What Is macOS? The Complete 2026 Guide
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Every day, roughly 100 million people around the world sit down at a Mac and just start working—no driver hunting, no setup headaches, no pop-up storms. That experience didn't happen by accident. It is the result of 25 years of deliberate engineering inside a single piece of software: macOS. Whether you are thinking about switching from Windows, buying your first Mac, or simply curious about what sits beneath the sleek aluminum lid of a MacBook, this guide covers everything you need to know—from the Unix roots Apple quietly borrowed in 1996 to the Liquid Glass redesign that shipped in 2025.
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TL;DR
macOS is Apple's operating system for Mac computers, first released on March 24, 2001.
The current version is macOS Tahoe 26 (version 26.3, released February 11, 2026), which features a new Liquid Glass design and expanded Apple Intelligence.
macOS runs on the XNU kernel—a hybrid of Mach and BSD Unix—making it POSIX-compliant and highly stable.
It holds roughly 16% of the global desktop OS market (StatCounter, March 2025) and 28.5% in the United States.
macOS Tahoe is the last version to support Intel-based Macs; from the next release, only Apple Silicon (M-series) chips are supported.
Apple Intelligence—on-device AI—is available on Macs with M1 chips or newer.
What is macOS?
macOS is the operating system that runs on Apple Mac computers—MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, Mac Studio, iMac, and Mac Pro. It provides the graphical interface, file management, security, and system services that connect hardware to software. The current version is macOS Tahoe 26, released September 15, 2025.
Table of Contents
Background & History of macOS
macOS is the primary operating system for Apple's Mac line of computers. Apple officially defines it as the software that provides the user interface and acts as the link between a Mac's hardware and its applications. (Macworld, 2026)
The story begins not at Apple but at NeXT—the company Steve Jobs founded in 1985 after leaving Apple. NeXT built a Unix-based operating system called NeXTSTEP, released in 1989. NeXTSTEP ran on the Mach 2.5 microkernel with a BSD Unix subsystem layered on top. It was unusually stable, object-oriented, and developer-friendly for its time.
In 1996, Apple purchased NeXT for approximately $429 million. That acquisition brought Jobs back to Apple and, more importantly, brought NeXTSTEP's engineering DNA into everything Apple would build next. (Wikipedia – macOS, 2025)
Apple spent four years rebuilding its operating system on top of NeXTSTEP's foundation. On March 24, 2001, it released Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah—the first version of what would eventually become macOS. The "X" was the Roman numeral for 10, pronounced "ten," and the name distinguished the new system from the legacy Mac OS 9 it replaced.
The Name Changes Over Time
Era | Official Name | Example Version |
2001–2011 | Mac OS X | Mac OS X 10.7 Lion |
2011–2016 | OS X | OS X 10.11 El Capitan |
2016–2024 | macOS | macOS 14 Sonoma |
2025–present | macOS (year-based numbering) | macOS 26 Tahoe |
Apple shortened the name to OS X in 2011 and then renamed it macOS in 2016 to align the branding with iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. In 2025, Apple unified version numbers across all its operating systems to reflect the release year—so macOS jumped from version 15 to version 26, matching iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and watchOS 26 released at the same time. (Wikipedia – macOS, 2025)
How macOS Works: The XNU Kernel
At the core of macOS is the XNU kernel—an acronym that stands, somewhat humorously, for "X is Not Unix." XNU is a hybrid kernel, combining two different kernel architectures into one:
Mach: Originally developed at Carnegie Mellon University. Provides inter-process communication (IPC), threading, scheduling, and virtual memory.
BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution): A Unix subsystem layered on top of Mach, providing POSIX-compliant APIs, networking, and file-system services.
As Apple's own documentation puts it, XNU is "a hybrid kernel combining the Mach kernel developed at Carnegie Mellon University with components from FreeBSD and a C++ API for writing drivers called IOKit." (Apple Security Research, 2025)
This hybrid design gives macOS the security compartmentalization of a microkernel and the performance of a monolithic kernel. Pure microkernels are slow because every system call crosses a message-passing boundary. XNU avoids most of that overhead by running the BSD layer inside kernel space.
UNIX Certification
macOS is not just Unix-like—it is formally certified. Mac OS X Leopard (10.5) and every subsequent version of macOS (except OS X Lion) carry UNIX 03 certification, the industry standard for Unix compliance. (Wikipedia – macOS, 2025) This matters for enterprise software developers and scientists who rely on POSIX-standard behaviors.
Darwin: The Open-Source Core
The underlying operating system beneath macOS's graphical layer is called Darwin. Apple releases Darwin as open-source software. Darwin includes XNU, the shell utilities, and many system libraries. The graphical layer—Finder, Dock, windows, etc.—sits on top of Darwin and is proprietary.
