Apple has seeded macOS Golden Gate developer beta 4, continuing to refine the operating system ahead of its public release this September. The update arrives a week after beta 3 and is available through System Settings > General > Software Update on supported Macs.
With less than two months remaining before launch, beta 4 is primarily a stability update with no major new user-facing features. Instead, Apple continues polishing the experience with fixes for Apple Intelligence, Siri, Safari, Messages, Mail, Mission Control, media playback, external displays, and numerous developer frameworks as the software moves closer to release.
For anyone new to the beta, macOS Golden Gate introduces several major changes coming to Macs this fall:
- Visual Intelligence expands to the Mac after debuting on iPhone, allowing users to identify objects, summarize on-screen content, and interact with information using Apple Intelligence.
- Apple Intelligence is available on every Mac that supports macOS Golden Gate, although some on-device Siri AI features, including natural voice selection and enhanced dictation, require an M3 chip or newer. Siri AI can be accessed through Spotlight (Command + Space) or the dedicated Siri app for longer conversations.
- Animated wallpapers inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge were introduced in beta 3. Golden Gate Sunset and Golden Gate Night animate when unlocking the Mac and can also be used as screen savers.
- Built-in apps receive updates across Safari, Messages, Photos, Passwords, Image Playground, and several other system apps.
macOS Golden Gate also marks an important transition for developers. It will be the last macOS release to fully support Rosetta 2, giving developers a clear timeline to migrate Intel-based applications to native Apple silicon or discontinue support for older hardware.
The operating system requires a Mac powered by an M1 chip or later, along with the new A18 Pro-powered MacBook Neo. Intel Macs are no longer supported, with macOS Tahoe remaining the final major release for Intel hardware and continuing to receive security updates throughout the macOS 26 cycle.
Developer beta 4 is available now through System Settings > General > Software Update for registered developers. Apple also released the first public beta on July 13, allowing anyone with an Apple ID to try macOS Golden Gate before its full launch this September alongside iOS 27 and iPadOS 27.
