3DMark on Steam, a single purchase allows you to download either the Mac or PC version as required, so you don’t have to pay twice for the separate Mac and PC versions.

3DMark for macOS doesn't have the full suite of tests found on Windows, but it still has enough to make some reasonable comparisons. (Image credit: UL Solutions)

Unlike GeekBench, 3DMark focuses specifically on benchmark tests that assess your computer’s performance with 3D graphics in games. The new Mac version doesn’t include the full range of tests that are available in the PC version, but the four tests that it currently includes should give you a good overview of your Mac’s gaming performance. Scores in those tests are also directly comparable to those in the PC version of 3DMark, making it easy to compare the performance of Macs and PCs.

There are four main tests currently available for macOS, although two of them are very similar. Steel Nomad is a general-purpose test of 3D graphics performance. It’s designed to run on more powerful Macs and PCs - rather than on smartphones and tablets - so the 3D graphics scenes that it creates run at full 4K resolution. There’s also a test called Steel Nomad Light, which runs at 2560x1440 resolution, and is designed for less powerful computers, such as the MacBook Air.

3DMark gives you a performance breakdown after every test and allows you to compare scores with other users. (Image credit: UL Solutions)

There’s a similar test called WildLife Extreme, which runs at 4K but is designed for a wider range of mobile devices, so it could be a good option for comparing a high-end iPad Pro with a MacBook Pro laptop or a PC gaming laptop. However, neither the Steel Nomad nor the Wildlife Extreme tests use the ray-tracing graphics technology that is now used in many modern games, such as Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. So there’s one more test, called Solar Bay, which is specifically designed to test your Mac’s performance when using ray-tracing within games.

Ray-tracing is a technique that creates impressive and realistic lighting effects within games, but it’s very demanding and requires a pretty powerful Mac or PC. In fact, Apple only introduced ray-tracing on Macs around 18 months ago with the introduction of the M3 processor - and, of course, the current M4 as well - so Solar Bay is very much designed for the latest Macs and high-end iPad models that have M3 or M4 processors.

The good news is that most of these benchmarking tools are free to use - or at least provide a useful working demo free of charge - so it won’t cost you anything to download them and try them out.

I've already been using macOS Tahoe 26 for a month – here are 4 features that make it worth the upgrade

David Nield — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 17:20:16 +0000

You may have spotted that the public beta version of macOS Tahoe 26 is now available to install on compatible Macs, with the finished version out later this year. If you're wondering what all the fuss is about, I can tell you: I've been using the developer betas since they were first launched in June.

There are a lot of new features to dive into and explore, both in terms of the operating system overall and the individual Apple apps running on top of it. There's also a complete visual overhaul of the interface, making use of the same Liquid Glass theme being introduced on all of Apple's software platforms, including iOS 26.

You can either try the public beta now to get the new features ahead of everyone else, or wait for the full release. If you do jump in early, note that you do so at your own risk: beta software can be buggy and cause issues with third-party apps, so we wouldn't recommend it for a Mac you rely on using every day.

Spotlight gets a huge upgrade

Spotlight has a new look (Image credit: Future)

Liquid Glass looks superb

The new Liquid Glass Control Center (Image credit: Future)

Live Activities keep you updated

Live Activities will sync from your iPhone (Image credit: Apple)

Macs get even more gaming upgrades

macOS is getting another gaming upgrade (Image credit: Apple)

Now admittedly I haven't tested this out extensively – but at the beta stage of proceedings, these improvements aren't likely to be fully operational, especially considering that some tweaks will be needed on the developer side too. This is going to be well worth checking back in on as macos Tahoe 26 rolls out and gets refined.

There's also the new Games app, a central hub for launching games, checking your scores and gaming chats, and discovering new titles. It's all neatly done, and looks to be another significant improvement for gamers – with the potential to get a few more users gaming on the Mac. The same hub is going to appear for iPhones and iPads at the same time too.

Ignore the haters – Apple’s Liquid Glass theme is one of my favorite parts of macOS Tahoe

alexblake.techradar@gmail.com (Alex Blake) — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 12:30:00 +0000

If you’ve tried Apple’s macOS Tahoe developer beta – or just watched the company’s most recent Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) stream – chances are you’ve got some opinions on its new Liquid Glass redesign. The visual overhaul is coming to almost every Apple device, so love it or hate it, you’re going to have to get used to it.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg reporter and renowned Apple leaker Mark Gurman has shared some thoughts on Liquid Glass. While he was impressed with the design on iOS, he was less enamored with it elsewhere, stating that Liquid Glass is “pointless on the Apple Watch and less impressive on non-touch devices like Macs.”

It follows a previous edition of Power On, where Gurman said that Liquid Glass “isn’t very impressive on Macs” due to their lack of OLED and touchscreen capabilities. He also felt it “makes less sense on a big-screen TV.”

After my own testing, however, I disagree – I think macOS is the best platform so far for Liquid Glass, and that a larger display helps mitigate some of the main problems with the new look. To me, the implementation on macOS is much less troublesome than on iOS.

Sure, perhaps the design would look better on an OLED Mac, but since those don’t exist yet and I don’t have a standalone OLED monitor, I’m happy with how it looks. In my eyes, the best MacBooks and Macs are where Liquid Glass truly shines so far.

Objectionable overlaps

(Image credit: Apple / Future)

To understand why Liquid Glass feels right at home on a Mac, you’ve first got to understand the problems the redesign is facing on iOS.

In contrast to macOS, iOS needs to exist on much smaller screens, and that means there are far more overlapping elements in play. The Control Center, notification popups, and app folders all appear on top of other on-screen objects, where they’re forced to share space in a way they aren’t on a larger Mac display. So far, I’ve found that this overlapping often makes it difficult to read text on the screen, especially if the image behind is bright or complex.

With macOS, your larger display means there are likely to be fewer overlapping elements, helping to avoid this problem. With more space to breathe, it doesn’t really matter if the glassy effects make certain things harder to read underneath if there’s nothing below them in the first place.

The times when Liquid Glass in macOS Tahoe uses full transparency – such as when you open the Control Center – are few and far between. In most cases, you can customize the amount of transparency. In fact, Control Center is one of the few occasions where you have to use the full-on glass effect.

And even so, thanks to the Mac’s larger screen, it’s rare for this to overlap anything on the screen below. When it does overlay something, it’s less of a problem because Apple has added a drop shadow behind the Control Center, helping it stand out. It’s not perfect, but it feels less objectionable than on iOS.

At home on macOS

(Image credit: Apple)

Having more screen real estate brings other benefits. For instance, one of my favorite aspects of Liquid Glass is the transparent Dock. I keep my Dock icons solid rather than using one of the translucent options Apple provides, and that results in a set of bright, colorful icons resting on a clear glass slate. It looks beautiful, especially with macOS Tahoe's default blue background. Sure, iOS 26’s Dock can also do this, but it can only hold a handful of icons. The Dock in macOS is far larger, giving me much more eye candy to enjoy.

In other words, I get the subtle effects of Liquid Glass without having to make all of my icons transparent (and thus harder to see). I’m not a fan of the 'totally clear' effect – that’s too much glass for my liking – and using the new design tweaks in moderation really helps the Mac feel like the best place for Apple’s redesign.

And it’s not just iOS that gets trumped by the Mac’s implication of Liquid Glass – watchOS 26 does too. Take app toolbars, which have a new translucent blur effect. This works better than Liquid Glass on watchOS, where I’ve found this blur effect makes it very difficult to see certain figures in the Fitness app. I’ve not come across any such annoyances on my Mac.

(Image credit: Apple)

I’ve written before about how Liquid Glass gave me a welcome nostalgia trip to the days of the Aero theme in Windows Vista and Windows 7. After a few weeks’ usage across macOS, iOS, and watchOS, I can say that Liquid Glass’s implementation on macOS is my favorite across the platforms. Maybe I like it because it reminds me of that old Windows theme, or maybe I like it simply because it feels like it’s most at home on a Mac. Either way, it just feels a lot more natural in macOS than anywhere else.

Every year, Apple uses the beta period to make plenty of changes to its new features, and there’s no doubt Liquid Glass will see a host of adjustments between now and the full version release later in the year. That could mean it becomes a lot more viable away from macOS over the next few months, and given my frustrations with Liquid Glass in iOS and watchOS so far, I’m hoping that proves to be true.

For now, though, I’m very happy with Apple’s new look on macOS – even if it’s left me wishing for improvements everywhere else.

It’s 2025 and Apple has still not fixed this ancient Mac bug – but here’s a solution

Graham Barlow — Sat, 21 Jun 2025 12:30:00 +0000

I’ve been having this recurring problem with my MacBook Pro for ages now. Every so often the sound in my headphones will inexplicably stop playing from the left speaker.

At first I thought it was a problem with my bluetooth headphones. One of the speakers can, after all, just break for no good reason, so I switched to a wired pair, but after a few days the same problem started happening again.

I thought I was simply unlucky to get the same physical failure twice, and I was about to shell out for another pair of the best headphones when a thought struck me: lightning doesn't usually strike twice in tech problems.

Hang on, I thought, what if the problem wasn’t the headphones? What if the problem was my Mac?

On a quest

On a mission to track down the source of the issue I fired up System Preferences, hit Sound and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. In the Output tab the Balance slider had inexplicably shifted to the right.

This was odd because it wasn’t something I ever remember changing. I put it back in the centre, and reached for my original headset (which was on the way to being thrown out with the small electronic recycling), popped them on my head and hit play on Sleep Token’s incredible new album Even in Arcadia. Damn! There was absolutely nothing wrong with the headphones at all; both speakers were functioning perfectly.

I put this all down to it being my fault - human error. In my frantic keyboard tapping as I wrote articles for TechRadar I must have hit some sort of weird key combination that triggered a balance shift in audio output.

I laughed at how stupid I was for buying new headphones and thought, well at least I’ve got a backup pair now.

Life continued as normal for a couple of days until it happened again. I reset the balance to the centre point but an hour later, it happened again. At this point I realized that it wasn’t me that was doing it and something spooky was going on.

Either my Mac was haunted by a ghost who was deaf in one ear, or this must be happening to other people too. I searched Google for the problem, and I was surprised by what I found.

A decades old problem

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

If you search for “Balance drift” and “Mac”, you’ll find references to the audio balance drift problem going back years. In fact, I found them going back over ten years.

You’ll find references to the problem strewn across the internet like graffiti left on a wall by post-apocalyptic survivors: “The year is 2024 and Apple still has not fixed the audio left/right balance bug in MacOS”, or from 3 years ago, “I went into Apple the other day because I figured my one AirPod just broke. They told me the only solution was to buy new AirPods. Glad I found out about the balance issue!”, or from 5 years ago: “Why Apple hasn't fixed this is beyond me.”

The truth is that we’re in the second decade of the balance drift problem and Apple still has not done anything about it. I was stunned.

This issue seems to be caused by Bluetooth headphones in macOS, however I also experienced it with a pair of wired cans myself. The exact version of macOS you’re running doesn’t seem to matter either, and not everybody experiences the problem.

It feels like pinning down the exact cause of the drift would be a challenge for even the finest of TV’s fictional detectives, but the good news is that there is a simple solution if you find that you are affected.

The solution

You can stop balance drift happening by installing the Balance Lock app from Tunabelly Software Inc.

The description for the app reads: “Noticing that the audio balance for your headphones is going slightly to the left or right? Balance Lock was designed to solve this by keeping the audio centred either in the middle or to a custom lock point. No more annoying left/right audio drift!”

Frankly, I’m amazed that Apple hasn’t fixed this widespread problem yet, despite apps designed to fix it being available on its own App Store. If you’re experiencing the balance drift problem, don’t bin your headphones like I did, simply install this app and the problem will disappear.

The Balance Lock app is available for free on the Mac App store.

macOS Tahoe 26 finally adds a much-needed feature that means I may never use Windows 11 again

matthew.hanson@futurenet.com (Matt Hanson) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 11:53:42 +0000

At WWDC 2025, Apple showed off its upcoming macOS Tahoe 26 operating system for Macs, and amongst all the AI fluff and shiny new Liquid Glass design language, there was a relatively small addition that could have a big impact (for me, anyway): Clipboard History.

Now, I’m very lucky that in my line of work I get to try out not only the best laptops in the world, but also the best MacBooks, and while I generally love Apple’s modern range of desktops and laptops, I always find myself returning to Windows 11 for writing because of the excellent Clipboard History feature that can be brought up by pressing Windows + V, allowing you to easily browse previously copied items, rather than pasting the last thing you copied.

Since the feature was added to Windows 10, I’ve been relying on it constantly, so whenever I use a Mac, the feature’s absence in macOS meant I either had to install a third-party app to add the functionality myself, or I’d just switch back to using a Windows machine, even if that machine was otherwise worse than the Mac I was abandoning.

Pasting in the spotlight

The fact that Apple is adding the feature to macOS (as part of a major overhaul of its Spotlight app) is very exciting to me, as having it integrated properly into the operating system should make it both more flexible and convenient.

Saying Apple stole the idea from Microsoft is probably a bit strong – and I doubt Microsoft thought of this feature first – but it definitely feels like Apple was inspired by its competition. From what I’ve seen, Clipboard History in macOS Tahoe does exactly the same thing as the feature in Windows 11, and it even has the same name.

Regardless of who copied (then pasted) whom, if this allows me to work on my M4 Mac mini rather than booting into Windows 11 on an aging work laptop, then I’m going to be very happy – and it could mean my Windows 11 devices will only be touched when I want to play a game.

I’ll be looking forward to giving this new feature a go, either in the macOS Tahoe 26 public beta, which will launch in July, or when the final version is released later this year.

It’s official: your Intel Mac won’t get macOS 27, with macOS Tahoe 26 marking the end of an era

Darren Allan — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 11:29:50 +0000

It’s been confirmed that Intel Macs won’t be supported with macOS 27
Only four Mac models with Intel CPUs are supported by macOS Tahoe anyway, but that’ll be the final upgrade for those machines
Those devices will at least receive security updates for a further three years

If you’ve got a Mac with an Intel CPU, we now know that macOS Tahoe 26 is the end of the line for your device (assuming that it supports macOS 26 in the first place, and you can check that here).

TechRadar can confirm that information on Intel compatibility was provided at the WWDC Platforms State of the Union keynote, and macOS Tahoe will be the last version of Apple’s desktop OS to support any Mac with an Intel processor.

Another way of putting this is that when macOS 27 arrives next year, it will only support Macs with Apple chips inside.

However, while Intel Macs that can run macOS Tahoe 26 will be stuck with that operating system, those machines will continue to get security updates for a further three years.

Analysis: That rushed out the door feeling

(Image credit: Future)

I had an inkling this might be coming, but I wasn’t fully convinced that Apple would actually push ahead and do this – or, perhaps more to the point, exclude MacBooks from as recently as 2020 with macOS Tahoe 26. It does feel like this hardware is being shoved out of the exit door a little hastily.

In fact, only a small number of Macs with Intel CPUs are good to go with macOS Tahoe: the MacBook Pro 16-inch from 2019, MacBook Pro 13-inch from 2020 – but only the higher-end model with four ports (not the entry-level laptop with two ports) – along with the Mac Pro from 2019, and iMac 27-inch from 2020.

Those Macs may be good for now, but they won’t get macOS 27, which will likely be announced and released next year, although at least they have a guarantee of three years of security updates going forward, to protect them against vulnerabilities popping up in the operating system that might be exploited.

So, those devices will be covered for updates until late in 2029 (assuming the three years start from the release of macOS 27), which is nine or 10 years of updates in total. And to be fair, that’s in line with the coverage Microsoft has provided with Window 10, which has had a decade of support (that ends in October, of course).

Of course, that wasn’t just security updates, but also new features, although the additions made to Windows 10 have been few and far between in recent times – but they’ve still kept coming.

Microsoft is facing its own controversy with Windows 11 upgrades, though, and the steeper hardware requirements that Windows 10 users face.

Does your Mac support macOS Tahoe 26? Here’s the full list of compatible MacBooks and Macs

Darren Allan — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 19:01:54 +0000

Apple has just revealed macOS Tahoe 26 at WWDC 2025 and as well as taking the wraps off the next incarnation of its desktop OS – known as Tahoe – the company gave us the scoop on hardware compatibility.

In other words, we now know which Macs will be good to run macOS Tahoe, and which Apple laptops and computers will be left out in the cold, stuck on the current version which is macOS Sequioa.

And as you might expect, continuing the trend set last year, more of Apple’s Macs with Intel CPUs are going to be barred from entry with macOS Tahoe.

So, which Macs will be compatible with macOS 26? Here’s the full list for the various models of Apple’s computers:

MacBook Air M1 or later
MacBook Pro M1 or later
MacBook Pro 16-inch (Intel) 2019
MacBook Pro 13-inch (Intel) 2020 with four Thunderbolt 3 ports
iMac 2020 or later
Mac mini 2020 or later
Mac Pro 2019 or later
Mac Studio 2022 and later

(Image credit: Future)

Newer hardware that’s out of luck

As you might realize, this leaves some relatively new Mac hardware languishing in the land of macOS 15, never being able to make the leap to macOS 26.

Most notably, that includes some laptops from 2020. Namely the MacBook Air 2020 with an Intel CPU, and also the two-port model of the MacBook Pro 13-inch with an Intel processor. (The four-port MacBook Pro from 2020 is supported as it has a more recent Intel CPU, a 10th-gen chip as opposed to 8th-gen).

An oddity here is that the older MacBook Pro 16-inch from 2019 is actually supported by macOS Tahoe (as it has a newer 9th-gen Intel CPU), but all other models from that year are left in the lurch.

As are MacBook Pro 2018 owners, of course, and those with a Mac mini 2018 for that matter. All of those are still pretty recent machines, and none of them will be able to upgrade to macOS 26. Boo, hiss and so forth…

That doesn’t mean these Macs are suddenly rendered unusable, though. Even though Tahoe isn’t an option for them, Apple will continue to provide security updates for macOS 15 Sequoia going forward. So, it’ll remain a perfectly good operating system for as long as that happens (which should be a couple of years of updates, typically).

You just won’t get the new features that macOS 26 delivers (and you can read more about them here).

If your Mac is compatible and you want to try out macOS Tahoe 26 right now, then we show you how to download the macOS 26 Tahoe developer beta.

How to download the macOS Tahoe 26 developer beta

Darren Allan — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 18:49:21 +0000

Apple has just shown off the next version of its desktop operating system for the best MacBooks and Macs at WWDC 25, and presumably if you’ve arrived here wondering about installing macOS Tahoe 26, you were impressed by the new features that were revealed with Tahoe.

How do you go about trying macOS 26, then? Well, before you forge on towards that goal, do bear in mind that this is the developer beta, the very first airing of macOS Tahoe 26. A more refined public beta will come later, but if you’re jumping into Lake Tahoe now, you’ll need a robust tolerance for bugs, a steely level of perseverance, and maybe some armbands. In short: it won’t be an easy ride.

Neither can anyone just jump into the developer beta, which, as the name makes clear, is for developers. And, in the same name-on-the-tin vein, the public beta is for the general computing public.

So, at this stage, if you’re a developer you can get onboard. Or, if you’re an Apple enthusiast and really keen macOS user, you can sign up to be a ‘developer’ as it were. It will, however, cost you – a fairly substantial chunk of cash – and all told, you’re better off waiting for the public beta, which will arrive in July 2025. But if money is no object, here’s how you can install and then play around with macOS Tahoe 26 now.

(Image credit: Apple)

How to install the macOS 26 Tahoe beta on your Mac (developers only)

First of all, you must have a compatible Mac to install macOS Tahoe – check here to find out if your device is good to go in that respect. Also, remember that this is early beta software, so it’s not advisable to put it on your daily driver Mac. Ideally, you want to instal this on a secondary device.

Secondly, you need to be a software developer. If you are, you must be signed into your Apple Developer account: head here, and click on Account, top-right, then login.

If you don’t have a developer account, then you’ll need to create one here, signing up as an individual which requires an Apple Account (with two-factor authentication enabled). You’ll need to provide a payment method, and a developer membership costs $99 per year, so it’s hardly cheap.

Once Apple verifies you and sets up your Apple Developer membership – or if you already have one and are logged in – you can proceed to download macOS Tahoe.

Head to System Settings > General > Software Update on your Mac, and where it says ‘Beta Updates’ click the Info (i) icon on the right. In the panel that opens, along from Beta Updates, click the button on the right, where it says ‘Off’ and you’ll get a list of options. Choose the macOS Tahoe Developer Beta from that list, click Done, and then click Upgrade Now.

That’s it – the upgrade will go ahead, and you’ll be immersing yourself in the hopefully not too turbulent waters of Lake Tahoe. (And yes, it does sound like an Intel processor rather than a piece of Apple software – ironically, given that macOS 26 does away with support for a fair few more Macs that have Team Blue’s CPUs inside).

macOS Tahoe 26 announced at WWDC 2025 with a new look and new numbering scheme: these are the best features for your new Mac or MacBook

matthew.hanson@futurenet.com (Matt Hanson) — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 17:57:06 +0000

Apple has announced the latest version of macOS at WWDC 2025, its yearly developer conference.

According to Apple, the new version of macOS Tahoe 26, the operating system used by MacBooks and Macs, is coming later this year, but before then an early beta version has been made available for developers to help ensure their apps work well with the new operating system. We show you how to download the macOS Tahoe 26 developer beta if you want to give it an early try.

