macOS 26, iPadOS 26 and watchOS 26 Public Betas Released With Liquid Glass Design and New Features

Apple rolled out the primary macOS 26 public beta on Thursday, alongside the primary public beta variations of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and watchOS 26. These are the primary beta variations of Apple’s upcoming working programs for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac computer systems, and they characteristic the agency’s new Liquid Glass design language. Public beta variations enable customers to check out the upcoming variations earlier than they’re launched. The firm additionally launched a recent developer construct of iOS 26 Beta 4, which was initially rolled out on Tuesday.

macOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26 Public Betas: What’s New

Users with suitable Mac computer systems can now obtain the macOS 26 public beta, which brings the Liquid Glass design to the menu bar, dock, and even widgets which can be positioned on the desktop. The Control Centre additionally resembles the one on iPadOS 26 and iOS 26 (by way of 9to5Mac), and you’ll be able to see Live Activities from apps in your iPhone, which will likely be mirrored to the menu bar.

Liquid Glass on macOS 26
Photo Credit: Apple

Apple’s adjustments to the Spotlight app, showcased at WWDC 2025, are additionally a part of the primary macOS 26 public beta. It can now show outcomes with filters for apps, information, shortcuts, and clipboard gadgets. (*26*) of Shortcuts, the corporate’s built-in app helps you to use cloud-based or on-device machine studying fashions in your shortcuts.

Built-in apps like Safari, Messages, Files, and FaceTime have all acquired a recent coat of paint with the macOS 26 public beta, and for those who’re coming from macOS 15, you’ll actually discover the addition of translucent glass-like results throughout these apps. Messages now helps picture backgrounds for chats, and it’s also possible to reap the benefits of a brand new real-time translation characteristic whereas utilizing each FaceTime and Messages.

Window tiling on iPadOS 26
Photo Credit: Apple

All the brand new options and design adjustments that had been a part of the latest iPadOS 26 developer beta releases have made their option to the primary public beta. After updating to those beta variations, you’re going to get entry to the identical menu bar that’s obtainable on macOS, with numerous controls from the energetic app. You may also add file folders to the dock, and cease it from disappearing when it isn’t in use.

iPadOS 26 additionally brings a brand new window administration system, which is not the similar as Stage Manager. It means that you can open a number of home windows, resize them and remembers these configurations everytime you open the identical app. Like macOS 26, you additionally get assist for Live Activities on iPad.

Finally, the primary watchOS 26 public beta for eligible Apple Watch fashions means that you can entry the brand new Workout Buddy characteristic that gives “motivation” throughout your exercises, by referring to your previous exercise and statistics. You may also entry a brand new wrist flick gesture, and the Notes app is lastly accessible on the Apple Watch.

The Notes app is lastly obtainable on watchOS 26

watchOS 26 additionally introduces Liquid Glass on some components of the working system, however it’s not as evident as iOS 26 and macOS 26. These embody the Control Centre and the keypad displayed whenever you enter your passcode on the smartwatch.

You can obtain macOS 26, iPadOS 26, and watchOS 26 to eligible Mac, iPad and Apple Watch mannequin, respectively. However, it is price maintaining in thoughts that these are pre-release variations of Apple’s software program and are more likely to include unknown bugs and different glitches, so it is best to put in them on a secondary gadget that you do not use for importanr work.