macOS 16: Launch date, identify, beta, options, compatibility and extra

Apple’s Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) is coming quickly, and that’s once we will study all about macOS 16, the following model of the Mac working system (in addition to iOS 19 the brand new iPhone OS and iPadOS 19). This model might embrace some huge modifications for the Mac, together with a brand new look interface.

Apple hasn’t made any formal bulletins about macOS 16 to date, however rumors are beginning to leak. This text retains monitor of the studies, so you may get an thought of what to look ahead to when macOS 16 is revealed in June and arrives on Mac later within the yr.

Replace June 1: The subsequent model of the Mac working system could also be referred to as macOS Tahoe.

macOS 16: Launch date

We’ll get a primary have a look at the following model of macOS at WWDC in June, however Apple’s official launch of macOS 16 (probably referred to as macOS 26) can be within the fall, as is often the case.

The discharge of macOS 16 is more likely to coincide with the launch of iOS 19, which is able to in all probability occur just a few days after the iPhone occasion in September 2025. We anticipate the September iPhone occasion will happen on September 9, so the software program may very well be out round September 15 or 16.

Nonetheless, Apple has beforehand scheduled the replace to macOS after iOS, generally as quick as per week, generally so long as a month, so there may very well be an extended wait.

Right here is the current delivery historical past for macOS.

• macOS 15 Sequoia: September 16, 2024
• macOS 14 Sonoma: September 26, 2023
• macOS 13 Ventura: October 24, 2022
• macOS 12 Monterey: October 25, 2021
• macOS 11 Huge Sur: November 12, 2020
• macOS 10.15 Catalina: October 7, 2019
• macOS 10.14 Mojave: September 24, 2018

macOS 16: Developer and Public Betas

Nonetheless, you received’t have to attend till the complete launch to strive the brand new software program out. Apple will run a developer beta in addition to a public beta, so if you wish to check out the brand new options earlier than they’re launched to most of the people it is possible for you to to take action. Each betas are free, although the developer beta requires a free registration as a developer.

The primary developer macOS Beta is often shipped firstly of WWDC. In 2025 the WWDC keynote will happen on June 9. The general public beta is launched a couple of month later, often after the developer beta strikes to a second stage (beta 2). In 2024 the pubic beta arrived on July 15.

Between WWDC and the official launch within the fall, Apple will launch beta updates to builders and the general public. Anybody utilizing the beta is inspired to file bug studies utilizing the included Apple’s Suggestions Assistant app in order that the corporate can handle them.

Study extra about taking part in Apple’s beta software program program so you possibly can join and check the brand new software program as quickly because the beta arrives.

macOS 16: What’s going to macOS 16 be referred to as?

Not like its different working techniques, Apple attaches a reputation to macOS. The present identify is macOS Sequoia, however as it’s model 15 of the software program it’s also referred to as macOS 15. So, it follows that the following model of macOS can be macOS 16, besides that there’s a report from Mark Gurman of Bloomberg claiming that Apple will name the following model of its Mac working system macOS 26. This can be in step with all its working techniques, so we will anticipate: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26 and WatchOS 26. If this occurs, it can definitely be much less complicated for everybody!

However macOS additionally has one other identify that isn’t tied to the quantity. Since OS X 10.9 in 2013, Apple has used names which might be related to California.

Rumors of the brand new identify will swirl earlier than the official launch. Some reportedly trademarked names which have circulated in recent times embrace California, Condor, Diablo, Farallon, Grizzly, Mammoth, Miramar, Pacific, Redwood, Redtail, Rincon, Skyline, and Shasta. These names have been registered by an organization that’s believed to be a shell for Apple. Internally on the firm, macOS 16 is codenamed Cheer, however that received’t be its last identify (see all of the code names for macOS variations in our full record of each macOS and Mac OS X launch.)

On June 1, Gurman reported that the identify can be macOS Tahoe, after Lake Tahoe in northern California. Lake Tahoe is famend for its deep blue water, which Gurman cites as an allusion to the person interface overhaul anticipated within the new macOS.

Apple

macOS 16: Compatibility

As a result of macOS 16 might function main interface modifications, Apple might determine to make this the primary model of macOS that doesn’t run on Intel-based Macs.

