Apple has released macOS Tahoe 26.1, the first major update to the new macOS 26 platform that debuted in September. The update brings a mix of design refinements, language expansion for Apple Intelligence, and key performance improvements. It is now available for download through System Settings > General > Software Update on all Macs compatible with macOS Tahoe.
The standout feature of macOS Tahoe 26.1 is the new Liquid Glass setting, which introduces a Tinted mode for those who prefer a less transparent look across menus, notifications, and app windows. The setting, found under System Settings > Appearance, allows users to switch between the classic Clear style and the new Tinted option, which adds depth and improves readability by slightly increasing opacity. While subtle, this tweak makes macOS feel more adaptable for users who work in different lighting conditions or prefer a calmer visual layout.
In addition to the visual change, macOS Tahoe 26.1 continues to expand Apple’s AI capabilities. Apple Intelligence and Live Translation now support additional languages, including Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Japanese, and Korean, strengthening Apple’s multilingual AI experience across its ecosystem. Though Apple has not formally announced it, code changes also suggest early groundwork for Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration — a framework co-developed with Anthropic that allows AI models to securely interact with system tools and apps.
Beyond artificial intelligence, AirPlay has been updated with Apple Music AutoMix support, allowing smoother track transitions over AirPlay devices. FaceTime audio quality has been improved for low-bandwidth environments, while Communication Safety and web content filters are now automatically enabled by default for existing child accounts between ages 13 and 17, depending on region.
macOS Tahoe 26.1 also includes small interface and icon refinements. The Macintosh HD icon has been redesigned to resemble a modern SSD, simplifying its look for consistency with Apple’s hardware line. The Apple TV app icon has been updated to match the company’s recent branding shift from “Apple TV+” to Apple TV, signaling the start of Apple’s wider visual refresh for media services.
Under the hood, developers will find a range of resolved issues across the SDK and frameworks. Game Controller input lag and background event handling have been fixed, Virtualization now correctly assigns serial numbers to virtual machines for iCloud functionality, and new sudo configuration checks enhance security when verifying ownership of configuration files. Additional improvements to SwiftUI navigationLinkIndicatorVisibility prevent crashes, while Background Assets now handle local asset lookups without throwing errors.
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