macOS Tahoe 26 public beta is officially here (for free). Like last year, it’s super simple to install the software thanks to a toggle in your Mac settings. Follow along for how to install macOS Tahoe public beta on your Mac.
macOS Tahoe has the same Liquid Glass design as iOS 26, and it extends to app icons, folders, the Dock, in-app navigation, menus, the Control Center, and the Menu Bar. The Control Center and the Menu Bar are both customizable, and you’re also able to customize folders, app icons, and widgets.
While the macOS Tahoe beta is free for anyone, it’s not designed to be run on your main Mac as there will be bugs and quirks.
The first macOS Tahoe public beta is now available to everyone.
How to install the Public Beta of macOS Tahoe
Before installing macOS Tahoe public beta, it’s important to create a backup of your Mac and make sure you have ample free storage space available for the OS download.
A paid Apple Developer account is no longer needed – but you may need to sign in with your Apple account at developer.apple.com if you haven’t before
After taking these steps, here’s how you can install macOS Tahoe public beta:
- Go to System Settings.
- Click General.
- Click Software Update.
- Click the info button ⓘ next to ”Beta updates“.
- Now choose macOS Tahoe Public Beta to opt for beta updates.
- Click Done and wait for your Mac to check for the latest beta update.
Click Upgrade Now to start downloading the macOS Tahoe 26 public beta.
Note: Your Mac must be signed in with the Apple account you use to sign into to the Apple Developer website in order to access the macOS 26 beta software.
Should you install the beta?
Apple warns that beta software is not intended for devices you rely on in day-to-day use. That’s because all sorts of bugs and performance issues tend to plague beta software, especially early in the beta cycle.
Each year varies in terms of the stability of Apple’s betas. macOS tends to be one of the more stable platforms, because it usually doesn’t receive as many changes and new features as platforms like iOS.
That said, it’s always possible that any app or feature could break on a given beta. Users should only install the beta release with extreme caution and an awareness that they may need to revert to the stable release of macOS—a lengthy process.
If you are set on downloading Apple’s beta software across all platforms, then you might also be interested in how to download the iOS 26 public beta.
Have you installed macOS Tahoe public beta? How is the stability and performance for you? Let us know in the comments.
