Apple has released the release candidate for macOS 27 Golden Gate, and alongside it, the company published the full, official release notes for the update. The RC lands a week after beta 8, and it confirms what testers have suspected for a while: macOS 27 is basically done, and it’s heading to every eligible Mac on Monday, September 14.
If you’re already in the developer or public beta program, this is the version worth installing. If you’re not, the wait is almost over.
How to get the macOS 27 RC
The release candidate is available now to anyone enrolled in Apple’s beta programs. Head to System Settings > General > Software Update, make sure Beta Updates is turned on, and the update should show up. You’ll need a free Apple Developer account to enroll if you haven’t already.
Since this is a release candidate rather than another beta, it’s the closest thing to the final build. Apple typically doesn’t make major changes between RC and public release, so this is a safe point to install macOS 27 if you’ve been holding off.
macOS 27 Golden Gate release date: September 14
Apple confirmed macOS 27 Golden Gate ships to everyone on Monday, September 14. That’s the same day iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27 are all expected to go out, so it’s shaping up to be a busy update day across the entire lineup.
macOS 27 Golden Gate Release Notes
macOS 27 introduces Siri AI powered by Apple Intelligence, new parental controls, and an expansive set of improvements that make your Mac even more responsive, reliable, and delightful.
Siri AI
Experience a Siri that’s more personal, more capable, and more conversational.
Apple Intelligence
Across Apps Apple Intelligence makes your everyday apps smarter and more useful, from browsing the web in Safari, to staying on top of your communication and schedule, editing your favorite Photos, and more.
Design
Updates to Liquid Glass in macOS improve readability, add more character and definition to app icons, and enable you to personalize its appearance.
System Improvements
Discover lots of little ways your Mac is even more enjoyable, like faster and smoother experiences across the systems.
Child Safety
Access new features designed to allow you to more easily manage the content your children can see, who they can communicate with, and when they have access to apps.
Should you install the RC now?
If you’re a developer or you rely on your Mac for work, it’s usually smarter to wait for Monday’s public release rather than run a release candidate on your main machine. But if you’re already running the beta and just want the most stable build before launch day, this RC is exactly that. It’s Apple’s final checkpoint before macOS 27 goes out to everyone.