Every Major macOS Version (2001–2026)
Apple releases one major version per year, typically in September. Each version is supported for approximately three years. As of early 2026, the three supported versions are macOS Tahoe 26, macOS Sequoia 15, and macOS Sonoma 14. macOS Ventura 13 still receives security patches. (EndOfLife.date, updated February 12, 2026)
Version | Name | Release Date | Key Feature |
10.0 | Cheetah | March 2001 | First Mac OS X |
10.3 | Panther | October 2003 | Exposé, Fast User Switching |
10.4 | Tiger | April 2005 | Intel support begins (10.4.4); Spotlight search |
10.5 | Leopard | October 2007 | Time Machine; UNIX 03 certified |
10.6 | Snow Leopard | August 2009 | Dropped PowerPC support |
10.7 | Lion | July 2011 | Mac App Store; Name changed to OS X |
10.9 | Mavericks | October 2013 | First California place name |
10.10 | Yosemite | October 2014 | Flat design; Continuity features |
10.12 | Sierra | September 2016 | Siri on Mac; Name changed to macOS |
11 | Big Sur | November 2020 | Apple Silicon (M1) support; Major redesign |
12 | Monterey | October 2021 | Universal Control; SharePlay |
13 | Ventura | October 2022 | Stage Manager; Passkeys |
14 | Sonoma | September 2023 | Desktop widgets; Game Mode |
15 | Sequoia | September 2024 | Apple Intelligence debuts; iPhone Mirroring |
26 | Tahoe | September 2025 | Liquid Glass design; Phone app; last Intel release |
Sources: Macworld (2026); Wikipedia – macOS (2025); Setapp (2025)
macOS Tahoe 26: What's New in 2025–2026
macOS Tahoe 26 is the twenty-second major release of macOS. Apple announced it at WWDC on June 9, 2025, and released it publicly on September 15, 2025. The latest point release is macOS 26.3, which arrived on February 11, 2026. (Macworld, 2026)
Liquid Glass Design
Tahoe's most visible change is Liquid Glass—a new interface material that is translucent, reflects light, and responds to the color behind it. It extends across the Dock, menu bar, toolbar icons, in-app navigation, folders, and Control Center. Apple describes it as behaving like glass in the real world, adapting to the colors in the wallpaper behind it. (MacRumors, 2025)
This is macOS's biggest visual overhaul since OS X Yosemite in 2013, which introduced flat design, and shares design language with iOS 26 and iPadOS 26—marking the first time all Apple platforms have had a visually unified interface since 2013.
New Phone App
macOS Tahoe introduces a Phone app on the Mac. This lets users make and receive phone calls directly through their Mac, provided their iPhone is nearby or connected to the same Apple ID. This extends the existing Continuity framework that has linked Mac and iPhone since 2014.
Spotlight Overhaul
The built-in search tool, Spotlight, received a major upgrade. It now offers richer results, faster indexing, and deeper integration with Apple Intelligence, allowing natural language queries.
Personalization Options
Users can now customize app icons, system colors, and the Dock appearance more deeply than in previous versions. macOS Tahoe 26 lets users pick accent colors and apply them to both built-in and third-party icons system-wide.
Installation Change
Tahoe is the first macOS since Mac OS X Snow Leopard (2009) that cannot be upgraded via the Mac App Store. Updates are handled exclusively through System Settings → Software Update. (Wikipedia – macOS Tahoe, 2025)
Apple Silicon and the End of Intel Macs
The biggest structural story in macOS over the past five years is the shift from Intel processors to Apple Silicon—Apple's own ARM-based chips, branded as the M-series.
Apple announced this transition at WWDC 2020 and released the first M1 Macs in November 2020 alongside macOS Big Sur 11. Since then, Apple has shipped M1, M2, M3, and M4 generations across its entire Mac lineup.
macOS Tahoe 26 supports only a handful of Intel Macs: the Mac Pro (2019), the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2019), the MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020, four Thunderbolt 3 ports), and the iMac (2020). macOS 27, expected in late 2026, will drop Intel support entirely. (Wikipedia – macOS Tahoe, 2025)
Why Apple Silicon Matters for macOS
Apple Silicon chips integrate the CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, and unified memory onto a single system-on-a-chip (SoC). This architecture gives macOS:
Faster performance per watt than comparable Intel configurations.
A Neural Engine dedicated to on-device machine learning—the hardware foundation for Apple Intelligence.
Tighter hardware-software integration, allowing macOS to optimize power management at a granular level.
Apple's own testing in May 2025 showed a 15-inch MacBook Air with M4, 16 GB of RAM, and macOS Tahoe sustaining video streaming continuously while on battery. (Apple Newsroom, updated February 2026)
Rosetta 2: Running Old Intel Apps
Apps built for Intel chips still run on Apple Silicon Macs through Rosetta 2, a translation layer that converts x86-64 instructions to ARM at install time. Apple has not announced a retirement date for Rosetta 2, though its long-term future beyond macOS 27 is uncertain.
