macOS Tahoe: 50 Exciting Features and Updates

Apple released macOS Tahoe this month, the newest iteration of its Mac operating system. Building on the Liquid Glass design language, macOS Tahoe 26 introduces a range of visual enhancements, new customization options, and handy features across the platform. Here are 50 notable improvements and lesser-known tweaks worth exploring when upgrading.

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1. Terminal Refresh

The Terminal app sports a fresh look with support for 24-bit color and Powerline fonts. It now adopts the Liquid Glass aesthetic, complete with redesigned themes that match macOS 26’s visual overhaul.

2. macOS Themes

Introducing Themes, macOS Tahoe offers new appearance settings beyond Light and Dark modes. You can create custom stylized desktops using options like "Color" instead of "Accent color" and a new "Text highlight color" for highlighted text.

3. Folder Colors

Customize folder colors independently via a new "Folder Color" setting in System Settings. Folders can now have system-wide colors like purple, replacing the default blue.

4. Dark Icons

A new "Dark" icon style applies black backgrounds to system icons, enhancing visual consistency in both Light and Dark modes.

5. Clear Style

The "Clear" appearance emphasizes Liquid Glass design with increased transparency, creating a more translucent interface that adapts to background colors.

6. Tinted Style

With "Tinted," icons, folders, and widgets can employ custom colors or preset tints, allowing for extensive personalization.

7. Volume & Brightness Overlays

Traditional large overlays are replaced by smaller, notification-style indicators in the top-right corner, saving screen space.

8. Background Apps

macOS now warns you when apps attempt to run background daemons after closure, giving options to "Always Allow" or deny permissions.

9. Safari URL Bar

The unified compact tab and address bar layout has been removed, possibly to streamline the interface.

10. Notes Markdown Support

Apple Notes now supports Markdown import/export, making it easier to work with lightweight markup language for rich-text formatting.

11. Search by App

Type an app name in Spotlight, press Tab, then enter a search term to focus only on that app’s content.

12. Message Polls

Create polls in Messages with up to 12 choices. Recipients must have iOS 26 or macOS Tahoe to participate.

13. Games App

A new dedicated Games app lists all installed games, whether downloaded from the App Store or not, with sections like Arcade and Library.

14. Restore Menu Bar Background

Toggle "Show menu bar background" in System Settings ➝ Menu Bar to add a background beneath menu items, if desired.

15. Lock Screen Clock

Customize the Lock Screen clock's style, font, and weight through System Settings ➝ Wallpaper ➝ Clock Appearance.

16. Control Center

Rearrange Control Center items and add third-party controls via System Settings ➝ Menu Bar Controls, including iPhone-installed apps.

17. Safari Address Bar

The browser now features a translucent address bar that reflects site colors, customizable in Safari Settings.

18. Phone App

Make and receive calls directly on your Mac, provided your iPhone is nearby and Wi-Fi Assist is enabled.

19. Live Translation

FaceTime supports real-time captions translating speech between languages, exclusive to Apple silicon Macs.

20. Auto-Categorize Reminders

Reminders can automatically sort entries into categories like Clothing or Electronics with Apple Intelligence.

21. Genmoji

Create new emojis by combining multiple existing ones and tweak them with descriptive text.

22. Folder Icon Customization

Customize folder icons with colors, emojis, or glyphs via right-click options.

23. Spotlight Keyboard Shortcuts

Switch Spotlight modes instantly with Cmd + Space, then pressing numbers like Cmd + Space + 2 for Files.

24. Magnifier

Use the Continuity Camera to zoom in on objects or text with your iPhone’s camera, with customizable views and filters.

25. Personal Voice

Create a personalized, natural-sounding voice with only 10 phrases, ideal for accessibility, through System Settings ➝ Accessibility.

26. Vehicle Motion Cues

Expand iPhone’s motion cue visualization to Mac to help reduce motion sickness during vehicle travel.

27. Auto-Join iPhone Hotspot

Enable automatic connection to your iPhone's Personal Hotspot when no Wi-Fi is available, including family sharing support.

28. Repair Assistant

Mac calibration tools for Touch ID, Lid Angle sensors, and other components are now accessible, helping maintain hardware integrity.

29. Multiple Control Centers

Add and reorder multiple Control Centers on your menu bar, including Live Activities from iPhone mirroring.

30. Folder Icon Changes

Folders now visually indicate whether they contain items through icon changes with smooth animations.

31. Game Overlay

Activate a game overlay with Cmd + Escape for access to achievements, friends, display, volume, and controller settings during gameplay.

32. Hold Assist

Keep Mac waiting during calls with Hold Assist, which notifies you when a live agent is on the line.

33. Journal App

The journaling app from iPhone now brings its features to Mac, including multiple journals and synchronization.

34. Spotlight Actions

Perform quick actions like sending emails or creating events directly from Spotlight, with integration into Shortcuts.

35. Clipboard History

Access your recent clipboard history (last eight hours) directly via Spotlight.

36. Message Backgrounds

Set custom backgrounds for individual conversations with images, colors, or generated scenes.

37. Block Unknown Messages

Filter and silence messages from unknown senders or spam in Messages, with dedicated filtering icons.

38. Spotlight Quick Keys

Assign quick keys to Spotlight actions for faster access to tasks like launching ChatGPT.

39. FileVault Enabled by Default

FileVault encrypts your drive automatically during setup, using your Apple ID for recovery if needed.

40. New Aerial Screen Savers

Enjoy 15 new stunning aerial screensavers showcasing diverse landscapes, also available as wallpapers.

41. Apps Icon in Dock

Launchpad is replaced with a new Apps icon in the Dock, leading to categorized app views without right-click menus.

42. Shortcuts Automations

Create automated shortcuts triggered by time, device connection, or other conditions for seamless workflows.

43. Allow in Menu Bar

Manage which third-party apps can add icons to your menu bar through a new dedicated section in System Settings.

44. Safari Fingerprint Protection

Enhanced fingerprint protection obscures browser and device details across all browsing modes, with options to restrict it to Private Browsing.

45. Reduce Transparency

Turn off trans Lucent Liquid Glass effects for a more traditional interface via System Settings ➝ Accessibility.

46. Accessibility Reader

Enable the new Reader to have text read aloud or displayed in customizable windows for easier reading.

47. Image Playground Updates

Generate images with ChatGPT styles like Oil Painting or Watercolor directly within the app.

48. Dark PDF Appearance

Use Dark Mode for viewing PDFs in Preview using the new menu option.

49. Spotlight Search File Location

Hold Command during Spotlight search to instantly view the file’s location in Finder.

50. Set Custom Snooze Duration

Adjust your alarm snooze duration from 1 to 15 minutes in the Clock app, matching iOS 26 capabilities.

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What do you think of ‌macOS Tahoe so far? Share your thoughts in the comments!