Apple's Liquid Glass software design language is bringing a new look to your Mac. Some of it you'll likely spot right away -- like the revamped menu bar, which will have a completely clear background. But other design changes coming in MacOS 26 Tahoe will be more subtle, to the point where you might almost miss them entirely. But they're worth hunting down.
MacOS Tahoe is more than a design update. Functional changes include a smarter Spotlight search, new continuity features, live translation and a new Games app. MacOS even picked up the Phone app in this release.
But I'm here to talk to you about the Mac OS icons, many of which -- until now -- have barely changed in decades. There are cool new things you can do, like change the default color of an icon folder without replacing it entirely, along with additional customization options that previously were never available (you can now tint icons or make them completely clear like you can on the iPhone). Other icons are seeing a tweaked return to their former designs, but the updated versions are shiny and sophisticated.
What I find fascinating is the way Tahoe's icons tell the same story while saying less in their imagery.
Below, I've detailed some of the updated icons you'll find on MacOS 26, keeping in mind that the final designs may change by the time the OS exits beta and the final build is released. I'll compare the new icons to the current version of the OS, Sequoia, much like I did when comparing the Liquid Glass effect in iOS 26 to the not-long-for-this-world look of iOS 18.
Everyday Mac users may choose to overlook some of the updates to the icons, and that's fine -- they're just doors to a destination. But if you appreciate the subtleties Apple put into the details of its latest OS, follow along.
For more, don't miss our iPhone 17 rumor roundup.
Tucked in, flattened down and rounded out
Icons on the Mac now feel more like that of those on iOS, with a more rounded, squircle design. Compared to Sequoia, Tahoe's icons become flatter in the details and sometimes that texture found in the former OS version's icons is replaced with a subtle translucent effect. Sequoia's sometimes concave or indented style has been pushed outwards, allowing for Liquid Glass to add a little shine on the corners of elements within the icon's design. Apple has also pulled in all icon elements that had previously hung off the edges -- now everything is tucked within the icon shape.
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