After that, Apple will launch a public beta that allows anyone with a compatible Mac to test out the operating system - though you should only do this with the understanding that this is an early version of the software and could lack features and could include bugs (after all, the reason for releasing a beta version is for people to help test out the software and highlight problems).

As usual, macOS Tahoe 26 will be a free update for everyone with a compatible Mac or MacBook, so for most people I recommend holding on tight for the official launch around October or November, as by that point most, if not all, of the bugs and issues found in the beta version will have been fixed.

Until then, read on for all the info we know about macOS Tahoe 26 so far, plus the new features we're most excited about.

(Image credit: Apple)

Cut to the chase

What is it? The latest operating system for Macs and MacBooks
How much is it? As usual, it's free for compatible Macs
When is it out? Developer Beta out now, public Beta out in July 2025, final release autumn 2025

What Macs and MacBooks are compatible with macOS Tahoe 26?

These are the all the Mac and MacBook devices that will be able to run macOS Tahoe 26 according to Apple:

MacBook Air M1 or later

MacBook Pro 16-inch 2019 or later

MacBook Pro 2020 or later

MacBook Pro 13-inch 2020 with four Thunderbolt 3 ports

iMac 2020 or later

Mac mini 2020 or later

Mac Pro 2019 or later

Mac Studio 2022 and later

(Image credit: Apple)

A new look

The rumors were right - Apple has overhauled the look of macOS (as with its other operating systems), with a unified design language which means that macOS, iPadOS and iOS will look similar.

Known as 'Liquid Glass', this part of the user interface doesn't just look good, it reacts depending on the task you're performing.

The Dock, sidebar and toolbars of macOS 26 Tahoe have been redesigned, with the menu bar now completely transparent. The idea behind this appears to be to make the user interface blend into the background, giving prominence to whatever you're working on on the screen.

App icons have also been given a new look to fit in the the Liquid Glass design, and these will also change depending on if you're using the light or dark macOS theme.

Apple is also expanding on the customization options of macOS 26 Tahoe, so it should be even easier to make the operating system suit your style.

(Image credit: Apple)

A new numbering convention

At WWDC, Apple announced the official name for the latest macOS: Tahoe. Once again, based on a landmark in Apple's native California.

More surprisingly (if you weren't keeping up with the rumors), Apple also confirmed that there will be a new numbering scheme for macOS and its other operating systems. Instead numbering according to version (the current version is macOS 15), it will now be based on year, so there will be no macOS 16, but macOS 26, as well as iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and more.

This is quite a change, but it shows how serious Apple is about making all of its operating systems feel like they are parts of the same ecosystem.

Spotlight in the... spotlight...

Spotlight has been a key part of macOS for ages, allowing you to find and open up applications that you've installed. At WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that macOS Tahoe 26 will feature the 'biggest update ever' to Spotlight, with all search results across apps, files, folders, messages and more are all listed together and 'ranked intelligently based on relevance to the user.'

Advanced filter controls should help you narrow down your results, and Spotlight will also be able to search for files stored on third-party cloud drives, such as Google Drive or OneDrive.

You'll also be able to perform actions straight from Spotlight - so you can send an email, play a media file and more without having to open the app first. These can also be used via keyboard shortcuts, and according to Apple, Spotlight will learn from how you use your Mac, and will offer you personalized actions for tasks you perform often. The example Apple gives is quickly sending a message to someone you regularly talk to.

Live translation

As you might expect, Apple has put plenty of AI features into macOS Tahoe 26, and perhaps the most interesting (and useful) is Live Translation, which will automatically translate messages depending on the language of the person you're talking to (and their reply will be translated for you).

During FaceTime calls, live captions will also be shown, and if you're old school and still use the Phone app, you can see a translation of what they are talking about - and all of this is done on-device so conversations remain private.

(Image credit: Apple)

Make calls from the Phone app direct from macOS Tahoe 26

A running theme of WWDC 2025 seems to be making Apple's ecosystem of devices work better together, and with Continuity, the app that allows you to access your iPhone through your Mac, you can now use the Phone app to answer phone calls on your Mac, rather than having to pull out your iPhone out of your pocket.

The Phone app in macOS 26 is designed to be instantly familiar to iPhone users, and you'll be able to access recent calls, favorite contacts and your voicemails - plus handy features like Call Screening and Hold Assist.

(Image credit: Apple)

If someone from an unknown phone number rings, Call Screening will answer the call and ask for information, letting you decide whether or not to answer the call.

If you are put on hold, Hold Assist will save your spot in line, so you can work on your Mac until your turn comes up. Handy!

(Image credit: Apple)

Mac gaming gets better with Apple Games app

Gaming on a Mac is no longer the joke it used to be thanks to a steady stream of AAA games coming to macOS, and with macOS Tahoe 26, it looks like gaming could get even better.

A new app, called Apple Games, will act as a launcher for all of your games, as well as highlight new games that suit your tastes. It's not clear if this app will only show games you've bought and installed from Apple's App Store, or if you'll be able to add games from other services, such as Steam. Hopefully it'll be the latter.

A Game Overlay, familiar to PC gamers using Windows 11 and Steam, is also included with the Apple Games app, and will allow you to quickly change your settings and chat with friends without leaving the game.

A new Low Power Mode should also make playing games on a MacBook less demanding of the battery, so you should be able to play unplugged for longer - though I hope it doesn't have too much of an impact on game performance.

Most Intel MacBook Pro laptops could miss out on macOS 26 according to new rumor – will future updates be Apple silicon only?

Darren Allan — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 11:55:49 +0000

There’s a new rumor about which Macs are compatible with macOS 26
In theory, the lower-end models of the MacBook Pro 13-inch from 2020 are ruled out
Logically, this also means that MacBook Pro models from 2019 won’t be compatible, either – though there could be an exception in that regard

The latest from the rumor mill on compatibility with the next version of macOS is tentatively ruling out a surprisingly new Mac with an Intel chip, a MacBook Pro from 2020 to be precise.

A fresh list of compatible Macs for what’s supposedly macOS Tahoe (or macOS 26) comes from a private source on X that 9to5Mac flagged up. The tech site notes that it’s keeping the account anonymous, which is fair enough, but that it’s a trustworthy source that “regularly shares accurate information” on Apple’s software plans.

The list of Macs that are 'good to go' with macOS Tahoe echoes the previously leaked one, lending more weight to that, but it adds another laptop: Apple’s MacBook Pro 13-inch from 2020, the entry-level model with just two Thunderbolt ports rather than four. (And there are potentially more MacBook Pro models left out in the cold here, by logical extension, and I’ll come back to that point shortly).

However, the source doesn’t sound fully convinced about what they’ve heard, adding that they “don’t quite believe it” as 9 to 5 Mac notes.

So, assuming this is true, we have a slightly revised list of Macs that are going to be compatible with macOS 26 (apply some seasoning now):

MacBook Air M1 or later
MacBook Pro (2020, 4 port model) or later
iMac 2020 or later
Mac mini M1 or later
Mac Pro 2019 or later
Mac Studio all models

If this pans out, it isn’t difficult to imagine that the following incarnation of macOS that lands in 2026 might only support Apple silicon.

Analysis: Some tricky compatibility wrinkles?

(Image credit: Future)

Previously the thinking was that only those with a MacBook Pro 2018 wouldn’t be dealt into the hand for macOS Tahoe, but it seems much newer models could be out of luck for support here.

Okay, so that does feel rather unlikely, which is why the source indicates their own skepticism about what they’ve been told. But still, there is some sound logic at play here, as 9 to 5 Mac points out. This lower-end two-port model of the MacBook Pro 2020 was equipped with an older CPU than the four-port version, an Intel 8th-gen (Coffee Lake) chip, compared to a 10th-gen (Ice Lake) processor.

So, that might potentially be a key difference in the compatibility stakes. With the MacBook Pro 2019 using 8th-gen CPUs, too, that’ll theoretically be ruled out too, although there’s an exception in the 16-inch spin of the 2019 laptop crop which packed a 9th-gen chip.

However, if Apple is going to cut off access to a MacBook Pro 2020 model (with 8th-gen CPU), then it’d maybe seem a little odd to cater to one of the 2019 flavors before it. Granted, we could end up in a situation where Apple caveats that the MacBook Pro 2019 16-inch model is okay. However, it just seems cleaner in the scenario where Apple rules out the potentially problematic MacBook Pro 2020 model, that it’d also simply cut out everything before it.

This rumor might be barking up the wrong compatibility tree completely, mind you, and the previous speculation could be correct. We’ll find out soon enough, later today in fact, when Apple will take the wraps off what should be macOS Tahoe at WWDC 25.

macOS Tahoe 26 is official: here’s everything we know about the release date, compatibility and all the new features

Darren Allan — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 16:51:18 +0000

Apple officially revealed macOS Tahoe 26 at WWDC 25 and as expected, we were treated to an all-new look for this latest version of the desktop operating system – and a lot more besides.

But what are the new features coming with macOS Tahoe? And when will the OS be out? Indeed, you may be wondering whether your model of Mac will be compatible with the next incarnation of Apple’s OS. Read on to find out everything you need to know about macOS Tahoe 26.

macOS 26: release date

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple typically deploys its new version of macOS in September or October, so we can likely expect macOS Tahoe 26 to roll out to Macs around that time.

Before that, we will see the release of a developer beta (which should be imminent), and later, a public beta, for testing macOS Tahoe as the year rolls onwards.

Remember, though, that pre-release software is often a rollercoaster ride of glitches and potentially show-stopping bugs, so it’s not for the faint-hearted. Most folks will want to wait for the full release of macOS Tahoe.

macOS 26: Compatibility

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Want to know if your Mac will be compatible with macOS Tahoe 26? Here’s the full list of Macs that’ll be able to run the operating system:

MacBook Air M1 or later
MacBook Pro M1 or later
MacBook Pro 16-inch 2019
MacBook Pro 13-inch 2020 with four Thunderbolt 3 ports
iMac 2020 or later
Mac mini 2020 or later
Mac Pro 2019 or later
Mac Studio 2022 and later

macOS 26: New features

(Image credit: Apple)

1. An all-new look

One of the most insistent rumors was that Apple’s desktop OS is getting a visual overhaul, and that is indeed the case: macOS Tahoe uses the ‘Liquid Glass’ design language. Get ready for translucency aplenty across the interface, a refined dock and toolbars, and a transparent menu bar which allows for the desktop to feel a bit larger.

Apple is offering more ways to customize the interface in macOS 26, too. You can tailor what controls are present in the menu bar and Control Center, tinker with the layout, and add controls for your favorite apps. A greater level of personalization is also being ushered in with moves such as allowing the user to change the color of folders, and add a symbol (or emoji) to those folders to make them more readily identifiable.