Apple Intelligence on macOS
Apple Intelligence is Apple's suite of on-device AI features. It debuted on macOS Sequoia 15 in September 2024 and expanded significantly in macOS Tahoe 26. It requires a Mac with an M1 chip or newer.
Key Apple Intelligence features available on macOS Tahoe include:
Writing Tools: Proofread, rewrite, and summarize text in any app—Mail, Pages, Notes, third-party editors.
Siri upgrades: Siri can now handle multi-step requests, understand on-screen context, and take actions inside apps.
Image Playground: Generate images from text descriptions directly on the device.
Genmoji: Create custom emoji from text prompts.
Photo Clean Up: Remove unwanted objects from photos using on-device AI.
Live Translation: Real-time translation in conversations and apps.
Priority Notifications: AI ranks notification importance and surfaces the most relevant ones.
Private Cloud Compute
For AI tasks that exceed the device's processing capability, Apple routes requests to Private Cloud Compute (PCC)—a cloud infrastructure built on custom Apple Silicon servers running a hardened operating system. Apple has published the PCC source code and a Virtual Research Environment for independent security auditors to verify its privacy guarantees. (Apple Security Research, 2025)
This means sensitive data processed by Apple Intelligence is not stored on Apple's servers and is not accessible to Apple employees—a verifiable claim, according to Apple's published documentation.
macOS Market Share and User Base (2025–2026)
Metric | Value | Source | Date |
Global desktop OS market share (macOS) | ~16% | Wikipedia / StatCounter | March 2025 |
US desktop OS market share (macOS) | 28.53% | Wikipedia / StatCounter | March 2025 |
Mac users worldwide | ~100.4 million | SpyHunter / Eltima | 2024 |
Mac revenue (Apple) | $42.3 billion | Apple financials / Eltima | FY 2024 |
Mac shipment growth YoY (Q3 2025) | +14.9% | Wikipedia – OS Usage Share | Q3 2025 |
Mac shipment growth YoY (Q2 2025) | +21.4% | Wikipedia – OS Usage Share | Q2 2025 |
macOS 26.2 adoption share | ~50% of Mac users | TelemetryDeck | January 2026 |
US Mac users as % of total Mac base | ~40% | Eltima | 2024 |
macOS holds a firm second place among desktop operating systems globally, behind Windows (which had approximately 71% in March 2025). In the United States, macOS is substantially more popular—just over one in four desktop users runs it. Mac shipments outpaced the overall PC market by a significant margin in both Q2 and Q3 2025, indicating continued momentum even in a slowing global PC market. (Wikipedia – Usage Share of Operating Systems, 2025)
Adoption Speed of New Versions
One notable pattern: Mac users upgrade to new macOS versions faster than Windows users upgrade. TelemetryDeck data from January 2026 shows macOS 26.2 (a point release) had reached approximately 50% of active Mac users within about two months of release. (TelemetryDeck, 2026)
Geographic Distribution
The United States accounts for roughly 40% of Mac's global revenue. Europe—led by the United Kingdom, Germany, and France—accounts for about 30.2% of Mac users globally. (Eltima, 2025)
Key Features of macOS
Finder
Finder is macOS's file manager. It has been part of every Mac since 1984. It provides access to files, folders, applications, and connected devices. Quick Look—available since macOS Leopard (2007)—lets you preview files including PDFs and videos without opening them.
Spotlight
Spotlight indexes files, emails, contacts, calendar events, and application data for instant system-wide search. Since macOS Ventura (2022), it can search inside documents. In macOS Tahoe, Spotlight accepts natural language queries powered by Apple Intelligence.
Mission Control and Stage Manager
Mission Control (called Exposé before macOS Lion) shows all open windows, Spaces, and full-screen apps in a single view. Stage Manager, introduced in macOS Ventura (2022), organizes open windows by task and minimizes clutter on the main desktop.
iCloud Integration
macOS connects natively to iCloud, Apple's cloud storage service. iCloud Drive syncs files across Mac, iPhone, and iPad. iCloud Keychain syncs passwords and passkeys across devices. iCloud Backup and Photos library sync are built into the OS without requiring additional software.
Continuity Features
Apple has expanded Continuity since macOS Yosemite (2014). In 2026, the suite includes:
Handoff: Start a task on iPhone and continue it on Mac.
AirDrop: Wireless file transfer between Apple devices.
iPhone Mirroring: Control your iPhone directly from your Mac screen (introduced in macOS Sequoia).
Phone app: Make and receive iPhone calls from your Mac (macOS Tahoe).
