The countdown to WWDC is nearing its conclusion, as Apple’s major software announcements are just around the corner. macOS 26 will unveil a new California-inspired moniker, Tahoe, along with a range of feature enhancements. Here are four new Mac functionalities anticipated to be revealed next week.
## #1: Fresh Design
iOS 26 has received the most attention regarding redesign speculation before Apple’s announcements. However, according to Mark Gurman, Apple plans significant design changes for all of its platforms—including the Mac. macOS 26 is expected to adopt design revisions akin to iOS 26, providing users with a more unified experience across Apple devices. This implies buttons, menus, and other UI components should appear and function more similarly across Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
## #2: Captive Wi-Fi Synchronization
When connecting to a public Wi-Fi network, encountering a special login screen is always frustrating. These screens are associated with “captive” network configurations. What’s even more troublesome is having to access the login screen separately on each of your devices like iPhone, Mac, iPad, and more. With an upgrade in macOS 26 and iOS 26, you’ll have the capability to connect to a captive Wi-Fi network on one device and automatically sync that connection to your other devices—no additional steps necessary.
## #3: Stage Manager 2.0
While Stage Manager might not see as much use on the Mac as it does on the iPad, Apple has still delivered its alternative windowing solution on both systems. Rumors suggest that Stage Manager is set for a major revamp in iPadOS 26. Given Apple’s past with this feature, coupled with this year’s focus on enhancing interoperability across platforms, it’s probable that the same ‘Stage Manager 2.0’ improvements will also be made available for the Mac.
## #4: Vehicle Motion Indicators
A surprising standout feature for iOS and iPadOS 18 was Vehicle Motion Indicators. Through research, Apple found that it could alleviate motion sickness in vehicles by introducing animated dots on-screen that mimic the car’s movement. While it may seem overly simple, Vehicle Motion Indicators has proven to be transformative for many users. Now, Mac users will be able to benefit from this feature in their vehicles as Apple brings it to macOS 26. If you ever need to work while in the passenger seat and suffer from motion sickness, Vehicle Motion Indicators could be incredibly beneficial.
## macOS 26 New Features: Conclusion
In comparison to the iPhone and iPad, the Mac is a far more established platform, thus it typically receives fewer upgrades than its counterparts. Nevertheless, with the redesigned OS and the rumored features mentioned above, in addition to numerous others (e.g., new third-party AI offerings, Siri updates), macOS 26 is shaping up to be a significant upgrade for the Mac.
What new features are you looking forward to in macOS 26? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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