It looks to be a substantial makeover, and the emphasis on clean lines, greater levels of customization, and adding more personality with the likes of jazzing up folders all seems very promising.

(Image credit: Apple)

2. Under the Spotlight

Spotlight is the system-wide search feature which hasn’t got much love in recent times, but Apple is changing that with macOS 26. It’s being powered up with AI so that it surfaces results that are ranked more intelligently, we’re told, based on relevance to the user. Spotlight also pops up filtering options to allow you to swiftly whittle down search results, too.

With macOS Tahoe, it can be used to search within apps for features, and the more you use it, the more Spotlight acclimatizes to your workflow and typical usage patterns to make more relevant suggestions. Overall, this looks like a big step forwards for Spotlight.

(Image credit: Apple)

3. Continuity continued

Apple is bringing new Continuity features to macOS Tahoe, with the big move here being the introduction of the Phone app to the Mac. You’ll be able to make or take calls, access voicemail, and benefit from the new features on iPhone as well, such as Call Screening or Hold Assist.

Tighter integration is also present with Live Activities from the Mac owner’s iPhone popping up in the menu bar on macOS. Clicking a Live Activity will open the relevant app via iPhone Mirroring, and it all looks very neat and convenient.

(Image credit: Apple)

4. More AI (of course)

It’s no surprise that Apple is adding more AI to macOS 26, as well as juicing up Spotlight which we’ve already discussed.

The Shortcuts app is getting fresh AI abilities, and that incudes summarizing text using Writing Tools, and image generation via Image Playground. Furthermore, Mac users will be able to access Apple Intelligence models (on-device, or in the cloud) to use as part of their shortcuts. Shortcuts can also be cued up to run at a certain time of day, or when completing a specific action like connecting an external monitor.

AI is also set to drive Live Translation in the Messages app, translating text into another language as you type it (and vice versa for replies). FaceTime will benefit from translated live captions, and calls in the Phone app can be translated, too.

There are some further minor trimmings here, including macOS 26 providing new ways to create Genmoji.

(Image credit: Apple)

5. Apple Games

There’s a new dedicated app for gamers with macOS Tahoe, imaginatively named Apple Games. It acts as a hub for your Mac gaming activities, allowing you to jump back into titles you’ve been recently playing.

There’s a Game Overlay that allows you to quickly adjust settings (volume, brightness), chat with friends, send invites to them and so forth. A new Low Power Mode is present for MacBooks to give them better battery life when gaming, too.

On the developer side, Metal 4 arrives with macOS 26, ushering in new tech including MetalFX Frame Interpolation (for faster frame rates) and Denoising.

(Image credit: Apple)

6. Additional accessibility features

Apple has brought in new accessibility functionality with macOS Tahoe, including Magnifier for Mac. This leverages your iPhone (or a USB camera) to be able to zoom in to, say, a distant whiteboard, and present the writing on the board to the user on their Mac’s screen – seriously nifty stuff for those who are vision-impaired.

In a similar vein, Accessibility Reader can take images of book pages and show them on the Mac display, allowing for zooming, or changing fonts or colors to make things clearer. There’s also a new Braille Access experience providing an interface for those using a connected braille display, and Vehicle Motion Cues, a feature to help combat motion sickness when on, say, a long car journey.

Apple might be close to launching a dedicated hub for gaming on the Mac, iPhone, and iPad

jacob.krol@futurenet.com (Jacob Krol) — Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Apple might push further into gaming with a dedicated hub on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV 4K
It'll be a showcase for new titles available directly for the platforms and through Apple Arcade.
It's rumored to be announced at WWDC 2025, right after the Nintendo Switch 2 launches

Between Apple Arcade on the iPhone and iPad, as well as the resurgence of game support on the Mac since the debut of Apple Silicon, the Cupertino-based tech giant is eager to drive the growth of gaming across its various platforms. The adage that you can game on the Mac has extended to nearly all its other platforms aside from the Apple Watch.

Now, a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman indicates that a dedicated app for video games will be announced soon for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV 4K streaming box.

The report teases that it’ll arrive later in 2025 and that it will serve as a one-stop shop for gaming on these devices, offering easy access to the games themselves as well as “in-game achievements, leaderboards, communications, and other activity.”

(Image credit: Future)

The hub will serve as a home for Apple Arcade titles, Apple’s $ 6.99-per-month service offering a variety of mostly family-friendly games. These titles will reside in this new app alongside editorial content, likely from the same team that supports the App Store, and it will replace Game Center.

The latter has been a social network feature for game titles on the iPhone for quite some time, but never as a standalone app – instead, it would flash when you first open a game that supports it, or be accessible when you look for leaderboards.

Considering the Mac is included as a platform, and this dedicated gaming app is supposedly being developed for it, it aligns with Apple’s broader push for the various Macs on the market to be seen as powerful gaming devices. Baldur’s Gate 3, Lies of P, Resident Evil 4, and Death Stranding, among many others, are some AAA titles that have launched for Apple Silicon, and Cyberpunk 2077 will eventually arrive.

Given that the report states this dedicated app will also integrate with the Mac App Store, where many of these titles are sold, Apple could be positioning this as an alternative to Steam, making gaming more prominent and accessible on macOS.

The report also describes “a Mac version of the app that can tap into games downloaded outside of the App Store” – a move that could appeal to gamers, developers, and publishers alike.

It’ll be interesting to see if this dedicated app for these platforms arrives with a notable expansion of titles for Apple Arcade or some other bolstered features for the streaming services.

Maybe, it’ll be the first time a AAA title gets bundled in, or rather, it’ll be announced alongside some other major titles launching on the Mac. A day and date release with other consoles has become more common, but it’s clear that more work needs to be done to get more games launching on the Mac and more people playing.

The same could be said for the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, and even the Vision Pro – though the latter platform, visionOS, isn’t mentioned in the report as getting this dedicated app.

(Image credit: Apple/Future)

Bloomberg reports that while the gaming app will be announced at Apple’s 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference – set to kick off on June 9, 2025 – it won’t ship until September 2025, alongside the next version of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Of course, these dates slip and Apple’s plan could change, so we’ll need to track WWDC to see what comes to fruition.

The timing of this report and the rumored announcement at WWDC 2025 places it right before and immediately after the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, which is scheduled for June 5, 2025.

It won’t be the only announcement that day, though. We’re already expecting iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 as well as the next generation of visionOS, macOS, and tvOS. This report also promises a new AI-powered battery tool to help stretch runtimes, new health capabilities, a redesigned Translate app, and, maybe most exciting, a live translation feature for AirPods. The latter would continue Apple’s tradition of rolling out significant software updates and features for its earbuds at no additional cost.

If you’re keen for this dedicated gaming app or new platforms, the good news is that the opening keynote for WWDC 2025 is only 13 days away.

A secret project, a stubborn developer, and a lot of glossy icons: here's the story behind macOS’s Dock as it turns 25

Kristina Terech — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 19:32:54 +0000

The macOS Dock debuted 25 years ago, becoming an iconic and user-friendly design feature
Developer James Thomson shaped the Dock’s origins, drawing inspiration from his DragThing app
The Dock inspired industry-wide innovations, shaping Microsoft’s taskbar and modern desktop interfaces

If you’ve ever used a Mac, you can’t have failed to notice the row of app icons that runs along the bottom of the screen.

As every regular macOS user knows, this is the Dock, a now iconic (although pretty subtle) feature that keeps essential apps at the ready, just a click away, as well as any you want to add - and it’s now officially 25 years old. It’s become a core element that macOS users have come to expect in every new edition of the operating system, and it has an interesting backstory.

The Dock's origin story goes something like this: Back in the late 1990s, Apple was building a new operating system, Mac OS X, to replace its older system, Mac OS 9. One of the standout features was the Dock, which was introduced in Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah. The Dock didn’t always look the way it does now; at first, it was just a row of plain square icons. The polished, glossy design we recognize today came later, thanks to a designer’s prototype, and it was Apple developer James Thomson’s job to turn those ideas into real, working code.

James Thomson is known for creating a popular calculator app called PCalc and he had also previously designed a Mac app called DragThing. This app worked like an early version of the Dock, letting users keep shortcuts to apps and files visible and more easily accessible on their desktops. It was actually his work on DragThing that landed him a job at Apple, where he was asked to help build the Dock.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

From Ireland to iconic

The project, code-named “Überbar,” was top secret. Thomson recalls in musings on his blog about strict measures to keep things under wraps, including rumors that leaked screenshots could be traced back to specific computers.

Thomson lived in Ireland while working for Apple, but Steve Jobs apparently wasn’t thrilled about a key developer being so far from the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California (where Apple still resides today). Jobs insisted that Thomson relocate permanently to the U.S. — or else. Thomson refused and ultimately quit his job before the Mac OS X Dock was completed. Another engineer rewrote it for the final release of Mac OS X.

Even though Thomson didn’t stay at Apple, the experience helped him revive DragThing for Mac OS X, and PCalc continues to thrive today. The Dock, of course, has become a signature feature of macOS, and it’s a testament to how simple, user-friendly design can stand the test of time.

How macOS set the stage for modern interface design

The macOS Dock significantly influenced the design evolution of Microsoft’s taskbar, particularly with the introduction of Windows 7 in 2009. Before this, the Windows taskbar was primarily a space for open program windows and the Start button (which itself turns 31 this year!), but Apple’s Dock demonstrated how combining app shortcuts with live, interactive icons could make using an operating system easier and more intuitive.

Inspired by the Dock’s ability to merge app launching and multitasking, Microsoft revamped the taskbar in Windows 7 to include pinned apps, allowing users to keep frequently used programs accessible at all times - a feature that still exists in Windows 11 today, and is unlikely to go anywhere anytime soon.

For all the (well-documented) failings of Windows 7, this shift not only modernized Windows’ interface but also showcased how innovation by one company can drive user-centric design improvements that everyone in the industry adopts. After all, the interface of virtually every Android phone on the market today is very clearly ‘inspired’ by the original iPhone’s tile-based UI - because it just works.

The macOS Dock’s 25-year journey is a testament to how thoughtful design can leave a lasting mark, not just on its own platform but across the wider tech landscape. From influencing Microsoft’s taskbar to shaping how we interact with our devices daily, the Dock remains an iconic piece of digital history. As technology continues to evolve, I’m excited to see how companies, including Apple, build on these foundations, creating new features that redefine how we interact with our devices and the software on them for years to come.

If you’re interested in learning more about how the Dock was developed, I would really recommend reading James Thomson’s retellings on his blog.

Essential apps and features to start getting the most out of your brand-new Mac

Kristina Terech — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 23:00:00 +0000

You might have just gotten a brand-new Mac or MacBook and might be wondering what apps to get first.

Of course, it depends on what you want to use your PC for as you can then get specific apps for that purpose.

But with that in mind, I’ll list off some essential apps, along with some superb already built-in macOS features, I’d recommend in general to most users for a new macOS device.