Universal Clipboard: Copy on one device, paste on another.
Sidecar: Use iPad as a second display for Mac.
Universal Control: Use one keyboard and mouse across Mac and iPad simultaneously.
Time Machine
Time Machine is macOS's built-in backup system. It creates hourly, daily, and weekly backups to an external drive or compatible network storage. Backups are incremental—only changed files are copied—and allow restoration of individual files or the entire system to a previous point in time.
Terminal and Unix Tools
Because macOS is UNIX 03 certified and built on Darwin, the Terminal app gives full access to a Unix command line. This is significant: software developers, data scientists, and system administrators can use standard Unix tools—bash, zsh, Python, Ruby, Git—without installing a virtual machine or subsystem.
macOS Security: How Safe Is It?
macOS has multiple layered security mechanisms. No operating system is immune to vulnerabilities, but macOS has a reputation for fewer mass-exploitation incidents than Windows, partly due to its smaller market share and partly due to its architecture.
Core Security Features
Gatekeeper verifies that apps downloaded from the internet have been signed by a registered Apple developer and notarized by Apple. Apps not meeting these criteria are blocked by default.
System Integrity Protection (SIP), introduced in macOS El Capitan (2015), prevents any process—including root-level processes—from modifying protected system directories. Even if an attacker gains root access, SIP blocks modification of the core OS.
Secure Enclave is a dedicated co-processor on Apple Silicon (and Touch ID Macs) that handles biometric data, encryption keys, and secure boot. Credentials stored in Secure Enclave cannot be extracted by software, even by the kernel.
App Sandbox restricts what resources an app can access. Mac App Store apps must be sandboxed. Sandboxed apps must request explicit permissions to access files, camera, microphone, and contacts.
Kernel Security in 2025–2026
Apple has been restructuring the XNU kernel's security model using a concept called exclaves—domains isolated from the main kernel that protect sensitive functions even if the kernel itself is compromised. Researcher Howard Oakley identified this work publicly, and The Register confirmed details with a security researcher in March 2025. (The Register, 2025)
Apple's Security Bounty program had paid nearly $20 million in rewards to security researchers by mid-2025. (Apple Security Research, 2025)
Real Vulnerabilities Do Exist
macOS is not invulnerable. In February 2025, security researcher Joseph Ravichandran at MIT CSAIL disclosed CVE-2025-24118, a critical race condition in the XNU kernel's memory management subsystem with a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8. The flaw affected macOS Sonoma (before 14.7.3) and macOS Sequoia (before 15.3). Apple patched it in January 2025 updates. (CyberSecurityNews, 2025)
In May 2025, Trend Micro's Zero Day Initiative researchers disclosed CVE-2025-31219, a second XNU kernel privilege escalation vulnerability, patched in Apple's May 2025 security update. This was the seventh XNU kernel vulnerability disclosed by ZDI in 2025. (GBHackers / CyberPress, 2025)
The lesson: macOS needs to be kept updated. Apple supports the current version plus the two previous versions with security patches. Running macOS Ventura 12 or earlier in 2026 means no guaranteed security fixes.
macOS vs Windows: Comparison Table
Feature | macOS Tahoe 26 | Windows 11 |
Developer | Apple | Microsoft |
Current version | macOS 26 (Tahoe) | Windows 11 24H2 |
Market share (global desktop) | ~16% | ~71% |
Market share (US desktop) | ~28.5% | ~54% |
Hardware compatibility | Apple Mac only | Most x86-64 PCs |
Cost of OS upgrade | Free | Free (upgrade); paid for new installs |
Unix/POSIX compliance | Yes (UNIX 03 certified) | Partial (WSL adds Linux subsystem) |
App ecosystem | Mac App Store + web | Microsoft Store + web |
Gaming library | Growing; Game Mode in Sonoma (2023) | Largest PC gaming library |
On-device AI | Apple Intelligence (M1+) | Copilot+ (Snapdragon X / NPU devices) |
Average selling price of hardware | Higher (premium tier) | Wide range; many budget options |
Support lifecycle | ~3 years per major version | 10 years for Windows 11 |
Viruses / malware | Lower incidence historically | Higher incidence historically |
Sources: Wikipedia – Usage Share of Operating Systems (2025); Macworld (2026)
Pros and Cons of macOS
Pros
Tight hardware-software integration. Because Apple makes both the hardware and the OS, macOS is tuned precisely to run on Mac hardware. The M-series chips deliver industry-leading performance per watt because the OS and chip were designed together.
UNIX foundation. Developers and researchers get a real Unix environment with polished consumer apps on top—something no other mainstream OS offers in quite the same way.
Ecosystem continuity. iCloud, iPhone Mirroring, AirDrop, Handoff, and Universal Control make switching between Mac, iPhone, and iPad nearly frictionless.
