All the New Features Coming in MacOS 26.1
While I updated my iPhone to iOS 26 as soon as I could, I haven’t had a chance to try macOS Tahoe yet. I love my M1 iMac, but I’m concerned that Apple’s first update isn’t optimized enough for the five-year-old chip , and I’m waiting to see if the upcoming Tahoe version delivers better performance.
Surprisingly, the next version is already on the way— and it appears to be improved . Apple has been beta testing macOS Tahoe 26.1 alongside iOS 26.1 since September, and on Tuesday, the company released release candidates for both updates. As the name suggests, a release candidate is what Apple considers the final version of any software release. If developers and public testers don’t find any serious bugs or glitches, this version of macOS Tahoe 26.1 will be released to the general public.
The release is likely to take place next week. In the meantime, we know what features Apple has in store for Mac users who decide to upgrade. It’s a much smaller update than macOS 26, but 26.1 still offers several interesting new features for users to explore.
Control over the appearance of liquid glass
Without a doubt, the most striking difference between Apple’s updates this year and last year is Liquid Glass. This new design language is the most radical change to Apple’s user interface in years, and while some people love it, others hate it. I love the new design on my iPhone, but I understand why some users dislike the way some elements show through the background, which can make visibility difficult in some cases.
Apple seems to have taken the criticism to heart: in macOS Tahoe, as well as iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1, the company now gives users the ability to control the appearance of Liquid Glass, at least to some extent. The new toggle, found in System Preferences > Appearance , has two options: “Transparent,” which preserves the original Liquid Glass appearance, and “Tinted,” which increases the opacity of system UI elements. With the “Tinted” option, the background won’t show through as much, and what does show through won’t obscure the overlay as much.
If you find Liquid Glass in macOS Tahoe too transparent and glassy, you might want to give this option a try.
Expanded Apple Music AutoMix support
Apple’s latest update introduced a new feature similar to DJing in Apple Music. AutoMix automatically creates transitions between songs, seamlessly flowing from one to the next. It’s a cool feature ( if it works well ) and can make transitions between different songs much smoother.
In macOS 26.1, AutoMix now works via AirPlay. Previously, this feature was unavailable when streaming music to an AirPlay device.
Better FaceTime audio quality
Apple says Mac users who update to version 26.1 should experience improved FaceTime audio quality in low-bandwidth environments. The company isn’t sharing details, but it’s good news, to say the least: if you’re calling someone in a weak signal area or on a weak Wi-Fi connection, you should be able to hear each other better.
Communication and web content security filters for children’s accounts
If you have child accounts (ages 13 to 17) on your Mac, after updating to the latest version, these accounts will have communication and web content safety filters enabled by default. These filters are designed to restrict access to adult websites, protecting minors from content they shouldn’t be accessing.
New network icon
As spotted by members of the MacOSBeta forum on Reddit , Apple has updated the Network icon for macOS 26.1. In my opinion, the new icon looks great: it’s designed in a blue color scheme with glowing effects:
The new network icon in Tahoe 26.1 Beta 1 is simply gorgeous! It looks like it came straight out of OS X… by u/nitzukai in MacOSBeta
New Macintosh HD icon
Likewise, the Macintosh HD icon has been slightly updated. The original Tahoe icon has been significantly redesigned compared to the previous, iconic icon. Apple has now removed unnecessary elements to simplify the design. (I still miss the original.)
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Possibly multiple security updates
Apple hasn’t yet announced security updates for macOS 26.1, but they’re likely coming. Apple doesn’t often release full security updates like other companies, except for emergency ones. Instead, the company typically bundles its security fixes into point updates, like 26.1. Once the official update is released, Apple will likely update its security release notes to include information about these fixes.