Every Mac Model That Upgrades To Macos 26 Tahoe (and Which Aren't Compatible)

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Last period astatine WWDC, Apple announced its upcoming update for MacOS 26, dubbed "Tahoe," which includes respective app additions, a supercharged Spotlight feature, and a big of caller creation customizations anchored astir Apple's "Liquid Glass" UI artistic we're seeing crossed its devices.

Also: Your aged MacBook's days are numbered, arsenic Apple confirms extremity of support

But baked into each nan updates, Apple softly dropped nan news that MacOS 26 will beryllium nan past operating strategy supported by Intel-based Macs. After this update, Apple will extremity supporting these older devices pinch caller updates and entree to nan latest operating systems.

Along those lines, not each Mac will support MacOS 26, arsenic immoderate of nan pre-2020 MacBooks pinch Intel chips are not compatible. This news didn't travel arsenic a awesome daze for astir -- Windows is dropping support for a wide swath of PCs later this twelvemonth -- but it's still not what a batch of MacBook owners want to hear.

If you person a Mac and aren't judge whether your instrumentality will support nan caller operating system, we've sewage nan afloat database to make consciousness of nan updates.

Which Mac models will get MacOS 26 Tahoe?

The pursuing Macs will beryllium capable to support MacOS 26 erstwhile it releases this fall:

• MacBook Pro M1 aliases later
• MacBook Pro 16-inch (Intel) 2019
• MacBook Pro 13-inch (Intel) 2020 pinch 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports
• MacBook Air M1 aliases later
• Mac Studio 2022 and later
• Mac Pro 2019 aliases later
• Mac mini 2020 aliases later
• iMac 2020 aliases later

As Apple said, it will beryllium nan past operating strategy Intel-based devices will support, truthful if you person 1 of those connected this list, you'll astir apt want to upgrade and enactment connected Tahoe for nan remainder of nan device's lifecycle.

Also: Every iPhone exemplary that tin beryllium updated to Apple's iOS 26 (and which ones can't)

MacOS 26 Tahoe won't beryllium afloat released to nan nationalist until September of this year, but if you're itching for a sneak peek, you tin participate successful nan beta test, which kicked disconnected earlier this week.

How tin I place my Mac model?

This is nan easy part. Just navigate to nan Apple icon successful nan apical near area of nan paper barroom and click "About this Mac." You'll beryllium capable to spot your model's afloat sanction there.

Which Mac models will nary longer beryllium supported?

If you person a MacBook from earlier 2020 pinch an Intel chip, it apt won't beryllium supported (unless it's 1 of nan models listed above). This includes nan MacBook Air from 2020 and nan two-port MacBook Pro 13-inch, some pinch Intel processors. Anything from 2018 aliases earlier is besides not supported.

Also: The champion MacOS 26 features that Windows PC users person been enjoying for years

If you person 1 of these Macs, your instrumentality will still work, but you'll request to stay connected MacOS 15 Sequoia for nan remainder of its lifecycle.

MacOS 26 nationalist beta vs afloat release: What's nan difference?

The MacOS 26 beta type is different than nan wide merchandise because it's still successful improvement during nan beta. During nan first period, developers and testers tin measure nan package and optimize their apps and services for amended motorboat stability. Now that nan nationalist beta is out, a bully information of nan recently announced features are available, though they whitethorn not beryllium optimized, whitethorn beryllium buggy, aliases whitethorn not beryllium afloat complete.

Also: How to instal MacOS 26 connected your MacBook (and which models support it)

After months of beta testing, nan wide merchandise should motorboat successful tandem pinch Apple's autumn products, including nan latest iPhone model. It is past that MacOS 26 will apt spot a wide rollout, prompting each eligible Mac users to download nan software.

While nan afloat merchandise typically doesn't see arsenic galore bugs and glitches arsenic nan beta, users whitethorn acquisition immoderate issues during nan first fewer weeks and months. Regardless, you'll want to look done nan update logs arsenic you're downloading nan package to afloat understand nan features and benefits you're getting.

When will MacOS 26 beryllium released?

Apple typically releases its caller operating systems for nationalist beta entree a fewer weeks aft WWDC, and it this twelvemonth nan nationalist beta went unrecorded connected July 24th. The nationalist beta programme lets users trial processing package to pinpoint bugs and capacity issues. This process lets package teams make immoderate basal fixes and releases earlier nan caller strategy reaches wide availability.

Also: Your Mac is astir to get a immense Spotlight upgrade - finally

Apple released MacOS 15 retired of beta connected Sept. 16, 2024, a week aft its "Glowtime" event. We expect nan aforesaid pinch MacOS 26.

What is simply a package beta?

A package beta is simply a type of a programme aliases operating strategy initially released to a constricted group of users to stitchery feedback and robust retired bugs. The beta merchandise lets a developer aliases institution trial its package programme aliases strategy to emulate real-world usage earlier a wide release.

Also: Apple conscionable gave maine a compelling logic to ditch my MacBook for an iPad. Here's why

The beta shape follows alpha testing, wherever package is developed and tested internally wrong nan company.

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