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macOS Tahoe (macOS 26) Q&A
Published June 11, 2025
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Which Macs are compatible with macOS Tahoe (macOS 26)? What are the system requirements? What are the major new features? Do all features work with all supported Macs?
Apple initially previewed macOS Tahoe -- also called macOS 26 in reference to 2026 -- on June 9, 2025. A public beta is scheduled for release in July and the "final" consumer version is promised for "this autumn".
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (macOS Tahoe)
Just like earlier versions of the macOS for many years now, macOS Tahoe is free and only formally available to upgrade or install via Apple's own processes.
New macOS Tahoe Features
Apple's official press release for macOS Tahoe declares that the operating system "makes the Mac more capable, productive, and intelligent than ever".
In more detail, Apple explains that macOS Tahoe:
Introduces a stunning new design and powerful capabilities that enable users to get even more done. With the new design, iconic elements of macOS will feel more expressive, delightful, and personal while remaining instantly familiar, including the desktop, Dock, in-app navigation, and toolbars. Users can further personalize the experience with an updated Control Center and new color options for folders, app icons, and widgets. Continuity gets even better with the Phone app arriving on Mac, so users can access familiar features from iPhone -- including Recents, Contacts, and Voicemails -- and new ones like Call Screening and Hold Assist. And with Live Activities from iPhone, users can stay on top of things happening in real time, like an upcoming flight, right on their Mac. Spotlight gets its biggest update ever, allowing users to now directly execute hundreds of actions -- like sending an email or creating a note -- and take advantage of all-new browsing experiences to get to content faster.
Apple Intelligence expands with powerful new features that elevate the Mac experience further, while protecting privacy at every step. Live Translation helps users easily communicate across languages, translating text and audio. Genmoji and Image Playground offer new options for creativity. Shortcuts get even more powerful with intelligent actions and the ability to now tap directly into Apple Intelligence models to automate complex tasks.
The most immediately noticeable change is the "Liquid Glass" design -- which makes interface elements appear translucent and seemingly reflect and refract the background and surrounding elements.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (macOS Tahoe, Liquid Glass)
"Liquid Glass" may remind old school Mac users of the "lickable" interface provided by early versions of Mac OS X -- dubbed "Aqua" -- that became flatter and more subdued over the years. "Liquid Glass" is not as whimsical and complicated as early versions of "Aqua", but it still re-introduces more depth and translucency to the Mac operating system.
Although other features are not as obvious as an interface overhaul, Call Screening alone would be well worth the upgrade and the substantial improvements to Spotlight, Shortcuts, and Reminders to improve productivity should be welcomed, too.
It remains to be seen how accurate Live Translation of text and audio will be, but anything to improve understanding should come in handy for anyone who travels or communicates across languages.
As Apple notes in the press release, Apple Intelligence features -- including Live Translation -- is limited to Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and newer processors).
In fine print elsewhere, Apple mentions that macOS Tahoe drops support for all but a handful of Intel Macs and the next version of the macOS -- macOS 27 scheduled for release in the autumn of 2026 -- will no longer support Intel Macs at all.
Nevertheless, those with late model Intel Macs may be happy to get one last year of new operating system support along a likely year or two more of security updates. macOS Tahoe is the end of an era.
System Requirements
In marketing copy and technical documentation, Apple specifies that macOS Tahoe is compatible with these Macs:
- MacBook Air with Apple Silicon (2020 and later)
- MacBook Pro with Apple Silicon (2020 and later)
- MacBook Pro 13-Inch (2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2019)
- iMac (2020 and later)
- Mac mini (2020 and later)
- Mac Studio (2022 and later)
- Mac Pro (2019 and later)
Accordingly, compared to the previous version of the macOS -- macOS Sequoia (macOS 15) -- macOS Tahoe drops support for a significant number of Intel Macs released in 2018, 2019, and 2020:
- MacBook Air (Intel, 2020)
- MacBook Pro 13-Inch (2018, 2019, 2020 Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro 15-Inch (2018, 2019)
- iMac (2019)
- iMac Pro
- Mac mini (2018)
Identification Help
If you're not sure if your Mac will run macOS Tahoe (macOS 26), each of the supported computers can be identified by the above "subfamily" designations in addition to the Model Identifier in software. More details about specific identifiers are provided in EveryMac.com's extensive Mac Identification section.
To locate the Model Identifier, select "About This Mac" under the Apple Menu on your computer and click the "System Report" button.
EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature also can pinpoint these Macs by a variety of other identifiers.
macOS Tahoe (macOS 26) Supported Systems
Specifically, the following Macs, available at the time the operating system was unveiled, are compatible with macOS Tahoe:
macOS Tahoe Supported Mac |
Subfamily |
Model ID |
Retina 5K, 27-Inch, 2020 |
||
Retina 5K, 27-Inch, 2020 |
||
Retina 5K, 27-Inch, 2020 |
||
Retina 5K, 27-Inch, 2020 |
||
Retina 5K, 27-Inch, 2020 |
||
Retina 5K, 27-Inch, 2020 |
||
iMac (24", M1 2021) |
||
iMac (24", M1 2021) |
||
iMac (24", M3 2023) |
||
iMac (24", M3 2023) |
||
iMac (24", M4 2024) |
||
iMac (24", M4 2024) |
||
M1, 2020 |
||
M1, 2020 |
||
M2, 2022 |
||
M2, 2022 |
||
15-inch, M2, 2023 |
||
13-Inch, M3, 2024 |
||
13-Inch, M3, 2024 |
||
15-Inch, M3, 2024 |
||
13-Inch, M4, 2025 |
||
13-Inch, M4, 2025 |
||
15-Inch, M4, 2025 |
||
2019 16" |
||
2019 16" |
||
2019 16" |
||
2020 13" (4 TB 3) |
||
2020 13" (4 TB 3) |
||
2019 16" |
||
2019 16" |
||
2019 16" |
||
13-Inch, M1, 2020 |
||
14-Inch, M1 Pro, 2021 |
||
14-Inch, M1 Pro, 2021 |
||
14-Inch, M1 Pro, 2021 |
||
14-Inch, M1 Max, 2021 |
||
14-Inch, M1 Max, 2021 |
||
16-Inch, M1 Pro, 2021 |
||
16-Inch, M1 Max, 2021 |
||
16-Inch, M1 Max, 2021 |
||
13-Inch, M2, 2022 |
||
14-Inch, M2 Pro, 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M2 Pro, 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M2 Max, 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M2 Max, 2023 |
||
16-Inch, M2 Pro, 2023 |
||
16-Inch, M2 Max, 2023 |
||
16-Inch, M2 Max, 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M3, Late 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M3 Pro, Late 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M3 Pro, Late 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M3 Max, Late 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M3 Max, Late 2023 |
||
16-Inch, M3 Pro, Late 2023 |
||
16-Inch, M3 Max, Late 2023 |
||
16-Inch, M3 Max, Late 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M4, 2024 |
||
14-Inch, M4 Pro, 2024 |
||
14-Inch, M4 Pro, 2024 |
||
14-Inch, M4 Max, 2024 |
||
14-Inch, M4 Max, 2024 |
||
16-Inch, M4 Pro, 2024 |
||
16-Inch, M4 Max, 2024 |
||
16-Inch, M4 Max, 2024 |
||
M1, 2020 |
||
M2, 2023 |
||
M2 Pro, 2023 |
||
M2 Pro, 2023 |
||
M4, 2024 |
||
M4 Pro, 2024 |
||
M4 Pro, 2024 |
||
2019 |
||
2019 |
||
2019 |
||
2019 |
||
2019 |
||
2019 |
||
2019 |
||
2019 |
||
2019 |
||
2019 |
||
Mac Pro (2023) |
||
Mac Pro (2023) |
||
Mac Pro (2023) |
||
Mac Pro (2023) |
||
M1 Max, 2022 |
||
M1 Max, 2022 |
||
M1 Ultra, 2022 |
||
M1 Ultra, 2022 |
||
M2 Max, 2023 |
||
M2 Max, 2023 |
||
M2 Ultra, 2023 |
||
M2 Ultra, 2023 |
||
M3 Ultra, 2025 |
||
M3 Ultra, 2025 |
||
M4 Max, 2025 |
||
M4 Max, 2025 |
macOS Tahoe (macOS 26) Unsupported Systems
If your Mac isn't listed above, it is not compatible with macOS Tahoe (macOS 26).