1. Internet browser

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

A browser is a fundamental part of an operating system and has a million uses, and Apple has a few to choose from. Here are some common favorites for Mac users:

Safari: This is Apple’s default browser that comes pre-installed on Macs and it’s designed and optimized for these devices. It syncs seamlessly across all of your Apple devices, is designed to better protect your privacy, lets you make Apple Pay payments easily and securely, and is fairly lightweight so as not to slow down your device.
Google Chrome: This is the most popular browser in the world as it’s intuitively designed, allowing for customization but isn't too complicated. It’s optimized to integrate Google services and to facilitate Google’s productivity apps like Google Docs, and you can sync it and your browser details across devices. That said, it’s infamously a bit bulky and could slow down your device’s performance, and it has had privacy issues in the past.
Mozilla Firefox: This is a privacy-focused browser with a huge library of available add-ons and customization options. It also supports cross-device sync like the above two, but it does have slightly fewer available features in comparison.

2. Productivity and document management:

(Image credit: Android Central)

This is another pretty core functionality of an operating system and again you’ve got a couple of choices in what most macOS users prefer besides Apple’s own Apple’s iWork Suite (Pages, Numbers, Keynote):

Google Drive and Docs/Sheets/Slides: These apps are part of Google’s productivity suite that allows you to work across multiple devices and easily collaborate with others using tools for tasks like word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. You can access these through your browser or through dedicated macOS apps which you can get in the App Store.
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint): These apps are modern classics for creating, editing, and managing documents spreadsheets, and presentations. For macOS users, the native apps offer rich features and excellent integration with macOS functionality, including full offline access, but you will need one of Microsoft’s plans for full access. There is the option of using Microsoft web apps online which should be accessible via most browsers.

3. Cloud storage and backup:

(Image credit: Google and Dropbox)

While your device might be brand new and not have any files on it you’d like to save, you might think “I’ll figure out securing my files later.” Take it from me, you’ll want to have a backup plan in place. Even if you don’t end up backing up your whole device and every file, you can still backup files you definitely don’t want to lose. Here are some services that Mac users often use as cloud storage options and on-device features:

iCloud Drive: A cloud service run by Apple that syncs across multiple devices and allows you to store and access your files remotely. You get 5GB for free and if you want more, you’ll need to consider one of Apple’s paid plans.
Dropbox/Google Drive/OneDrive: These cloud storage services are not made by Apple but are also pretty popular. They typically offer a small amount of free storage, with additional storage available through a paid subscription. With Dropbox account, you get 2GB for free, with a Google Account, you get 15GB for free, and with OneDrive, you get 5GB for free.
Time Machine: This is a built-in backup feature on macOS that can automatically save copies of your files, including apps, documents, and system files, to an external drive or online storage. It allows you to easily restore your data or recover previous versions of files when needed.

4. A few other features and apps you might want to consider:

(Image credit: Intego)

Protection for your Mac: Most of the time, especially if you’re careful and sensible about what you view and where you visit online, you shouldn’t find yourself dealing with anything too nasty. If you are worried about this, however, many Mac users rave about Intego Mac Internet Security which costs $39.99 for the first year (although you can sometimes catch it at a discount), and Malwarebytes which you can download and use for free (although there is also a paid version).
Setting up AirDrop: This is Apple’s built-in service that allows you to instantly share files across your Apple devices that are close to one another.
System Preferences > Accessibility: Here, you’ll find a bunch of settings that let you modify your Mac’s user interface to make it work best for you. It has tools like VoiceOver, Zoom, and lets you make tweaks to your Display.
Control Center and Widgets: The Control Center is a centralized menu that provides quick access to system settings and controls, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, sound, brightness, and many others. It allows you to adjust these settings directly without needing to open separate apps or menus.

Widgets are small, customizable tools that display real-time information, like weather, calendar events, stock updates, and reminders. They are accessible from the Notification Center and they can also be pinned to your desktop for quick reference.

And there you have some of my top suggestions for where you can start when it comes to setting up your brand-new Mac device to get the most out of it. This is by no means an exhaustive list of apps and features you can configure and install, but this will help you get started and start being getting familiar with macOS.

It looks like macOS Sequoia 15.2 update breaks third-party bootable backups - and that has me worried

Kristina Terech — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:57:51 +0000

macOS Sequoia 15.2 impacts third-party apps, complicating full-drive backups and bootable recovery options
Apple pushes Time Machine, limiting third-party backup tools, citing privacy and security concerns but frustrating users
SuperDuper! developer hopes for a fix, but delays suggest Apple’s control strategy may persist

The latest publicly available version of macOS 15.2 appears to have introduced changes that prevent certain third-party apps (apps not developed by Apple or by a company directly affiliated with Apple), such as SuperDuper!, from creating bootable backups.

A bootable backup is a complete copy of your system’s hard drive on a separate, external hard drive, which can be used to load the operating system if the main hard drive gets damaged - essentially, it’s a way to make sure you can start your computer and have your files and data in the case of an internal PC failure or system corruption.

SuperDuper! is a macOS backup and disk copying app developed by Shirt Pocket Software, which (generally) would enable you to create bootable backups of your Mac’s hard drive. Its developer, Dave Nanian, described in a recent blog post that Apple’s release of macOS Sequoia 15.2 changed a feature called Replicator (which Apple controls and SuperDuper relies on) which has led to unwanted consequences for the SuperDuper! App. Unfortunately, SuperDuper! now fails during the final stages when you attempt to make a backup of a Mac.

In an understandably frustrated and disappointed tone, Nanian writes, “this new bug means, on most systems, there's no fix. It just fails.”

While it appears that you can still back up your files and data, like photos and documents, with SuperDuper!, when it comes to copying the entire macOS drive itself so you can quickly boot it up from an external drive, you’ll likely run into trouble with Sequoia 15.2.

(Image credit: Shirt Pocket Watch)

What this means for Mac users going forward

Apple has notoriously made it harder to create bootable backups in the last few years, citing privacy and security concerns. With macOS Sequoia 15.2, this might not just be a bug, but a deliberate step to phase out third-party tools for this purpose altogether. This would be pretty in character for Apple, which has a habit of keeping a tight grip on how macOS is installed and configured on its devices.

This means if you want to create a backup of your Mac (which I’d recommend doing before your internal drive fails, from personal experience), you’ll have to use Time Machine. Time Machine is Apple’s own built-in backup feature that backs up your files, including apps, music, photos, email, and documents, allowing you to restore your Mac to a previous state if needed.

Nanian, however, does reference the founder of another popular third-party Mac backup tool, Carbon Copy Cloner, who warned that newer Apple silicon Macs have a security feature called Signed System Volume (SSV) that might make it harder to back up macOS installations reliably. If the SSV gets damaged or corrupted, your Mac won’t boot, even if you have an external bootable drive ready to go, leaving users with fewer options to recover their Macs quickly.

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Proxima Studio)

Hopes for the future (if Apple cares to listen)

Nanian expresses hope that Apple will fix this Replicator-related issue in a future update, but as it’s the holiday season and nearly the end of the year, it’ll probably be after that. However, AppleInsider speculates that this is Apple’s way of exercising control and permanently closing the door on third-party bootable backups. This is disappointing to me because I personally made multiple Time Machine backups of a macOS drive in the past, none of which worked, and I had to rely on a third-party app to restore my files.

Backing up your data is very important, and if you rely on external hard drives as a safety net you might have to do some serious rethinking of your backup strategy. Apple itself doesn’t recommend using a bootable drive as your general backup method.

I get that privacy and security are priorities for people, but not losing all of your data and files is also a pretty big concern for many. I hope Apple either makes Time Machine a consistently reliable backup feature or makes it possible for third-party apps to make bootable drives again. Apple might not like it, but it’s the right thing to do for its customers.

Planning to buy Apple’s new USB-C Magic accessories? Make sure you’re running macOS Sequoia 15.1 first

Isaiah Williams — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 17:01:35 +0000

Apple’s big reveal of M4 Macs this week came with the introduction of the manufacturer’s new peripherals: the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard, with USB-C replacing the previous Lightning charging ports - but they currently only work properly with macOS Sequoia 15.1.

This means if you’re still on macOS Sonoma (Sequoia’s predecessor), Ventura, or any older version of the OS, the new Mac accessories will not fully work as intended. The issues were spotted by users in MacRumors’ forums, which include claims of the Magic Mouse having scrolling issues, along with the Magic Keyboard’s Touch ID and function keys not working.

While it may come as a surprise to see Sonoma and Ventura’s compatibility for the peripherals seemingly left out (after all, even Ventura is no more than two years old), it’s also a shock to see that the macOS Sequoia 15.2 beta has the same issues - it’s important to note that Apple will likely add full support for the new peripherals later on, but this certainly isn’t a given for the previous macOS versions.

(Image credit: Ilona Kozhevnikova/Shutterstock)

Will macOS Sonoma and Ventura have full support for the USB-C accessories?

Considering the omission of Wi-Fi 7 on M4 Macs (much to our surprise), this could be yet another strange decision from Apple, if the older OS versions remain partially incompatible with the new peripherals. The positive news is that at the very least, the Magic Keyboard maintains a standard level of functionality - though frankly, this still isn’t good enough for products that are so expensive.

As for the Magic Mouse, the main issue is the total inability to scroll - perhaps the biggest blunder from Apple this week, since that's one of the most basic functions a mouse should have. While it might be easy for most users to just upgrade to macOS Sequoia, this feels all too familiar to Microsoft Windows and its frequently-forced updates.

There is a chance that this is a temporary matter with the issues potentially being investigated already, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Apple ignore previous macOS versions in an attempt to push users over to Sequoia - let’s hope that’s not the case, since some users on work systems might not have that option.

How to fix the macOS Sequoia pop-up issue

allisa.james@futurenet.com (Allisa James) — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Recently, Mac device owners with the macOS Sequoia installed have been experiencing a massive amount of pop-ups concerning app permissions. While keeping consumers informed is good, the excessive amount is quite a nuisance. As such, one particular app developer created Amnesia.

Amnesia is a tool that, when downloaded and installed, lets you turn off those pesky reminders for app permissions for Screen Capture Access on a monthly basis. It's a great holdover until Apple fixes the issue itself, which it is stated to be working on as of now.

Steps for how to fix the macOS Sequoia pop-up issue

Pay what you want for the Amnesia app
Download and install the app
It will adjust the app permissions

Tools & requirements

A Mac device
macOS Sequioa OS installed
The Amnesia app

Step by step guide

1. Purchase and download the Amnesia app

Go to the Amnesia website which has the app available for download. You can pay any price you want but you must enter at least one (1) Euros (€).

Once your payment goes through, you can immediately download the app on your Mac device.

2. Install and use the app

Click on the .zip file, then the Amnesia file, and install the app on your Mac device as normal.

Once installed, you simply change permissions for each Screen Capture app that needs to be modified.

The app changes the .plist file for the Screen Capture access feature. This basically rewrites app permissions to always allow access to screen and audio, stopping the pop-ups.

Final thoughts

There is another way to stop the pop-ups regarding app permissions, however, it's much riskier and requires a lot more programming knowledge than the average reader.

According to instructions from Jeff Johnson (Stop The Madness), you first need to change the .plist file that's in charge of prompt dates:

defaults read ~/Library/Group\ Containers/group.com.apple.replayd/ScreenCaptureApprovals.plist

As it's protected by TCC, you'll need to give Full Disk Access to the Terminal app first:

{
"/Applications/Shottr.app/Contents/MacOS/Shottr" = "2024-09-21 12:40:36 +0000";
}

From there, you're manually changing the date in the .plist file to something like the year 3024:

defaults write ~/Library/Group\ Containers/group.com.apple.replayd/ScreenCaptureApprovals.plist "/Applications/Shottr.app/Contents/MacOS/Shottr" -date "3024-09-21 12:40:36 +0000"

As a warning, this requires full and thorough knowledge of how .plist files work. If you don't have such knowledge, do not modify anything in your Mac and just use the Amnesia app instead.

Having issues with macOS Sequoia pop-ups? Apple is working on it but there’s a fix now

allisa.james@futurenet.com (Allisa James) — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 22:51:41 +0000

Apple’s latest OS, macOS Sequoia, has been out for about a month now, and users are already complaining about a certain feature that has become a persistent nuisance for users.

In order to protect users' privacy, the OS has been displaying popups about app permissions. While this is a great way to inform and then remind users of their rights, the problem arises when these popups are constantly and excessively appearing on screen.

There have been complaints concerning this issue, including one from Vercel CEO Guillermo Rauch, posted to his X (formerly Twitter) account.

There’s also a Reddit thread about the issue with the original post stating: “It's only been a day and I'm feeling completely overloaded by the number of pop-ups in macOS Sequoia. Seriously it's starting to feel like using Windows all over again with the amount of ‘Are you sure you want to allow application access to your local network? It might be dangerous!’”

It seems that Apple is planning on addressing this issue soon with update macOS Sequoia 15.1, using both Apple Intelligence and making the notifications less intrusive by marking apps as ‘trusted.’

However, if you can’t wait for this update and need a fix now, there’s currently another workaround. The recently created app called Amnesia lets you turn off the monthly reminders for Screen Capture Access on an app-by-app basis. And instead of paying a fixed price or subscription, you can simply donate what you want.

macOS Sequoia has plenty of problems

This isn’t the first time users have run into issues with macOS Sequoia either. Just recently, there was a feature-breaking security bug that created trouble with multiple security products including enterprise solutions like CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, and Microsoft Defender. And this issue is still affecting Mac VPNs like ExpressVPN.

Some Sequoia users also experienced USB connectivity issues. When plugging USB sticks or chargers into the Mac’s ports, the system doesn’t detect them right away. Sometimes they’re taking a considerable time to connect, and sometimes the OS isn’t finding them at all. However, the issue doesn’t seem to be too widespread which is most likely why Apple hasn’t commented on the matter as of now.

In fact, we even created a guide on how to fix the most common issues that users have been encountering like installing the OS in the first place, Bluetooth bugs, Touch Bar not working, and buggy browsers.

With the multitude of issues being found in such a short timeframe, it seems that the best option is simply to hold off on installing Sequoia until the issue is addressed. After all, that’s what Windows users have learned to do thanks to the OS suffering similar issues after every new OS version.

Apple claims to have found a balance between user privacy and convenience with a tweak in macOS Sequoia: “fewer permission alerts” for screen recording

Rosario Blue — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 15:43:44 +0000

If you rely on screen recording tools, Apple’s macOS Sequoia 15.1 update could have some good news for you: fewer permission pop-ups. One of Apple’s key goals with Sequoia was to strengthen security and privacy for its users. Unfortunately, these protective measures felt a little too like an overbearing, over-worrying parent.

Early Sequoia beta testers were effectively being made to reauthorize screen recording apps on a weekly basis, which quickly became irritating for many users. Just before the launch of Sequoia, Apple addressed this by making the requests monthly instead. Now, Apple is reportedly taking it down a further notch.

The reminders serve an important role: ensuring users are aware of the real risks of screen recording – if an app can directly see your screen it can see all sorts of sensitive data. There’s no doubt about the importance of such measures, but when you’ve granted permission to the app already and use it daily, those frequent reminders are a nightmare.

Pop-ups, begone

Previously, the Amnesia app was developed to disable the monthly reminders on an app-by-app basis. Fortunately, Apple now seems to have found a balance between security and convenience. In the latest beta release notes, Apple explains there’s been a change in how macOS handles older content capture tech, which means that trusted apps will trigger fewer interruptions.

Mind you, this doesn’t mean the prompts will disappear altogether – privacy is still Apple’s top priority – they just won’t be as obnoxious for frequent users of the apps.

If you screen-record daily, you can be slightly less grumpy now, though some users may still want to reserve judgment until they see the update in action when it’s released on October 28.

PSA: macOS Sequoia is reportedly causing frustrating USB problems for some users

Kristina Terech — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:05:37 +0000

If you’ve recently upgraded your Mac to the freshly released macOS 15, you might have run into issues while attempting to use USB devices.

If so, apparently you’re not alone – other Mac users are facing the same kinds of problems when connecting USB devices.

Apple Insider notes that a number of users are experiencing drive connectivity issues, and when plugging in USB sticks or chargers into the Mac’s ports, the system isn’t detecting these devices right away. Sometimes they’re taking a considerable time to connect, and sometimes macOS 15 isn’t finding them at all, worryingly.

As you may recall, macOS Sequoia was released earlier this month, on September 16, and of course it’s not a surprise that when a major release of an operating system comes along, there are teething problems. This appears to be one of them, at least going by multiple reports on the likes of Reddit and Apple’s support forum, and there are other issues besides as highlighted in our roundup of common problems with macOS 15.

(Image credit: Apple)

Where things stand and what you can do next

Apple Insider further observes that the USB-related bug is occurring on different Mac models, including the MacBook Air and iMac, and on devices equipped with different processors, including M1, M2, and M3 Apple chips.

That said, the tech site also notes that it wasn’t able to reproduce the problem on any of its devices, and that the malfunctioning USB issue doesn’t look to be that widespread - though certainly some of those upgrading to macOS 15 are affected, going by the mentioned reports.

Thus far, Apple hasn’t made any comment on the matter, and we’re still waiting to see if the company will respond to these reports.

If you’ve been affected by misbehaving USB devices with macOS Sequoia, your best bet is to reach out to Apple support, describe what you’re experiencing, and, hopefully, Apple will acknowledge you, and maybe even prepare a fix in a future macOS 15 update.

The more reports (especially with evidence like screenshots) that Apple receives about a specific problem, the more likely it is to respond and deploy a fix.

macOS 15 Sequoia problems: how to fix the most common issues on your Mac

Darren Allan — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 13:26:30 +0000

Apple’s macOS 15 Sequoia is the latest desktop operating system for Macs and it’s fresh on the scene, making waves due to some of its impressive new features – like iPhone Mirroring – but also causing something of a splash due to initial teething troubles (one of which is a very nasty SSD-related bug).

If you’ve run into issues with macOS Sequoia, you’ve come to the right place: in this article, we’ve outlined the most common problems Mac users are coming up against, as well as potential cures for these ailments. Going forward, we’ll be sure to keep this article updated with any fresh bugs or glitches that rear their heads, and their respective solutions – so it might be worth your while keeping this page bookmarked in your web browser.

macOS Sequoia won't download or install

(Image credit: Apple)

Some people are complaining that they can’t get over the first hurdle with macOS Sequoia, namely downloading and installing the operating system.

If you fall into this category, the first thing to do is check the basics – ensure your Mac is compatible with Sequoia. Then make sure your internet connection is running okay, and that you have enough drive space to make the upgrade (25GB). It’s also worth having a peek at Apple’s System Status dashboard to check that the ‘macOS Software Update’ service is running (has a green light).

Assuming all the above is okay, you may still encounter an issue where the installation falls over, telling you that it ‘failed to personalize the software update’ which is a somewhat mystifying statement.

In this case, it’s worth trying a couple of possible cures: either disable ‘Find My Mac’ or sign out of your Apple ID, or for good measure, do both of these – then try the installation again. Multiple reports online suggest that one or both of these tweaks will allow Sequoia to successfully install.

If you still get no joy, others suggest trying the ‘Revive’ feature with your Mac. Another final tip: ensure that you’re updating from Sonoma 14.7, so if you’re running an earlier macOS version, update to v14.7 and try again.

macOS Sequoia Spotlight drive usage bug

(Image credit: Future)

Have you noticed your drive usage spiking to unusually high levels since installing macOS 15? There was a bug with Spotlight in beta testing whereby it was errantly reading and writing unnecessary data, not just filling up the drive, but causing wear and tear on the SSD – really bad news.

Apparently, this is still happening to some people who have updated to the finished version of macOS Sequoia (which really shouldn’t be the case – Apple should’ve completely stamped this out, though note we only have reports of it occurring, not any official acknowledgment).

It’s worth keeping an eye on your SSD activity, then – use the Activity Monitor app on your system – and if you are seeing high levels of writing to the drive for no apparent reason, disable Spotlight for your system drive, and see if things settle down. (Check here for instructions on how to exclude a drive from Spotlight searching).

For now, all you can do if you’re affected by this bug is to keep Spotlight disabled for the time being, until we get some confirmation from Apple that there is an issue – and a fix shortly thereafter, we’d hope. Word on the grapevine is that the next Sequoia update could resolve this issue.

macOS Sequoia problems with VPNs

Sequoia is seemingly causing issues with VPNs, and we’ve seen quite a few reports of connectivity problems, and also of iMessage in particular failing to work when a VPN is running (or iCloud sync, too).

According to a report from Bleeping Computer, security firm CrowdStrike observed that Apple has made some networking changes under the hood with macOS 15, and these are to blame for the VPN-related woes. Due to said networking tweaks, you may see unpredictable results with other security apps, too.

Affected VPNs are apparently working on solutions, at least in two cases we’ve heard about – namely Mullvad and Private Internet Access, and likely others too. So, you can sit tight and wait for those fixes, or possibly a solution from Apple.

However, there are some easy potential cures going by reports, one of which is simply to turn off the macOS firewall and see if that eases any of your connectivity blues – it has done for some users. Alternatively, rather than just turning off the firewall completely, check its options and make sure any apps you’re having a problem with aren’t blocked.