Security architecture. Gatekeeper, SIP, App Sandbox, Secure Enclave, and ongoing kernel hardening make macOS a difficult target for mass malware campaigns.
Long-term software support. Apple supports its Mac hardware with OS updates for roughly six to eight years. The 2019 Mac Pro still runs macOS Tahoe 26.
Fast OS updates adoption. Mac users upgrade to new OS versions quickly—macOS 26.2 reached 50% of users within two months of release (TelemetryDeck, 2026), which means software developers can target recent features sooner.
Cons
Hardware is expensive. The Mac lineup starts at $599 for a Mac mini and goes well past $7,000 for a Mac Pro. Budget hardware options simply do not exist in the Apple ecosystem.
Limited gaming library. While macOS added Game Mode in macOS Sonoma (2023) and the number of Mac-native titles is growing, the Windows PC gaming library dwarfs what is available on Mac.
Intel Macs losing support. Anyone running an Intel Mac not on the supported list for macOS Tahoe 26 is already unable to receive the latest OS, and full Intel discontinuation is coming with macOS 27.
App compatibility gaps. Some professional software categories—particularly niche enterprise tools and certain games—remain Windows-only.
Repair and upgradability. Most modern Macs use unified memory soldered to the SoC and proprietary SSD formats, making upgrades after purchase difficult or impossible.
Myths vs Facts About macOS
Myth: "Macs can't get viruses."
Fact: macOS can and does get malware. The OS has built-in defenses, but threats do exist. The common claim that Macs are virus-proof originated in the early 2000s when the Mac user base was small enough to be an unattractive target. Apple's own security documentation regularly patches vulnerabilities in macOS.
Myth: "macOS is just for creative professionals."
Fact: While macOS is popular in design, video, and music industries, it is widely used in software development, finance, education, and everyday consumer use. As of March 2025, roughly 28.5% of desktop users in the United States use macOS—well beyond any single industry. (StatCounter via Wikipedia, 2025)
Myth: "macOS Tahoe 26 means there were 26 versions."
Fact: There have been 22 major releases of macOS. The "26" represents the release year (2025–2026 season), not the version count. Apple skipped numbers 16–25 to synchronize numbering across iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS. (MacRumors, 2025)
Myth: "You need macOS to run Apple apps like iMessage."
Fact: Apple apps like iMessage, FaceTime, and Apple Music are exclusive to Apple platforms, but that includes iPhone and iPad—you don't need a Mac specifically.
Myth: "Upgrading macOS always breaks things."
Fact: Major upgrades occasionally cause app compatibility issues, but Apple tests extensively against third-party software. Point releases (like 26.1, 26.2, 26.3) primarily contain bug fixes and security patches and rarely break functionality.
How to Check Your macOS Version
Knowing your macOS version matters for security (to know if you're still receiving patches) and compatibility (to know if specific apps will run).
Step 1: Click the Apple logo () in the top-left corner of your screen.
Step 2: Select About This Mac from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: The window that opens shows your macOS version name and number. For example: "macOS Tahoe 26.3."
You can also open Terminal and type sw_vers to see the product name, version, and build number in text form.
Which Macs Support macOS Tahoe 26?
macOS Tahoe 26 supports all M-series Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4) plus four Intel Mac models:
Intel Mac | Year |
iMac | 2020 |
MacBook Pro 13-inch (four Thunderbolt 3) | 2020 |
MacBook Pro 16-inch | 2019 |
Mac Pro | 2019 |
All MacBook Air models with Intel chips, all Intel Mac mini models, and all Intel iMac Pro models are not supported by macOS Tahoe. The next major release—expected as macOS 27 in late 2026—will support only Apple Silicon Macs. (Wikipedia – macOS Tahoe, 2025)
Pitfalls and Risks to Know
Running an unsupported macOS version is a real security risk. Apple's security patch coverage ends after approximately three years. Running macOS Monterey (version 12) in 2026 means no guaranteed security fixes for discovered vulnerabilities, even critical ones like CVE-2025-24118.
macOS Tahoe 26.0 had high volatility on initial release. TelemetryDeck data shows the initial 26.0 release peaked at over 47% of Mac users in October 2025 before users moved to subsequent point releases. The 26.2 release—more stable—had reached ~50% of users by January 2026. Early adoption of .0 releases carries more risk of encountering bugs.
Not all Apple Intelligence features work in all regions. Apple has phased the rollout of Apple Intelligence features by language and country. Some features available in the US are not yet available in other regions.
