Apple has released the first public beta of macOS Tahoe 26.3, just days after seeding the initial developer build. As expected for a pre-holiday update, this one appears to be a quieter release focused more on refinement than new features.
What’s New in macOS Tahoe 26.3 So Far
Based on early testing, macOS Tahoe 26.3 does not introduce any major user-facing changes. Unlike iOS 26.3, which added new wallpapers and expanded system-level settings, macOS has largely remained unchanged in this beta cycle.
There are no visible interface updates, no new system apps, and no announced platform features at this stage. That strongly suggests Apple is prioritizing stability, performance improvements, and bug fixes rather than shipping new capabilities right before the holiday break.
This approach is fairly typical for Apple. Pushing feature-heavy updates late in the year risks introducing bugs that would remain unresolved for weeks. Instead, Apple tends to use these builds to solidify the foundation for larger updates expected in the next release cycle.
Looking ahead, this also hints that macOS Tahoe 26.4 could be where more meaningful changes arrive, potentially including deeper Apple Intelligence work and other platform-level improvements that Apple has been gradually laying the groundwork for.
How to Install macOS Tahoe 26.3 Public Beta 1
If you want to try the update, you will first need to enroll your Mac in Apple’s public beta program.
Once enrolled, follow these steps:
- Open System Settings
- Go to General
- Select Software Update
- Click the “i” icon next to Beta Updates
- Choose macOS Tahoe 26 Public Beta from the dropdown
- Click Done and install the update
As always, Apple recommends backing up your Mac before installing beta software, especially if it is your primary machine.
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