Apple presents MacOS 26 on Monday, June 9, but the name that the new version of the operating system will have already become known.
MacOS 26 is coming
For a long time we expected Apple to announce MacOS 16 during the WWDC 2025. We now know that macOS 16 completely gone. Instead, Apple presents macOS 26 on 9 June. The same applies to iOS 19, which according to the last rumors will be called iOS 26.
In addition, it has already been announced what the name of MacOS 26 will be. According to Mark Gurman Van Bloomberg is named ‘Tahoe’ for the next version of macOS, named after Lake Tahoe In California. MacOS 26 Tahoe will be the first redesign of macOS since Big Sur in 2020.
Apple mentioned his Mac control systems in the past after large cats, such as Cheetah, Tiger, Leopard and Lion. From OS X Mavericks in 2013, Apple switched to Namur with a Californian theme, such as Yosemite, Monterey, Sonoma and last Sequoia. Gurman says that MacOS 26 is the third important redesign of macOS since Apple started using Californian names. According to him, Lake Tahoe is a popular holiday resort (and a beloved place for a second home) for many Apple employees.
Gurman also adds that Lake Tahoe is known for the reflection of the air and the surrounding mountains. He also draws a comparison with the renewed interfaces of Apple for this year’s software releases.
A more streamlined naming
During the WWDC, Apple presents newly designed versions of all operating systems on Monday 9 June. As part of these redesigns, Apple also gives them a new name based on the year. Apple only launches the new operating systems towards the end of 2025 and that is why they get the name ’26’. That means that instead of iOS 19, iPados 19, TVOS 19, MacOS 15, Watchos 12 and Visionos 2, they all get the number 26.
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