The indicators of this began showing a few years in the past and with Sequoia solely supporting current Intel Macs (see: Intel Macs that may run macOS Sequoia for extra info). Apple desires to maneuver any customers of those Macs over to M-Sequence Macs and will use this model of macOS as a cutoff level. It’s unknown if the UI modifications rely on {hardware} discovered solely on M-series Macs.

With that in thoughts, you possibly can verify the specs of your Mac, then check out what we anticipate macOS 16 to be appropriate with:

• MacBook Air (M1 or later)
• MacBook Professional (M1 or later)
• iMac (M1 or later)
• Mac mini (M1 or later)
• Mac Studio (M1 Max or later)
• Mac Professional (M2 Extremely or later)

There may be nonetheless an opportunity that macOS 16 will help a collection of Intel Macs. If it does the next Intel Macs are most definitely to be lined:

• 2019 MacBook Professional
• 2020 iMac
• 2019 Mac Professional

Meaning no Intel MacBook Air fashions and no Intel Mac mini fashions and solely the newest Intel fashions of the MacBook Professional, iMac and Mac Professional.

Study extra about which Macs are supported by Apple in our information to how lengthy Macs and MacBooks final and macOS compatibility: The newest model of macOS your Mac can run.

Foundry

macOS 16: New options

Listed here are among the new options anticipated in macOS 16. This record can be up to date as extra options are reported.

Main UI change

Based on a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, macOS 16 (together with iOS 19 and iPadOS 19) could have a redesigned person interface that’s primarily based “loosely” on visionOS, Apple’s working system for its Imaginative and prescient Professional headset. Apple desires to make its working techniques extra constant throughout platforms, and visionOS would be the inspiration for it.

Particulars on how Apple will implement this new design aren’t obtainable but, however Apple received’t merely simply port over the visionOS UI to the Mac and be achieved with it. It should mix one of the best of each worlds and probably permit Mac customers to do extra (and and not using a cursor).

Due to the visionOS’s contact implementation, it’s straightforward to conclude that Apple is engaged on a touchscreen Mac. {Hardware} rumors are extra prevalent than software program ones, and touchscreen functionality has not been talked about about future MacBooks or Apple shows.

Apple

Apple Intelligence and Siri

Apple Intelligence made its debut with macOS 15 Sequoia and Apple is on a steady improvement path with these options. Nonetheless, the Apple Intelligence options promised for Siri in iOS 18/macOS 15 have been delayed and aren’t anticipated till later in 2025, possibly 2026.

Apple often introduces Siri updates first on iOS, so this delay implies that Siri updates in macOS have been pushed again even additional.

Will Apple reveal different Apple Intelligence impressed options? Or reliance on one other device to enrich ChatGPT integration? Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote in a late Could 2025 report that Apple received’t ship “any AI breakthroughs” at WWDC.

Residence app upgrades

Quite a lot of what’s deliberate for the iOS 19 replace will make its approach into macOS 16. Whereas specifics in regards to the Residence app haven’t been reported, a number of studies of latest sensible house {hardware} have been made, so it will observe that Apple will replace the Residence app. Nonetheless, the Residence app is extra usually used on the iPad and iPhone, so Apple might launch the Mac model of the Residence app at a later date.

Gaming app

MacOS 16 will reportedly embrace a devoted gaming app, in keeping with a report from Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. The App may also be obtainable for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, it’s claimed.

The Mac app will faucet into each the App Retailer’s video games part and Apple Arcade, and “video games downloaded outdoors of the App Retailer,” in keeping with Gurman. It should additionally provide editorial content material about new video games and centralize all the pieces at the moment present in Recreation Middle.

Magnifier app and different accessibility options

The accessibility function that first appeared on the iPhone is claimed to be coming to the Mac in macOS 16, and it’s Apple that claims so.

In Could 2025 Apple revealed some new Accessibility options coming to macOS later this yr. Amongst them are a Magnifier app which is able to work with Continuity Digicam (which helps you to use your iPhone as a webcam). With the Magnifier app, a Mac can use their iPhone digital camera (or every other USB digital camera) to view their environment and zoom in.

Apple additionally offered particulars of a brand new Accessibility Reader coming to Macs later in 2025. This technique-wide function will make textual content simpler to learn, by altering color, font, and spacing.

Different new accessibility options embrace: Braille Entry, Background Sounds, and Private Voice. Learn in regards to the accessibility options coming within the subsequent main macOS in our information.