Also, in the case of the iMessage conflict, adjusting some VPN settings appears to have resolved the issue for some macOS 15 users – try turning off the kill switch, and changing your VPN protocol. Fingers crossed one of these fudges helps.

macOS Sequoia Bluetooth bugs

(Image credit: Majed Khan / Unsplash)

Bluetooth connectivity has become an issue for some after upgrading to macOS Sequoia. There are reports of Bluetooth mice, keyboards, speakers, headphones, and other devices either failing to connect, or becoming very laggy. Mice are jittery rather than moving the cursor smoothly, speakers are stuttering, or the audio is cutting in and out, and so on.

There’s not much in the way of satisfactory solutions currently, but turning the peripheral off, then on again, or forgetting the Bluetooth hardware, and pairing it with the Mac again, seems to fix things in some reported cases. So, give those standard tricks a whirl, but other than that, keep your fingers crossed that this is on Apple’s radar to address in a patch soon.

macOS Sequoia bricks Touch bar

(Image credit: Future)

If you’ve got a MacBook with a Touch Bar, this is definitely one to look out for. After the macOS 15 upgrade, some users are reporting that the Touch Bar just goes dark and no longer works. A Redditor tells us that the following cure works: go to the Terminal app (in Finder, open Applications/Utilities) and run the following command:

sudo pkill TouchBarServer;

Then restart your MacBook, and keep your fingers crossed, as this fix hasn’t worked for everyone – but apparently does the trick for some.

macOS Sequoia causing problems with web browsers

There are various reports of web browsers in general having issues with macOS Sequoia. For those encountering a protocol error when trying to load websites in their favored browser, turning off the firewall may cure this.

There are more worrying reports of Google’s Chrome browser failing to work at all on macOS 15 – but an easy enough cure appears to be simply uninstalling, and then reinstalling Chrome (the browser should keep all your settings).

(Image credit: Future)

macOS Sequoia USB issues

Some of those running macOS 15 are experiencing problems with connectivity when using USB sticks or chargers. There are reports of the Mac taking a long time to recognize a thumb drive, or even failing to detect it at all.

It seems that this isn’t a widespread problem, but still, if you’re affected by the bug, it’s going to be pretty frustrating, no doubt. This is a thorny one and there isn’t much in the way of potential solutions out there, save for one suggestion.

We’ve seen reports that a USB device might work in another port in the Mac, so try plugging it in to all your available USB connectors, and keep your fingers firmly crossed for a different result with one of them. Meantime, we can only await some acknowledgement from Apple on this particular bugbear.

macOS 15 Sequoia is available right now – here’s what to know about Apple’s latest desktop OS

Darren Allan — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 11:46:37 +0000

It’s a big day for Mac owners (or at least those with compatible Macs, and we’ll come back to that) as macOS 15 Sequoia is set to arrive later today as a free upgrade.

Apple informed us that the release date for macOS 15 was September 16 back at its iPhone 16 (‘Glowtime’) launch event, and here we are. So, if you’re chomping at the bit with anticipation, let’s indulge in a quick recap of the highlights that Sequoia has to offer before you install the shiny new operating system.

(Image credit: Apple)

Mirror, mirror, on the desktop…

The cornerstone feature introduction with macOS Sequoia (at least away from Apple Intelligence – and we’ll return to that subject, too) is iPhone Mirroring. Now, obviously, this will only appeal to those invested enough in the Apple ecosystem to have both a Mac and an iPhone, but it is a seriously cool feature for those folks.

iPhone Mirroring allows you to use your smartphone on your Mac desktop, in a compact (resizable) window. This means you can use iPhone apps on the macOS 15 desktop, reply to texts, interact with iPhone notifications, and so forth – there’s even the ability to seamlessly drag and drop files directly between devices (though that still hasn’t been seen in testing yet, it’s coming).

Essentially, you’ve got pretty much full control over your iPhone right there on the macOS desktop, without ever having to pick up the smartphone itself.

(Image credit: Future)

On Safari, storage, and more

Apple’s Safari browser is getting some very useful improvements, including a ‘Reader’ mode to deliver a distraction-free experience, and a ‘Viewer’ mode that automatically detects a video playing on a website and places it front and center for easy viewing. Safari is also set to be more friendly to MacBook users by way of implementing battery-saving measures.

There are some nifty storage tweaks with macOS 15, too, so you no longer need to (temporarily) have double the required space for an app on your drive to install it – a change that’s been a long time coming. Also, there’ll be a new option for large apps, namely installing them on an external drive (albeit with caveats, but still – this is a very welcome addition).

Those who’ve seen snap layouts in Windows 11 and have been somewhat jealous of that ability will be pleased to hear that similar window positioning capabilities are coming to macOS 15.

Apple is also bringing in a new Password app to replace Keychains, and some fancy new dynamic wallpapers (including a very smart-looking forest-themed background for Sequoia itself). Furthermore, there are some important improvements under the hood for Game Mode to drive faster frame rates, Apple tells us – Mac gamers, rejoice.

(Image credit: Future)

What we won’t get

As we already touched on, there’s a major feature that won’t be present with the initial debut of macOS Sequoia – and that’s Apple Intelligence. As we’ve seen in testing, these AI features have been pushed to a separate branch, namely macOS 15.1 – and that version won’t arrive until October. These Apple Intelligence capabilities will launch alongside new M4-powered Macs, no doubt, which are rumored for a later in October reveal.

While macOS 15 is a free upgrade, there are some people who won’t be able to get the OS at all – those without a compatible Mac. We have a list of compatible Macs in our full roundup of everything we know about macOS 15, so head over there to find out more on that front (and more details on the features we’ve touched on here, too).

The good news is that the requirements are not too different from Sonoma, but still, there are some Macs that currently have macOS 14 which won’t be able to upgrade to the very latest version when it turns up imminently. Also, a final note: only Macs with an Apple M-series CPU will be able to use Apple Intelligence features in macOS 15.

Apple’s surprise early launch of macOS 15 Sequoia could suggest exciting Apple Intelligence features – or a boring update

matthew.hanson@futurenet.com (Matt Hanson) — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 12:20:00 +0000

We are mere hours away from Apple’s big “Glowtime” event, where the company is expected to announce its new iPhone 16 range – and Mac owners could be in for a treat as well, as it’s widely expected that Apple will reveal the final release of macOS 15 Sequoia alongside the expected iOS, iPadOS, and VisionOS releases.

While macOS 15 Sequoia public beta has been available to download and test for a while now, the fact that Apple could announce a launch date at its Glowtime event is surprising for a number of reasons.

For a start, the event is expected to focus primarily on the new iPhones, arguably Apple’s most important products, so I wouldn’t usually think that Apple would want to spend much time (if any) talking about operating systems for non-iPhone devices.

There are rumors suggesting that Apple could announce new Macs and MacBooks very soon, so you’d imagine that Apple would wait for a dedicated Mac event to announce the new version of macOS.

However, MacRumors claims to have seen Apple documentation that macOS 15 Sequoia will get a full public release by the middle of September, and if this proves correct, the publication notes that this would be the earlier macOS release since Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, which launched at the end of July back in 2012.

In recent years, Apple usually has an early September iPhone launch event, with the public release of iOS (the operating system iPhones use) happening shortly before the new iPhones go on sale.

Apple then usually releases the new version of macOS later in the year. The report by MacRumors, then, suggests quite a big break with tradition – and as a MacBook user, this excites and worries me in equal measure.

(Image credit: Apple)

Why the early release of macOS?

There are a few positive reasons why Apple might release macOS 15 Sequoia early. It could mean that the beta testing stages have concluded and no major issues were found – and Apple simply doesn’t feel the need to hold off releasing the final version of macOS 15. If this is the case, we could get the most stable macOS release in years, with no teething issues, bugs or other problems that have cropped up with previous releases.

It could also suggest that new Macs and MacBooks, such as the rumored M4 MacBook Pro, are indeed coming very soon, and Apple is keen to release macOS 15 Sequoia ahead of the new Macs going on sale.

It’s also widely expected that Apple will dedicated a big chunk of today’s Glowtime event to showing off its new AI tool – Apple Intelligence. The iPhone 16 range (and iOS) will likely be announced with lots of Apple Intelligence integration – and if macOS 15 Sequoia also comes with lots of Apple Intelligence goodies, it would make sense for Apple to announce when we can get it on our Macs during this part of the presentation.

However, an announcement during the iPhone event and an early release might not be all good news. It could suggest that macOS 15 Sequoia is only a minor update over macOS Sonoma, the current version.

The Glowtime event will likely be packed with new iPhone announcements, as well as possibly new Apple Watch and AirPods, so there may not be time to give macOS 15 Sequoia the announcement it deserves. If the launch reveal is rushed, and unceremoniously dumped between more headline-grabbing announcements like a new Apple Watch, then it could be a sign that Apple isn’t as excited about Macs as it once was. If that’s the case, then it would be a real shame indeed.

Either way, we may not have long to wait, so make sure you keep an eye on our Glowtime live blog for all the breaking news as it happens.

macOS 15 Sequoia could help fix one thing we hate about MacBooks: lack of storage space

Darren Allan — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 16:26:20 +0000

Apple just made another very handy tweak to the way storage works with macOS in its latest version, Sequoia, which is still in beta testing (albeit on the cusp of launching) – and this one could be something of a lifesaver in certain scenarios.

The change is a new option in the settings for the Mac App Store whereby you can instruct macOS to automatically download and install any app, or game, which is larger than 1GB to an external drive, as opposed to the main system drive in the Mac.

As 9 to 5 Mac reports, this has happened in the freshly released beta of macOS 15.1, the third beta on this branch which is for developers only, and is the sole build that carries Apple Intelligence features. (These AI capabilities won’t debut with macOS 15 Sequoia, but rather with the 15.1 release that’ll come a little later).

It’s a useful ability to have if you have a small drive in your Mac or MacBook, as many of us do – it’s really expensive to equip a MacBook in particular with a larger SSD – or you’ve crammed all sorts of software on, and are running out of storage space.

We mentioned this is another handy tweak that macOS 15 introduces on the storage front, as it follows a previous change in a past beta whereby users no longer need to have double the storage space requirements when installing an app from the App Store. (A temporary requirement it must be noted – but still a serious stumbling block in some cases where storage space is thin on the ground).

Analysis: Drive to thrive

The new installation option is very welcome, although it’s always been the case that you can run apps from an external drive (some apps, anyway – there are others that must be installed on the system drive for various reasons). Previously, however, you’ve had to manually shift the app across after installing it on your main drive, so it’s obviously a far more convenient touch to have applications just installed on the external disk in the first place, if this is the way you want to go.

While it’s great to have this option, it’s odd that Apple has only just added it, really. Why hasn’t it been brought in before now? We can only offer a shrug of our shoulders. With Macs continually taking strides to become more proficient gaming machines – macOS 15 will help on this front, too, with Game Mode tuning to ensure faster frame rates – perhaps this has been pushed up a priority list somewhere, as it’ll certainly help when it comes to fitting beefy game folders onto an Apple device.

