Apple released the first macOS 26 public beta, alongside public beta versions of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and watchOS 26. These betas showcase Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language, offering users a peek into upcoming system updates.
macOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26 Public Betas: What’s New
Mac users can now download macOS 26 beta featuring Liquid Glass design enhancements across the menu bar, dock, and widgets. The updated Control Centre mirrors features from iPadOS 26 and iOS 26, including Live Activities from iPhone apps displayed on the menu bar.
Spotlight app’s improved functionality, demonstrated at WWDC 2025, is integrated into macOS 26 beta. New filter options for apps, files, and shortcuts enhance user experience. The Shortcuts app now supports cloud-based and on-device machine learning models.
Built-in apps on macOS 26 have been revamped, with translucent effects and image background support in Messages. Real-time translation and updated design have been added to FaceTime and Messages.
iPadOS 26 introduces a unique window management system, different from Stage Manager, enabling users to open and resize multiple windows effortlessly. Live Activities feature is also included for enhanced functionality.
The watchOS 26 public beta provides a Workout Buddy feature for Apple Watch, emphasizing motivation during workouts through activity history insights. Additionally, a new wrist flick gesture and access to the Notes app have been introduced.
Downloading the macOS 26, iPadOS 26, and watchOS 26 betas is possible for eligible devices, although it’s recommended to install them on secondary devices due to potential bugs in pre-release software.
