macOS

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MacOS 27

The new MacOS 27, coming in September 2026. What to expect in macOS 27 from Apple's WWDC announcement: new features, for Apple Silicon only (not Intel Macs), and whether you should update.

Apple will announce macOS 27 at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday, June 8, 2026. A developer beta is expected the same day, with a public beta to follow in July, and the final public release in the fall, most likely September. Apple has not yet revealed the name (but there is speculation). This article summarizes what we know so far.

Two things make macOS 27 a notable release. It is the first macOS version that runs only on Apple Silicon (M-series) Macs, dropping support for every Intel Mac. It is also the release that turns Siri into a conversational assistant. Most reports describe macOS 27 as a stability and performance update rather than a redesign, similar in spirit to the old Mac OS X Snow Leopard release.

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When will macOS 27 be released

Apple follows the same yearly schedule for each macOS release. Here is the expected timeline for macOS 27:

  • Announcement at the WWDC keynote: June 8, 2026
  • Developer beta: June 8, 2026, the same day
  • Public beta: around July 2026
  • Final public release: fall 2026, most likely September

The June 8 keynote date is official. The beta and release dates follow Apple's usual pattern and are not yet official.

Should you update to macOS 27?

You cannot install macOS 27 yet. When the beta arrives, you can install the macOS beta. I recommend installing on a spare Mac, just to be safe and avoid inconvenience. When the final version ships in the fall, Apple Silicon (M-series) Mac users can upgrade to macOS 27 soon after release. Apple's public releases are well tested, so serious problems are rare. If you are new to the process, see how to update macOS.

Take more care if you rely on older apps built for Intel Macs. macOS 27 is expected to be the last version to fully support Rosetta 2, the translation layer that runs Intel apps on Apple Silicon. Check that your important apps have native Apple Silicon versions before you depend on macOS 27 for work.

If you have an Intel Mac, macOS 27 is not for you. It runs only on Apple Silicon. Your Mac stays on MacOS Tahoe 26, currently the latest macOS version, which continues to receive security updates for about three more years, before you have to buy a new Mac.

What's significant in macOS 27

MacOS 27 completes two long transitions. It ends the Intel era and makes Apple Silicon the only platform for new macOS versions. It also delivers the conversational Siri that Apple first promised in 2024.

At the same time, Apple is responding to complaints about the Liquid Glass design introduced in macOS Tahoe. Reports describe a slight redesign that improves readability rather than a new look. The aim for macOS 27 is refinement: better performance, longer battery life, and a clearer interface.

New features expected in macOS 27

These features come from reporting and leaks, mainly from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and MacRumors. Apple has not confirmed them, so treat the details as rumors until June 8.

A smarter, conversational Siri

The biggest change across Apple's 2026 software is a rebuilt Siri. Apple is expected to turn Siri into a conversational assistant to compete with ChatGPT or Claude. A standalone Siri app would let you type or speak, keep a history of past chats, and start new conversations with suggested prompts.

The new Siri is integrated with your Mac, unlike ChatGPT or Claude, so you can do much more across your apps and files:

  • Use personal context from your Mail, Messages, files, and photos to answer questions
  • See what is on your screen and act on it, such as saving a texted address to a contact
  • Carry out tasks across apps, such as editing a photo and then sending it
  • Answer general questions from the web with summarized results
  • Generate images with Image Playground

Reports also say you will be able to choose a third-party assistant, such as Google Gemini or Anthropic's Claude, for Siri and for Apple's writing and image tools. Apple is expected to add privacy controls, including an option to auto-delete your Siri conversations.

A refined Liquid Glass design

Apple introduced the Liquid Glass design in macOS Tahoe, and many users found the transparency and shadows hard to read. For macOS 27, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports a slight redesign that improves readability. Apple is not removing Liquid Glass. Instead it is tuning the look so text and controls are easier to see. A system-wide control to reduce transparency is also rumored, which would let you dial back the glass effect across the whole system.

Better performance and battery life

Many reports compare macOS 27 to Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the 2009 release famous for fixing problems rather than adding features. Apple engineers are said to be cleaning up old code, rewriting older parts of the system, and tuning apps for current hardware. The goal is a faster, more responsive Mac and longer battery life on MacBooks. You will likely feel these gains rather than see them listed as features.

New photo editing tools

The Photos app is expected to gain AI editing tools:

  • "Extend" fills in scenery beyond the original edges of a photo when you change the crop
  • "Enhance" adjusts color and lighting automatically
  • "Reframe" changes the perspective of a spatial photo after you take it

Apple is still refining some of these tools, so they could arrive later or change before release.

Groundwork for a touch-screen Mac

Apple is reportedly preparing macOS 27 for a future MacBook Pro with a touch screen. Controls would grow larger when you tap with a finger and stay compact when you use the trackpad. The system would also support iPad-style gestures, such as pinch to zoom. Apple is said to treat touch as a bonus, not a replacement for the trackpad. You probably will not see these touch features until Apple announces the new hardware, so they may stay hidden in the release you see.

Accessibility improvements

Each May, Apple previews accessibility features for the year ahead. These options are expected in the macOS 27 cycle:

  • Generated subtitles transcribe spoken audio in any uncaptioned video, on device
  • Accessibility Reader handles complex documents and adds summaries and translation
  • Made for iPhone hearing aids gain more reliable pairing across Apple devices

These features run on device, which keeps your data private.

Smaller changes expected

Safari: Safari is expected to group your open tabs into categories automatically. You would choose between automatic and manual grouping. It is new to Safari, but other browsers have offered this for years.

Spotlight: The new conversational Siri is expected to take over much of what Spotlight does today. Apple is expected to keep and expand Siri Suggestions for quick prompts.

Compatibility

MacOS 27 runs only on Macs with Apple Silicon (M-series). For the first time, no Intel Mac can run the new macOS version. Apple announced this change at WWDC 2025.

Before the release, check your macOS version and confirm your Mac model:

MacOS 27 is expected to run on these Macs:

  • MacBook Air with Apple Silicon (M-series)
  • MacBook Pro with Apple Silicon (M-series)
  • iMac with Apple Silicon (M-series)
  • Mac mini with Apple Silicon (M-series)
  • Mac Studio (all models)
  • Mac Pro with Apple Silicon (M-series)

These Intel Macs run macOS Tahoe 26 but cannot update to macOS 27:

  • MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
  • MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
  • iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020)
  • Mac Pro (2019)

If you have an Intel Mac, stay on macOS Tahoe 26. Apple is expected to provide security updates for about three more years.

Rosetta 2 and older apps

MacOS 27 is expected to be the last version to fully support Rosetta 2. Rosetta 2 lets Apple Silicon Macs run apps built for Intel Macs. After macOS 27, Apple plans to limit Rosetta 2 to a small set of older apps. If you use Intel-only apps, ask the developers for native Apple Silicon versions before macOS 28 arrives in 2027.

This will only impact users who are hanging on to an old version of a macOS app.

What users are saying

Apple has not released macOS 27 yet, so there are no user reviews. To follow leaks, betas, and early opinions, take a look at these sources:

Check back after June 8 for confirmed features, the official name, and release dates.

Continue setting up your Mac

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