The countdown to WWDC is winding down, as Apple’s big software unveilings are just days away.macOS 26 will introduce a new California-inspired name, Tahoe, alongside a variety of feature upgrades.Here are four new Mac features expected to be announced next week.
#1: Brand new design iOS 26 has been the biggest focus of redesign rumors ahead of Apple’s announcements.But per Mark Gurman, Apple has design overhauls coming for all of its platforms—including the Mac.macOS 26 is expected to get design updates similar to iOS 26 so that users experience greater consistency across Apple devices.
This means buttons, menus, and other UI elements should look and work more similarly across Mac, iPhone, and iPad.#2: Captive Wi-Fi syncing When you’re joining a public Wi-Fi network, it’s always annoying encountering a special login screen pop-up.These pop-ups are tied to “captive” network setups.
What’s worse, though, is when you need to go through the login screen separately on your iPhone, Mac, iPad, and more.Thanks to an upgrade coming in macOS 26 and iOS 26, you’ll be able to connect to a captive Wi-Fi network on one device and have that connection instantly synced to your other devices—no extra steps required.#3: Stage Manager 2.0 Stage Manager may not be as commonly used on the Mac as it is on iPad, but Apple nonetheless shipped its alternative windowing solution on both platforms.
Rumors indicate Stage Manager is getting a big overhaul in iPadOS 26.Based on Apple’s history with the feature, and this year’s reported emphasis on making all platforms work more cohesively, it’s likely the same ‘Stage Manager 2.0’ upgrades are coming to the Mac too.#4: Vehicle Motion Cues A sleeper hit feature for me from iOS and iPadOS 18 was Vehicle Motion Cues.
Through its research, Apple discovered it could reduce motion sickness in the car by adding animated dots on-screen that follow the movement of the vehicle.It sounds overly simplistic, but Vehicle Motion Cues has been a game-changer for me.Top comment by Fats Liked by 4 people Continued enhancements to the support of high end gaming and game porting.
Optimization for 3d animation protocols to make MacOS a more compelling platform for development.Over time this will build marketshare for Apple.View all comments Now, Mac users will be able to enjoy this same in-car upgrade thanks to Apple bringing the feature to macOS 26.
If you ever need to work from the passenger seat, and motion sickness is an issue, Vehicle Motion Cues can make a huge difference.macOS 26 new features: wrap-up Compared to the iPhone and iPad, the Mac is a much more mature platform, and thus doesn’t tend to get as many upgrades as its counterparts.But between the redesigned OS, and the rumored features mentioned above plus those not listed (e.g., new third-party AI options, Siri upgrades, more), macOS 26 is shaping up to be a big update for the Mac.
What new features do you hope arrive in macOS 26? Let us know in the comments.Best Mac accessories AirPods Pro 2 (now only $169, down from $249) 100W USB-C power adapter for fast charging tomtoc protective MacBook sleeve bag Twelve South aluminum laptop stand for MacBooks Anker Docking Station USB-C with Ethernet, HDMI, SD, more You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day.Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop.
Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel
