- Apple has released macOS Tahoe 26.1 update for Mac
- The update offers new features, bug fixes and security patches.
- Here are 5 of the best additions you can use once you upgrade
Apple just released macOS 26.1, which is the first major update to macOS Tahoe since the operating system arrived in September. It brings with it a wide range of new features and additions, and there’s a lot to dig into and explore on your Mac.
If you want to install the macOS 26.1 update, first make sure you’ve backed up your Mac in case something goes wrong. Then open the System Settings app and go to General > Software Update.
Wait for your Mac to find the update and then click Update now. Let the update complete (your Mac may restart several times) and voilà: macOS 26.1 will be running on your Mac.
Here, we’ve rounded up five of the best new features found in macOS 26.1. Let’s see what awaits us.
1. Toggle liquid glass
Apple’s Liquid Glass redesign has proven divisive since it replaced macOS’s old visual identity, and its transparent glass-like effects certainly aren’t to everyone’s taste. Apple appears to have recognized this with the macOS 26.1 update, as it contains a new toggle that allows you to adjust the look of Liquid Glass.
Go to the System Settings app and you will find the option in the Appearance menu on the left sidebar. There you’ll find a new Liquid Glass menu where Apple presents two options: the default clear look of Liquid Glass or a tinted alternative that Apple says “increases the opacity of the material in apps and notifications on the lock screen.”
If you don’t like the standard Liquid Glass aesthetic, you now have a new way to modify its appearance.
2. Apple Music Auto Mix
At its WWDC 2025 conference in June, Apple unveiled a new Apple Music feature called AutoMix that the company promised would allow Apple Music subscribers to automatically and seamlessly transition between songs in their music library.
With macOS 26.1, you can now use the AutoMix feature over AirPlay. That means it will no longer stop working when connected to an AirPlay product, allowing you to enjoy the new feature with a wider range of the best wireless speakers and devices.
3. Improved FaceTime audio quality
FaceTime received a number of welcome improvements when macOS Tahoe launched, including real-time machine translation, call detection from unknown numbers, a new design, and more. With macOS 26.1, there are more improvements to your calls.
This time, Apple says that macOS 26.1 offers higher quality audio when you have a low-bandwidth connection or when connection conditions are not optimal. Instead of struggling with choppy, poor-quality calls, the latest macOS update could make your conversations a little clearer.
4. Child account protections
Keeping your child safe online is not always easy. However, in macOS 26.1, Apple hopes to have made things a little easier with a tweak to how web browsing content filters work.
Web content and communication security filters are now enabled by default for existing child accounts where your child’s age is 13 to 17 years old (note that age varies by country and region). These filters are used to put limits and restrictions on adult websites.
Having them enabled by default ensures that your child’s account is always protected, without needing to activate filters yourself. That should prevent anything from escaping.
5. Security patches
In addition to the new features, the macOS 26.1 update also contains a wide range of security patches – 90 in total, by our count. These include fixes for vulnerabilities in the WebKit engine that powers the Safari web browser, patches that fix problems in Apple’s app installation process, changes to the Finder, and much more.
This illustrates why it’s important to keep your Mac as up to date as possible. Not only do you get new features as soon as they’re ready, but you also ensure your Mac is protected against the latest security threats. With so many fixes contained in macOS 26.1, it’s a good idea to update your Mac and strengthen its defenses.
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