Apple has officially rolled out the first developer beta of macOS Tahoe 26. It’s the next major Mac operating system update, promising smarter features and deeper integration with Apple’s AI push. macOS Tahoe 26 was announced alongside iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and watchOS 26, all featuring the new Liquid Glass design.

Apple released the developer beta of the macOS Tahoe 26 just hours after the company concluded its WWDC 2025 keynote. So the developers and early testers can get their hands on the latest macOS update by joining the Developer Beta Programme. The public beta is expected to arrive in July, with a final public release likely in September or October.

How to download macOS Tahoe 26 developer’s beta

To install the developer beta, you will first need to enrol in Apple’s Developer Beta Programme.

To enrol for the developer’s programme:

• Visit the Apple Developer website and sign up for a Developer Programme membership.
• There are both free and paid options available—you can choose as per your needs. The free version is also sufficient to access beta software.
• Complete the registration process and agree to the terms.

Once you’ve joined the beta programme:

• Back up your Mac – Before installing any beta software, it’s strongly recommended to create a Time Machine backup or use another backup method.
• Open System Settings – Go to the Apple menu and select System Settings.
• Navigate to General > Software Update.
• Click the small ‘i’ icon next to Beta Updates.
• In the menu that appears, choose macOS Developer Tahoe Beta from the dropdown.
• Hit ‘Done’ and follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the update.

Your Mac may take a few minutes for the update to appear after opting into the developer beta programme.

But before you download, here’s a warning:

Note that the developer beta of macOS Tahoe is intended for developers. If you’re just curious, you can still sign up as a developer, but it is much safer to wait for the public beta in July—especially if you rely on your Mac for everyday use.

Apple also warns that developer beta versions are not suitable for primary devices. These early builds often contain bugs—in fact, many users are currently sharing their experiences of macOS 26, Ios 26 and others being buggy, incomplete, and unstable. Some third-party apps may also malfunction. Therefore, unless you’re testing or developing software for the new macOS, it’s better to wait for the public beta or the final release.

macOS Tahoe 26 final release timeline

As for the availability of the final release, Apple typically runs several rounds of beta testing before rolling out the stable version of macOS in the autumn. Users who prefer a more stable experience can expect macOS Tahoe 26 to officially roll out later this year—likely alongside new MacBook launches.