Rosetta 2 apps may not perform identically to native apps. Translated x86-64 apps are generally fast, but compute-intensive workloads—video encoding, 3D rendering—run noticeably faster in native Apple Silicon builds. Checking that your critical apps have Apple Silicon (Universal or Apple Silicon-only) versions is worthwhile before relying on them professionally.
iCloud storage is not free at scale. The free iCloud tier provides 5 GB. If you rely on iCloud for backups and photos, you will likely need a paid plan (starting at $0.99/month for 50 GB in the US as of 2026).
Future Outlook: macOS 27 and Beyond
Based on Apple's pattern of annual releases, macOS 27 is expected at WWDC 2026 (typically held in June) with a public release in September 2026. Apple has already confirmed that macOS 27 will not support Intel Macs. This marks a complete architectural break—the first time since 2005 (when Apple moved from PowerPC to Intel) that macOS will run on only one chip architecture.
Several trends are likely to define macOS in the near future:
Deeper Apple Intelligence integration. Apple is expanding its AI features incrementally. Each point release of macOS Tahoe has added or refined AI capabilities. macOS 27 will almost certainly deepen this—potentially including features that require the Neural Engine of M3 or newer chips.
Continued kernel security hardening. Apple's ongoing work on XNU exclaves—security domains isolated from the main kernel—is not finished. The Register noted in March 2025 that this represents a major ongoing architectural shift. Future macOS versions will likely ship these security improvements more broadly. (The Register, 2025)
Stronger Apple ecosystem lock-in. Continuity features have become a significant reason users stay within the Apple ecosystem. iPhone Mirroring (2024), the Phone app (2025), and Universal Control (2021) all make switching to another platform more costly in terms of lost workflow. Future versions will continue this trend.
ARM-only future narrows hardware diversity. With Intel dropped from macOS 27, Apple has full control over the hardware its OS runs on. This allows deeper optimization but also means macOS users are fully dependent on Apple's hardware roadmap and pricing.
FAQ
1. What does macOS stand for?
macOS stands for Macintosh Operating System. The "Mac" refers to the Macintosh computer line Apple has sold since 1984. The lowercase "OS" aligns with Apple's naming convention for its other operating systems: iOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS.
2. Is macOS free?
Yes. macOS upgrades are free for all compatible Macs. You download them directly through System Settings → Software Update. The cost of macOS is bundled into the price of every new Mac.
3. What is the difference between macOS and iOS?
macOS runs on Mac computers and is designed for keyboard and mouse/trackpad input on large screens. iOS runs on iPhone and is designed for touchscreens. Both share the same XNU kernel and many underlying frameworks. iOS and iPadOS are derivatives of macOS. (Wikipedia – macOS, 2025)
4. Can macOS run Windows apps?
Not natively. Some Windows apps have Mac equivalents. Others can be run through virtualization software like Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion, which run a full Windows environment inside macOS. A smaller number can be run through compatibility layers like Wine or CrossOver.
5. Is macOS better than Windows?
Neither is objectively better—it depends on use case. macOS has advantages in security architecture, Unix developer tools, and ecosystem integration. Windows has advantages in hardware affordability, gaming, and enterprise software compatibility. Both are excellent operating systems for their intended uses.
6. Which macOS versions are supported in 2026?
As of February 2026, Apple provides full support for macOS Tahoe 26. macOS Sequoia 15 and macOS Sonoma 14 receive security updates. macOS Ventura 13 may still receive some security patches. Anything older than Ventura is unsupported. (EndOfLife.date, updated February 12, 2026)
7. What is the Liquid Glass design in macOS Tahoe?
Liquid Glass is a new interface material introduced in macOS 26 Tahoe (and iOS 26) that makes UI elements translucent and reflective, like glass. It adapts to the colors of the wallpaper and content behind it. It applies to the Dock, menu bar, toolbar icons, Control Center, and in-app navigation. (MacRumors, 2025)
8. What is Apple Intelligence?
Apple Intelligence is Apple's suite of on-device AI features. It includes Writing Tools, Image Playground, Genmoji, Siri upgrades, Photo Clean Up, and Live Translation. It requires a Mac with an Apple M1 chip or newer. More computationally demanding tasks are handled by Private Cloud Compute, Apple's privacy-focused AI cloud. It debuted in macOS Sequoia 15 (September 2024).
9. Why did macOS jump from version 15 to version 26?
Apple unified version numbering across all its operating systems in 2025. All Apple OS releases for the 2025–2026 cycle use the number 26—iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and macOS 26. The number reflects the release year, not the count of versions. (MacRumors, 2025)
10. Is macOS Tahoe 26 the last version to support Intel Macs?
Yes. Apple confirmed at WWDC 2025 that macOS Tahoe 26 is the final version of macOS to support Intel-based Macs. Only four Intel models are supported: the 2020 iMac, 2020 MacBook Pro 13-inch (four Thunderbolt 3), 2019 MacBook Pro 16-inch, and 2019 Mac Pro. All future versions will require Apple Silicon. (Wikipedia – macOS Tahoe, 2025)
11. How often does Apple release macOS updates?
Apple releases one major version of macOS per year, typically in September. Between major releases, it issues point updates (e.g., 26.1, 26.2, 26.3) every six to eight weeks, carrying bug fixes, security patches, and sometimes new features. Security-only patches can arrive at any time.