Just remember that apps might be quite a bit slower on an external drive, so it could well be worth buying one of the best nippy external SSDs, especially if gaming is on your to-do list with planned installations away from your Mac’s main drive.

Keen to get macOS Sequoia? You may not have long to wait – the OS could arrive in just a few weeks

Darren Allan — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 10:27:34 +0000

Those keen to get their hands on the next incarnation of macOS will be pleased to learn that Sequoia is almost with us, apparently.

Typically we expect a new macOS to turn up at any point between September and November, but MacRumors claims that it’s going to be the early end of that timeframe.

Sources have told the website that macOS 15 is going to launch in mid-September (add your own skepticism, as ever), which means we’re going to see Sequoia in just a few weeks’ time.

That theory is backed up with a complementary nugget of info here, namely that iOS 18 is widely expected to be introduced in mid-September (as every version of the mobile OS has been, for a long time), and Apple wants to debut macOS Sequoia at the same time due to their shared features.

We are, of course, talking about the big ‌iPhone‌ Mirroring functionality for macOS 15, and given that, it makes sense for both new operating systems to debut simultaneously, with that ability fully up and running, showing off these fresh cross-platform powers.

The most likely date for this double reveal is September 10, by the way, based on past reveals from Apple.

Analysis: Lining up the pieces

We learned earlier this week that the latest iOS 18 beta is going to be the final one, and if MacRumors is right in its assertion here, macOS Sequoia must be in its final stages of testing too. Mind you, we haven’t heard rumors to that effect elsewhere – yet – and furthermore, does it really feel like macOS 15 is about to turn the corner to release?

We’re not sure, but if this really is playing out as stated, we’ll know soon enough. In fairness to MacRumors, it certainly makes sense in terms of Apple lining up its OS puzzle pieces for iPhone Mirroring.

There is, of course, another chunky puzzle piece and this one won’t be coming with either the initial release of iOS 18 or macOS 15, namely Apple Intelligence.

These AI features are being tested in a separate macOS beta (15.1, for developers), and the expectation is that they’ll come in a later update – mostly likely in October, MacRumors theorizes. And equally likely, Apple Intelligence will arrive alongside new MacBook Pro M4 models (and other Macs besides), doubtless with an illustration of how well the M4 SoC runs the AI capabilities.

On macOS Sequoia you’ll only have to deal with screen recording permission pop-ups once a month, rather than once a week

muskaan.saxena@futurenet.com (Muskaan Saxena) — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 15:15:16 +0000

Apple has relented at least somewhat regarding a privacy-related pop-up in testing with macOS Sequoia, ensuring that this prompt now doesn’t appear as often as it did before in the beta.

This is the somewhat annoying screen recording privacy prompt that appeared weekly (for affected apps that use screen recording) and after every reboot of the Mac.

However, as 9to5Mac reports, with the latest developer beta 6 of macOS Sequoia, the prompt has been adjusted to pop up only once a month. So, you won’t have to approve screen recording permissions for every app that needs them every single week, and the change also stops you from being similarly hassled every time you reboot your Mac.

The new prompt spotted by 9to5Mac reads: “[App name] is requesting to bypass the system private window picker and directly access your screen and audio. This will allow [app name] to record your screen and system audio, including personal or sensitive information that may be visible or audible.”

(Image credit: 9to5Mac)

You’re then given a choice to ‘Allow For One Month’ (so you won’t see the pop-up again for a month), or you can elect to ‘Open System Settings,' whereupon you’ll be led to preferences for screen recording permissions.

The change seems to be exclusive to the macOS Sequoia 15.0 developer beta 6 and not the Sequoia 15.1 branch, which is the developer beta that finally has some Apple Intelligence features. We’ve seen the prompt in the Sequoia 15.0 public beta, too.

It appears there’s no way for developers to get around this monthly prompt, which affects various screenshot tools and, of course, apps where you share your screen (like Zoom or Slack).

That said, it may still be possible for developers to find a way to prevent the warning from popping up with their app – but it’s unclear what this might be. 9to5Mac even points out a possible fudge that devs could leverage (a ‘Persistent Content Capture’ entitlement), but Apple hasn’t provided any guidance on how this might work yet - or any guidance at all, for that matter.

While this is a step in the right direction in at least making the pop-up less regular, there should be a way for macOS users to permanently grant a specific app screen recording permissions. As the change is still being tested, we hope Apple might tweak the idea further or at least give developers some more clues on what they can do to potentially sidestep it.

The first macOS Sequoia beta with Apple Intelligence just landed, but only a select few can try it out

muskaan.saxena@futurenet.com (Muskaan Saxena) — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 16:00:32 +0000

We’re inching slowly but surely closer to the official release of macOS Sequoia, and more upcoming features have been sprinkled into the various betas that have just been released by Apple - with a major addition coming to the new macOS 15.1 beta for developers.

The release of the second beta for macOS 15.1 sees the initial set of Apple Intelligence features arrive for developers to play with. Sadly, the rest of us will have to wait, as there’s no equivalent public beta carrying these AI features (yet). To run the macOS 15.1 beta 2, you’ll also need a Mac that has Apple silicon (an M1 chip or better).

So, what are the first Apple Intelligence features to debut in macOS? The beta includes Writing Tools that will help you rewrite, summarize, and proofread text, as shown during the demonstration at WWDC 24. Siri has also finally received a facelift, and there’s support for typing to Siri, too, in case you don’t want to (or can’t) speak to the assistant.

What about the rest of us?!

Furthermore, the Mail app has received AI powers like the ability to summarize emails, prioritize sorting, and use a Smart Reply feature that suggests a response to any given message.

While that’s a healthy dollop of features to be getting on with for Apple Intelligence, there’s still quite a lot that hasn’t been included in beta testing yet, including Genmoji and ChatGPT integration.

Suppose you’re still a little confused about all the different betas Apple has on the boil for Sequoia. In that case, there are two main macOS 15 beta versions - one for developers, one for the public - but just one macOS 15.1 beta (for devs), which is the one we’re discussing here, that has Apple Intelligence now included. Sadly, we haven’t had a chance to investigate the latter build yet, but we’re looking forward to doing so.

Maybe Apple Intelligence capabilities will come to the public beta of macOS 15 eventually, but it’s not clear if that’ll be the case - we might have to wait until the final release of Sequoia. In the meantime, we’re just going to have to keep being patient and enjoy iPhone Mirroring and the cool new wallpapers.

Apple’s tweaked a security feature in macOS Sequoia - and not everyone’s going to be happy about this

muskaan.saxena@futurenet.com (Muskaan Saxena) — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 14:50:16 +0000

As we edge closer to the official release of macOS 15, an interesting new security-related change has been spotted in Sequoia - although it’s one that might annoy some people.

With this move, Apple has made it slightly harder for users to sidestep its built-in Gatekeeper security function when they’re installing an application in macOS.

For those not familiar with Gatekeeper, it’s designed to keep your Mac safe from apps that could contain malware. Essentially, Gatekeeper steers you towards downloading fully vetted apps from the App Store rather than being tempted by apps you can grab from anywhere on the web (which may present a greater security risk).

Currently, to avoid Gatekeeper’s interference when installing an app that you downloaded outside of the official store, you can Control-click to install the software.

With this change, that shortcut to bypass Gatekeeper no longer works. As Apple explains in a freshly published support document, the new way of working with Gatekeeper in macOS Sequoia involves going to System Settings > Privacy & Security, where you'll have to “review security information for software before allowing it to run.”

While we can appreciate that this is a security-tightening measure and an attempt to keep macOS devices more secure, making a shortcut into a slightly longer cut isn’t exactly ideal. It will likely only annoy some macOS users, especially those who know what they’re doing and are confident that the app they’re installing is on the level.

New public beta has arrived

By the way, this change isn’t related to the new macOS Sequoia beta that’s just been released; rather, it was spotted by an enterprising tester in a previous beta (and others have picked up on it, too, as MacRumors noticed).

Sadly, this third public beta of Sequoia doesn’t really make anything in the way of big changes. No doubt there are a fair few fixes and tweaks going on under the hood, but the only minor addition we’ve actually spotted thus far is a new wallpaper (one that was spotted hidden in macOS 15 already).

That is a little disappointing, but as we get closer and closer to the official release of macOS Sequoia, we probably won’t see any other major additions to the beta, especially now that iPhone Mirroring has already dropped (it arrived in the second public beta). Apple Intelligence isn’t expected to debut on macOS until much later this year (there’s currently a macOS 15.1 beta that developers are testing the AI feature in, but there’s no news if this will hit a public beta, too).

New macOS Sequoia beta has a secret serene wallpaper that’ll turn your desktop into a hidden forest

muskaan.saxena@futurenet.com (Muskaan Saxena) — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 15:54:51 +0000

A fifth beta of macOS Sequoia has dropped for developers, and while we begin to dig around for any potential new changes, we’ve already stumbled upon this small but fun addition. A new forest-themed wallpaper called Sequoia Sunrise has been added to macOS 15, but you can’t set it as your desktop wallpaper just yet - not via the official method, anyway.

By this we mean that wallpaper is not selectable in the Settings menu, but rather, it’s tucked away in system files. This was spotted by Mr Macintosh, who also pointed out the cute retro Mac wallpapers that popped up a while back in the macOS 15 beta (which required jumping through some hoops to access).

According to MacRumors, to get the forest wallpaper, you’ll need to head to the System/Library/Desktop Pictures/.wallpapers folder, where it’s hidden - literally. This means it’s a hidden file, so you’ll need to press Shift + Command + Period to see it.

A serene teaser while we wait

(Image credit: Mr Macintosh/Apple )

Once you find the image, you’ll be able to set it as your wallpaper. If you need a bit of a refresher on how to change your Mac wallpaper, you can check out our guide.

We should also note that not everyone who is running the fifth dev beta of macOS Sequoia will see the wallpaper after installing the update, so it’s not guaranteed that you’ll have it - yet.

The image is quite calming and serene and gives off a fantasy vibe. It’s nice to see more allusions to the Sequoia forest and greenery come to the Mac as we gear up for the macOS Sequoia public release later in 2024.

If you want to try out macOS Sequoia early, we have a full guide on how to install the macOS 15 public beta on your Mac. Be warned, though, that beta releases are not stable and there could be risks to your data as Apple irons out the various kinks in the OS, so proceed with caution, and back up your Mac and files before taking the plunge.

As with the retro wallpapers, Mr Macintosh has posted a high-quality screenshot of the Sequoia Sunrise on his website if you want to take a quick peek. The new wallpaper is not a major change, obviously, but it’s still good to see even a minor tweak in the pipeline, as we await the bigger features in macOS 15 like Apple Intelligence and iPhone Mirroring.

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