Specifically, the following Macs are compatible with the previous version of the macOS -- macOS Sequoia (macOS 15) -- but not macOS Tahoe:
Sequoia Supported Mac |
Subfamily |
Model ID |
Retina 4K, 21.5-Inch, 2019 |
||
Retina 4K, 21.5-Inch, 2019 |
||
Retina 4K, 21.5-Inch, 2019 |
||
Retina 5K, 27-Inch, 2019 |
||
Retina 5K, 27-Inch, 2019 |
||
Retina 5K, 27-Inch, 2019 |
||
Retina 5K, 27-Inch, 2019 |
||
iMac Pro, Late 2017 |
||
iMac Pro, Late 2017 |
||
iMac Pro, Late 2017 |
||
iMac Pro, Late 2017 |
||
2020** |
||
2020** |
||
2020** |
||
Mid-2018 13" (Touch Bar)* |
||
Mid-2018 13" (Touch Bar)* |
||
Mid-2018 15" (Touch Bar) |
||
Mid-2018 15" (Touch Bar) |
||
Mid-2018 15" (Touch Bar) |
||
Mid-2018 15" (Touch Bar) |
||
Mid-2018 15" (Touch Bar) |
||
2019 13" (Touch Bar)* |
||
2019 13" (Touch Bar)* |
||
2019 15" (Touch Bar)* |
||
2019 15" (Touch Bar)* |
||
2019 15" (Touch Bar)* |
||
2019 15" (Touch Bar)* |
||
2019 15" (Touch Bar)* |
||
2019 13" (Touch Bar, 2 TB 3)* |
||
2019 13" (Touch Bar, 2 TB 3)* |
||
2020 13" (2 TB 3) |
||
2020 13" (2 TB 3) |
||
2018 |
||
2018 |
||
2018 |
macOS Tahoe (macOS 26) Advanced Feature Compatibility
Only Macs with Apple Silicon processors -- M1 or later -- support Apple Intelligence and Live Translations:
Apple Silicon Tahoe Mac |
Subfamily |
Model ID |
iMac (24", M1 2021) |
||
iMac (24", M1 2021) |
||
iMac (24", M3 2023) |
||
iMac (24", M3 2023) |
||
iMac (24", M4 2024) |
||
iMac (24", M4 2024) |
||
M1, 2020 |
||
M1, 2020 |
||
M2, 2022 |
||
M2, 2022 |
||
15-inch, M2, 2023 |
||
13-Inch, M3, 2024 |
||
13-Inch, M3, 2024 |
||
15-Inch, M3, 2024 |
||
13-Inch, M4, 2025 |
||
13-Inch, M4, 2025 |
||
15-Inch, M4, 2025 |
||
13-Inch, M1, 2020 |
||
14-Inch, M1 Pro, 2021 |
||
14-Inch, M1 Pro, 2021 |
||
14-Inch, M1 Pro, 2021 |
||
14-Inch, M1 Max, 2021 |
||
14-Inch, M1 Max, 2021 |
||
16-Inch, M1 Pro, 2021 |
||
16-Inch, M1 Max, 2021 |
||
16-Inch, M1 Max, 2021 |
||
13-Inch, M2, 2022 |
||
14-Inch, M2 Pro, 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M2 Pro, 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M2 Max, 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M2 Max, 2023 |
||
16-Inch, M2 Pro, 2023 |
||
16-Inch, M2 Max, 2023 |
||
16-Inch, M2 Max, 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M3, Late 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M3 Pro, Late 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M3 Pro, Late 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M3 Max, Late 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M3 Max, Late 2023 |
||
16-Inch, M3 Pro, Late 2023 |
||
16-Inch, M3 Max, Late 2023 |
||
16-Inch, M3 Max, Late 2023 |
||
14-Inch, M4, 2024 |
||
14-Inch, M4 Pro, 2024 |
||
14-Inch, M4 Pro, 2024 |
||
14-Inch, M4 Max, 2024 |
||
14-Inch, M4 Max, 2024 |
||
16-Inch, M4 Pro, 2024 |
||
16-Inch, M4 Max, 2024 |
||
16-Inch, M4 Max, 2024 |
||
M1, 2020 |
||
M2, 2023 |
||
M2 Pro, 2023 |
||
M2 Pro, 2023 |
||
M4, 2024 |
||
M4 Pro, 2024 |
||
M4 Pro, 2024 |
||
Mac Pro (2023) |
||
Mac Pro (2023) |
||
Mac Pro (2023) |
||
Mac Pro (2023) |
||
M1 Max, 2022 |
||
M1 Max, 2022 |
||
M1 Ultra, 2022 |
||
M1 Ultra, 2022 |
||
M2 Max, 2023 |
||
M2 Max, 2023 |
||
M2 Ultra, 2023 |
||
M2 Ultra, 2023 |
||
M3 Ultra, 2025 |
||
M3 Ultra, 2025 |
||
M4 Max, 2025 |
||
M4 Max, 2025 |
To reiterate, if your Mac doesn't have an Apple processor -- from the M1, M2, M3, or M4 family -- it doesn't support Apple Intelligence features, including Live Translation.
macOS Tahoe Summary
Ultimately, macOS Tahoe brings a fresh new appearance to the Mac -- albeit one with glimmers of the past -- as well as a number of useful productivity enhancements. Apple Intelligence remains a work in progress, but shows great promise with Live Translation and other features.
As always, EveryMac.com recommends that for those with "mission critical" computers, it is wise to skip any public beta entirely and wait for at least two or three "bug fix" releases after the "final" version before upgrading to any new operating system.
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