WWDC25: Everything announced for macOS

Apple came to WWDC 2025 with something to prove, and when it came to Mac, they delivered. This year’s updates to macOS mark a turning point, not just in aesthetics but in ambition.

From the new Liquid Glass interface to smarter system-wide intelligence, and even a Phone app, macOS is embracing modern Apple hardware and software philosophy in ways that feel both fresh and overdue.

| 1 | Meet macOS Tahoe 26

The most interesting and unexpected update to macOS is the change in versioning. At the WWDC, Apple introduced macOS Tahoe 26, marking one of the most substantial updates to the operating systems in recent memory. Like car models, Apple is aligning macOS version numbers with the calendar year, so it's safe to say we'll be using Tahoe 26 throughout 2026.

This upgrade is a comprehensive reimagining of macOS that touches everything from visual design to core functionality. The update brings Apple's new Liquid Glass design language to the Mac, introducing a translucent aesthetic that is in every aspect of the interface.

| 2 | Spotlight Gets Smarter

Apple also announced some interesting updates to the long-forgotten Spotlight, and following this update, Spotlight can execute commands with Quick Keys. You can now type "sm" to send a message or "ar" to add a reminder without ever touching your mouse. It also introduces in-app control search, allowing you to find specific settings within applications directly from Spotlight.

The long-requested clipboard history feature also makes an appearance, letting you access previously copied items, including text and images. And most impressively, Spotlight now uses contextual awareness to predict what you need based on your current activity and personal routines.

| 3 | The Phone App Comes to Mac

After years of reliance on Continuity features, macOS finally gets its dedicated Phone app. This isn't just a barebones calling interface; it's a full port of the iPhone's Phone app, complete with Favorites, Voicemail, Call Screening, and Hold Assist functionality.

The integration goes deeper with Live Activities, which appear in the menu bar, displaying real-time updates from your iPhone, such as food delivery tracking or sports scores.

| 4 | macOS gets a Gaming Hub

macOS Tahoe introduces the Apple Games app, a central hub for launching and managing your games. This dedicated hub serves as a unified library for all your games, complete with discovery features and social integration. The accompanying Game Overlay allows for quick access to settings, chats, and invites without leaving your game.

Under the hood, Metal 4 brings significant graphics improvements, including better frame rates and enhanced ray tracing support, further solidifying Apple's commitment to making Mac a viable gaming machine.

| 5 | Journal App Comes to Mac

After debuting on iPhone in late 2023, Apple’s Journal app is finally making its way to the Mac. The desktop version gives you:

• A spacious, distraction-free canvas for capturing your thoughts.
• Support for photos, videos, audio, and location tagging.
• A map view to browse journal entries by place.
• Multiple journals to separate work, personal life, travel, and more.
• Sync across devices, so your entries go wherever you do.

For writers, journaling fans, or anyone trying to build a mindfulness habit, this is a welcome addition, and the Mac’s larger screen makes for a great writing environment.

| 6 | Apple Intelligence gets an upgrade

One of the headline features at WWDC this year is Apple Intelligence, introducing new capabilities to macOS Tahoe. With Apple Intelligence fully loaded with upgrades and integrated into the Tahoe;

• Live Translation will be available in Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, letting you chat across languages with instant translations as you type or speak.
• Smarter Shortcuts will now tap into Apple Intelligence or even ChatGPT to automate everything from summarizing notes to creating images.
• On Genmoji & Image Playground, you can now edit personal attributes, choose new art styles like oil painting or vector, and describe exactly what you want with the new “Any Style” option.
• Apple Intelligence can review emails or notes to suggest task items and automatically categorize your reminders into tidy sections.

| 7 | The End of the Road for Intel Macs

Apple made a bittersweet announcement: macOS Tahoe will be the last major update for Intel Macs. Apple’s slow goodbye to Intel is finally drawing to a close, nearly five years after the shift to Apple Silicon began.

While some recent Intel models like the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) can still install macOS 26, they won’t get any future feature updates, only security patches for three more years.

Additional Updates for macOS

• Safari Upgrades: Apple Safari browser now features a rounded, floating tab design, a refreshed sidebar, and advanced fingerprinting protection enabled by default. It's also 50% faster than Chrome when loading frequently visited sites and offers up to 4 more hours of battery life while streaming.
• Messages Improvements: Group chats now feel livelier with Polls, Backgrounds, and group typing indicators. Plus, an updated details view makes navigating shared content and adding contacts easier.
• Photos Redesign: Photos also gets a refreshed UI with Liquid Glass touches, Pinned Collections, easier filtering and sorting, and customizable tile sizes, giving you more control over how you view your photo library.
• FaceTime Enhancements: A revamped landing page shows Contact Posters for recent calls, while a new More button quickly surfaces features like SharePlay and Live Translation.
• Notes and Phone Integration: Notes now supports Markdown import/export and lets you capture phone conversations as audio recordings with transcription.
• Accessibility Boosts: New tools include Magnifier using iPhone's camera, Accessibility Reader for better on-screen text reading, an overhauled Braille Access interface, and Vehicle Motion Cues to reduce motion sickness.
• Passwords App Tweaks: With updates to Passwords Apps, you can easily check past versions of passwords, see when they were changed, and track account updates.

Conclusion

From the announcements so far at WWDC, Apple is clearly pushing Mac beyond what we know to be its limits. macOS Tahoe 26 borrows mobile features like the Phone app and Liquid Glass design, modifying it across the ecosystem, in a bid to blur the lines between platforms while preserving its unique strengths. This is a platform finally moving at full speed, and leaving Intel and its past limitations in the past.