Monday July 13, 2026 1:41 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today released the first public beta of macOS Golden Gate, expanding the macOS 27 beta test to non-developers. You can sign up to test the update on Apple's beta website, and then download it by going to System Settings > General > Software Update and toggling on the macOS 27 beta.

macOS Golden Gate includes the same Siri AI features as iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, but you get to Siri through Spotlight with a Command + Space keyboard shortcut. Siri can search the web to answer questions, look through your personal data like photos, emails, and messages to help you find what you're searching for, and complete actions in and between apps. There is a dedicated Siri app, and you can hold ongoing conversations with Siri.
Apple brought Visual Intelligence to the Mac, so Siri can look at what's on your screen and answer questions about it.
The Liquid Glass design introduced last year has been updated, and Apple added a slider for controlling overall system transparency. Liquid Glass opacity has been changed so it better diffuses complex content, and other design changes bring more depth and separation to the UI so it's easier to tell which window is active.
Apps now feature uniform toolbars with headings and controls that are easier to read, and windows no longer have such dramatically rounded corners. Sidebars are no longer floating and extend edge-to-edge, plus window positioning is more consistent across external displays.
Write with Siri is able to generate text from scratch, correct your grammar, or give you feedback on your writing, and there are new AI editing tools in the Photos app. In Shortcuts, you can create automations with natural language requests, and search has been improved in Mail and Messages. Apple made multiple performance improvements across macOS Golden Gate for a faster, smoother experience even on older Macs.
More on the new features in macOS 27 can be found in our macOS Golden Gate roundup.
Monday June 22, 2026 10:09 am PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today provided developers with the second beta of macOS Golden Gate, with the update coming two weeks after Apple seeded the first beta. Developers can download macOS Golden Gate by going to System Settings > General > Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled, and a free developer account is required. macOS Golden Gate includes multiple design improvements. Liquid Glass ...
Apple has redesigned its first-party app icons for the second year running, with iOS 27 addressing blurriness complaints about iOS 26 by integrating additional layers of Liquid Glass directly into the icon artwork itself. When Apple introduced Liquid Glass with iOS 26 last year, it redesigned its entire lineup of first-party app icons to give them a layered glass look with subtle depth. The...
macOS 27 Golden Gate removes AFP support, ending Time Machine compatibility with Time Capsule after nearly two decades, but a community project from a Microsoft engineer offers a potential workaround for owners not yet ready to move on. Apple's Time Capsule was introduced at Macworld Expo in January 2008, combining a Wi-Fi router with NAS-style network storage designed to work in tandem with ...