macOS 26: The Most Feature-Rich Mac Update in Years
macOS 26, expected at WWDC 2026 and releasing in fall 2026, brings substantial improvements across the entire Apple ecosystem. Here’s everything we know.
Apple Intelligence Expansion
Apple Intelligence, introduced in macOS Sequoia 15, gets major upgrades in macOS 26. Siri 2.0 integrates deeply with all first-party apps, understanding context across Calendar, Mail, Notes, Files, and Safari. You can now ask complex multi-step queries like ‘Find the presentation Sarah sent me last Tuesday and summarize the key points.’
The writing tools expand system-wide with summarization, tone adjustment, and real-time translation across any text field. Third-party app integration arrives, allowing developers to hook into Apple Intelligence for context-aware assistance.
Enhanced Stage Manager
Stage Manager receives its biggest overhaul since launch. Windows now intelligently group by project rather than just by app. You can create named workspaces like ‘Project Alpha’ that persist all related windows across apps. Switching between projects happens with a single click.
The grid snapping system also improves with better alignment detection and automatic padding that adapts to your display’s resolution and aspect ratio.
Safari 26
Safari gets a redesigned reading view with customizable typography, automatic article summarization, and improved PDF handling. The browser now supports WebExtensions Manifest V3 fully, with performance improvements for ad blockers.
A new ‘Distraction Control’ feature lets you hide persistent elements on pages like newsletter popups — without blocking them entirely.
Health App on Mac
For the first time, the Health app arrives natively on Mac (previously it was iPhone-only with limited Mac web access). The Mac Health app syncs biometric data from iPhone and Apple Watch, displaying activity trends, heart health, and hearing data alongside your other Mac data.
macOS 26 System Features
– Passwords app replaces iCloud Keychain with a unified interface
– Weather and Clock apps now available on Mac
– Improved External Display support with per-app resolution settings
– Better gaming performance with Metal 4 and Game Mode improvements
– RCS support in Messages for green bubble compatibility with Android
macOS 26 compatibility will likely require Apple Silicon or Intel Macs from 2019 and later.