macOS Tahoe 26 Guide

Aarron Anderson Updated by Aarron Anderson

Release date: Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Audience: All Mac users at Progress Learning
Maintained by: IT (Senior IT Specialist & IT Manager)

What’s changing

macOS Tahoe 26 brings a cleaner look, a revamped Spotlight with quick keys and a built in clipboard history, an Apps view that replaces Launchpad, more Control Center options, and easy folder color customization. This guide highlights the items that matter for work at Progress Learning.

Table of contents

  1. What’s changing
  2. Quick upgrade plan
  3. Features we’re rolling out
    1. 1: Spotlight updates
    2. 2: Apps view replaces Launchpad
    3. 3: Control Center and Menu Bar
    4. 4: Folder colors and icon themes
    5. 5: Accessibility option: Reduce Transparency
    6. 6: Widgets: add, customize, or remove
  4. What we do not use
  5. Short how to cards
  6. For managers
  7. Support

Note: Apple Intelligence features are disabled on company Macs.

Quick upgrade plan

  • When: Available company wide starting Oct 15.
  • How: On your Mac, go to System Settings → General → Software Update and follow the prompts.
  • Before you update:
    • Plug in your power adapter.
    • Close any large video calls or recordings.
    • Make sure important files are saved or synced to Google Drive.
  • If something looks off after updating: Reboot once. If it persists, open an IT ticket.

Features we’re rolling out (and how to use them)

1) Spotlight got faster

  • Category quick keys: Open Spotlight with command (⌘) + Space. While Spotlight is open, hold command (⌘) and press a number to switch categories: command (⌘) + 1 = Apps, command (⌘) + 2 = Files, command (⌘) + 3 = Actions, command (⌘) + 4 = Clipboard.
    GIF showing Spotlight category quick keys in macOS Tahoe
    Spotlight category quick keys
  • Quick Actions: Type an action (for example, set timer) and run it directly from Spotlight.
    GIF demonstrating Spotlight Quick Actions, including setting a timer
    Example Quick Action: set a timer
  • Clipboard history: Spotlight keeps a same day clipboard log so you can paste something copied earlier. Open Spotlight and select the Clipboard category to view items.
    Screenshot of Spotlight Clipboard history panel showing copied items
    Clipboard history view
  • Pro tip: To open the folder of a search result, select it in Spotlight and press command (⌘) + Return.

2) New Apps view replaces Launchpad

  • What changed: Launchpad is replaced by the Apps icon in the Dock. It opens a categorized view of installed apps with grid or list options.
  • Why it helps: It is faster to find work apps and keep clutter down.
Screenshot of the new Apps view replacing Launchpad with Grid and List options
The new Apps view (Grid/List options)

3) Control Center and Menu Bar are more flexible

  • Customize layout and toggles: Go to System Settings → Menu Bar → Menu Bar Controls to add, remove, or reorder controls. Use Show in Menu Bar to pin a control up top.
    Screenshot of customizing Control Center and Menu Bar controls
    Customize Control Center & Menu Bar
  • Transparent menu bar: Tahoe blends the menu bar into the desktop. If you prefer the classic look, enable Show menu bar background under System Settings → Menu Bar.
    Screenshot of the Menu Bar setting to show background
    Toggle: Show menu bar background

4) Personalize folders and icons

  • Folder colors: Set a system wide folder color in System Settings → Appearance → Folder Color (for example, purple for projects, blue for archives).
    Screenshot of Folder Color option within System Settings → Appearance
    Appearance → Folder Color
  • App icon themes: Choose updated light or dark looks, tinted icons, or a clear look for a simpler desktop under System Settings → Appearance.
    Screenshot of Icon & widget style options showing Default, Dark, Clear, and Tinted
    Appearance → Icon & widget style (App icon themes)

5) Accessibility and focus

  • Reduce Transparency: If the “Liquid Glass” translucency is distracting, turn on System Settings → Accessibility → Display → Reduce Transparency.
    Screenshot of Accessibility → Display with Reduce Transparency toggle enabled
    Accessibility → Display → Reduce Transparency

6) Widgets: add, customize, or remove

Widgets are optional. If you’re sharing your screen and don’t want personal info visible, remove any widgets first.

  • Add widgets to the desktop:
    1. Control (⌃) click the wallpaper and choose Edit Widgets.
      Desktop context menu with Edit Widgets highlighted
      Right click (Control (⌃) click) → Edit Widgets…
    2. Search or browse categories in the gallery.
      Widgets gallery showing categories and suggested widgets
      Widgets gallery (drag to desktop or click +)
    3. Click a widget (or its +) to add, or drag it to position. Choose a size if prompted, then click Done.
  • Add widgets to Notification Center:
    1. Click the date and time to open Notification Center.
    2. Click Edit Widgets, then add widgets (click or drag). Click Done when finished.
  • Customize a widget:
    1. Control (⌃) click the widget and choose Edit [widget name] (if available) to change what it shows.
    2. Control (⌃) click to change size, or drag to move it.
  • Remove widgets (desktop):
    1. Click the wallpaper and choose Edit Widgets.
    2. Click the Remove (–) button on the widget you want to remove.
  • Remove widgets (Notification Center):
    1. Open Notification Center.
    2. Control (⌃) click a widget and choose Remove Widget, or hold Option (⌥) and click the Remove (–) button.
  • Settings shortcut: Go to System Settings → Desktop & Dock → Widgets for additional controls (e.g., iPhone widgets).

What we do not use at Progress Learning

  • Apple Intelligence: Disabled organization wide.
  • Apple Mail: Not used; use Gmail in Chrome.
  • iMessage, FaceTime, Journal, Games, Phone: Not part of our standard workflow on company Macs. If you see them, leave them as is.

Short how to cards

Search Clipboard History

  1. Press command (⌘) + Space to open Spotlight.
  2. Switch to the Clipboard category.
  3. Click any earlier copied item to paste it again.

Spotlight Quick Keys

  • Press command (⌘) + Space, then use the number keys to jump between Apps, Files, Actions, and Clipboard.

Folder Colors

  • System Settings → Appearance → Folder Color → pick a color; applies system wide.

Restore Menu Bar Background

  • System Settings → Menu Bar → toggle Show menu bar background.

Allow in Menu Bar (pin a control)

  • System Settings → Menu Bar → Menu Bar Controls → choose a control → enable Show in Menu Bar.

Control Center layout

  • Reorder or add controls under Menu Bar Controls; some third party items are supported.

macOS Themes (icons)

  • System Settings → Appearance → choose updated app icon options: light, dark, tinted, or clear.

Apps icon (replaces Launchpad)

  • Click Apps in the Dock → browse by category → use the three dot menu for Grid or List.

Reduce Transparency

  • System Settings → Accessibility → Display → Reduce Transparency to minimize visual glass effects.

For managers (what to expect)

  • Minimal disruption: The update is stable and focused on user experience polish and navigation speed.
  • Productivity benefits: Faster Spotlight, simpler app browsing, clearer folder organization.

Support

Questions or issues? Open an IT ticket with a brief description of the issue.

Category quick keys.gif

Quick Actions.gif

Clipboard history.jpg

apps view.jpg

Customize layout and toggles.jpg

Transparent menu bar.jpg

Folder colors.jpeg

App icon themes.jpeg

Reduce Transparency.jpg

Edit Widgets.png

Edit Widgets window.png

How did we do?

Using Zywave

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