12. Can I still use a Mac that doesn't support macOS Tahoe 26?
Yes, older Macs continue to work. But they stop receiving OS updates, which means no new features and, critically, no security patches for newly discovered vulnerabilities. Apple recommends running a supported OS version for security reasons.
13. What is the XNU kernel?
XNU (X is Not Unix) is the kernel at the core of macOS—and also iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS. It is a hybrid kernel combining the Mach microkernel (from Carnegie Mellon University), BSD Unix components, and IOKit for device drivers. It is POSIX-compliant and the foundation of Darwin, macOS's open-source core. (Apple Security Research / Wikipedia, 2025)
14. What is Time Machine?
Time Machine is macOS's built-in backup feature. It automatically creates hourly, daily, and weekly backups to an external hard drive or compatible network storage. It keeps hourly backups for 24 hours, daily backups for a month, and weekly backups for all previous months until storage runs out.
15. Does macOS work with non-Apple software?
Yes. macOS supports a broad range of third-party software, including productivity suites (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace), development tools (VS Code, Docker, Xcode), creative apps (Adobe Creative Cloud, DaVinci Resolve), and browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge). The Mac App Store offers curated sandboxed apps; apps can also be installed directly from the web.
Key Takeaways
macOS is Apple's operating system for Mac computers, first released March 24, 2001, built on NeXT's Unix-based NeXTSTEP foundation.
The current version is macOS Tahoe 26 (latest point release: 26.3, February 11, 2026), featuring a Liquid Glass design, a new Phone app, and expanded Apple Intelligence.
macOS runs on the UNIX 03-certified XNU kernel—a hybrid of Mach and BSD—giving it real Unix capability under a polished consumer interface.
macOS holds ~16% of the global desktop OS market and ~28.5% in the United States (StatCounter, March 2025), with Mac shipments outpacing the overall PC market throughout 2025.
Apple Intelligence (on-device AI) requires an M1 chip or newer; computationally heavy AI tasks route through Private Cloud Compute, Apple's privacy-verified AI cloud infrastructure.
macOS Tahoe 26 is the last version supporting Intel Macs; macOS 27 (expected September 2026) will be Apple Silicon-only.
Apple releases free macOS upgrades annually, supports each version for approximately three years, and recommends always running one of the three most recent versions for security.
No operating system is virus-proof; CVE-2025-24118 and CVE-2025-31219 were both patched in early and mid-2025. Keeping macOS updated is the single most important security action a Mac user can take.
Actionable Next Steps
Check your macOS version. Click → About This Mac. If you are running anything older than macOS Sonoma 14, you are not receiving full security support.
Update to macOS Tahoe 26.3. Go to System Settings → General → Software Update. The update is free and takes 30–60 minutes.
Enable automatic updates. In Software Update settings, turn on "Install macOS updates" to stay protected automatically.
Check Apple Intelligence eligibility. If your Mac has an M1 chip or newer, open System Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri to enable AI features.
Set up Time Machine. Connect an external drive and go to System Settings → General → Time Machine to start automated backups.
Audit installed apps. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → App Management to review what apps have elevated access to your system.
Verify Intel Mac compatibility. If you own an Intel Mac, check Apple's official compatibility list at apple.com/macos/macos-tahoe-preview to confirm support for the next macOS release.
Review iCloud storage. Go to System Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Account Storage to ensure your backup and sync plan is sufficient.
Glossary
Apple Intelligence: Apple's suite of on-device AI features built into macOS (and iOS, iPadOS) requiring M1 or newer chips. Includes Writing Tools, Siri upgrades, Image Playground, and more.
Apple Silicon: Apple's line of ARM-based processors for Mac, branded as M1, M2, M3, and M4. Integrates CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, and unified memory on one chip.
Darwin: The open-source Unix-like core of macOS, comprising the XNU kernel and standard Unix utilities. Everything below the graphical interface.
Finder: macOS's file manager. Used to browse, copy, move, and organize files and folders on your Mac.
Gatekeeper: macOS security feature that checks apps downloaded from the internet for developer signatures and Apple notarization before allowing them to run.
Liquid Glass: The translucent, light-reflective interface material introduced in macOS Tahoe 26 (and iOS 26). Adapts to content and wallpaper behind interface elements.
Mach: A microkernel originally developed at Carnegie Mellon University, forming the scheduling and inter-process communication (IPC) foundation of XNU.
macOS: Apple's operating system for Mac computers. Current version: macOS Tahoe 26.
Neural Engine: A dedicated hardware block on Apple Silicon chips optimized for machine learning workloads. The hardware foundation for Apple Intelligence.
Private Cloud Compute (PCC): Apple's privacy-focused AI cloud infrastructure that handles Apple Intelligence tasks requiring more compute than the device can provide. Built on Apple Silicon servers with auditable security properties.
Rosetta 2: A translation layer that allows Intel (x86-64) apps to run on Apple Silicon Macs by converting instructions at install time.
Secure Enclave: A dedicated co-processor in Apple Silicon and Touch ID-equipped Macs that manages biometric data, encryption keys, and secure boot in isolation from the main CPU.
Spotlight: macOS's system-wide search tool that indexes files, emails, apps, and other data for instant retrieval. Enhanced with natural language in macOS Tahoe.
System Integrity Protection (SIP): A macOS security feature (since 2015) that prevents any process, including root, from modifying protected system directories.
Time Machine: macOS's built-in backup software that creates incremental snapshots of your system to an external drive or network storage.
XNU: The hybrid kernel at the core of macOS (and all other Apple operating systems). Combines the Mach microkernel, BSD Unix components, and IOKit. Stands for "X is Not Unix."
UNIX 03: An industry certification for operating systems that fully comply with the Single UNIX Specification. macOS has held this certification since OS X Leopard (2007).
Sources & References
Wikipedia – macOS (updated 2025). "macOS." Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacOS
Wikipedia – macOS Tahoe (updated 2025). "macOS Tahoe." Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacOS_Tahoe
Macworld – Complete macOS Versions History (updated 2026). "Complete macOS versions history 2001–2026." IDG / Macworld. https://www.macworld.com/article/672681/list-of-all-macos-versions-including-the-latest-macos.html
Macworld – macOS 26 Tahoe Guide (updated February 2026). "macOS 26 Tahoe: Features, latest version, what's in macOS 26.3." IDG / Macworld. https://www.macworld.com/article/2644146/macos-26-release-beta-features-compatibility.html
MacRumors – macOS 26 Roundup (2025). "macOS Tahoe: Everything We Know." MacRumors. https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macos-26/
Apple Newsroom – macOS Tahoe (updated February 19, 2026). "macOS Tahoe 26 makes the Mac more capable, productive, and intelligent than ever." Apple. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/06/macos-tahoe-26-makes-the-mac-more-capable-productive-and-intelligent-than-ever/
Setapp – All macOS Versions (2025). "The full list of all macOS versions until 2026." MacPaw / Setapp. https://setapp.com/how-to/full-list-of-all-macos-versions
EndOfLife.date – Apple macOS (updated February 12, 2026). "Apple macOS." EndOfLife.date. https://endoflife.date/macos
Wikipedia – Usage Share of Operating Systems (updated 2025–2026). Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems
Eltima / mac.eltima.com – macOS Statistics 2025 (February 12, 2025). "macOS in Numbers: Key Statistics [2025]." Electronic Team Inc. https://mac.eltima.com/macos-stats-2025/
Amra and Elma – Mac Marketing Statistics 2025 (September 2025). "TOP 20 MAC MARKETING STATISTICS 2025." Amra and Elma LLC. https://www.amraandelma.com/mac-marketing-statistics/
TelemetryDeck – macOS Versions Market Share 2026 (2026). "macOS Versions Market Share in 2026." TelemetryDeck. https://telemetrydeck.com/survey/apple/macOS/versions/
The Register – XNU Kernel Exclaves (March 8, 2025). "How Apple rearranged its XNU kernel with security exclaves." The Register. https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/08/kernel_sanders_apple_rearranges_xnu/
Apple Security Research Blog (2025). "Private Cloud Compute; Security Bounty." Apple. https://security.apple.com/blog/
CyberSecurityNews – CVE-2025-24118 (February 5, 2025). "Apple's macOS Kernel Vulnerability Let Attackers Escalate Privileges – PoC Released." CyberSecurityNews. https://cybersecuritynews.com/apples-macos-kernel-vulnerability-let-attackers-escalate-privileges/
GBHackers / CyberPress – CVE-2025-31219 (May 23, 2025). "Critical Vulnerability in Apple XNU Kernel Allows Attackers to Gain Elevated Privileges." CyberPress. https://cyberpress.org/critical-vulnerability-in-apple-xnu-kernel-allows-attackers/
Tansanrao.com – Darwin and XNU Deep Dive (April 2025). "Apple's Darwin OS and XNU Kernel Deep Dive." tansanrao.com. https://tansanrao.com/blog/2025/04/xnu-kernel-and-darwin-evolution-and-architecture/
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