You possibly can obtain the macOS 26 Tahoe developer beta proper now. You may get a have a look at the thrilling new design coming to the Mac earlier than the replace is shipped to everybody. And you may check out the brand new super-charged Highlight.
In fact, there are some things you need to look out for. Beta software program is buggy and may result in knowledge loss or apps that don’t work. This specific beta is a tough one, with a lot of damaged animations and options. A whole lot of apps you employ in all probability gained’t work accurately. I strongly advocate that you simply a minimum of look forward to the general public beta — it’ll be accessible beginning in July.
For those who’re nonetheless positive you wish to strive it out, you need to be sure you have a backup of your most necessary knowledge with two copies of your photograph library earlier than you strive putting in. I’ll present you ways.
How one can obtain the macOS 26 Tahoe developer beta
Desk of contents: How one can obtain the macOS 26 Tahoe developer beta
- Examine that you’ve got a Time Machine backup
- Examine that your photograph library is backed up
- Change to permit beta software program updates
- Set up the replace
1. Examine that you’ve got a Time Machine backup
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Earlier than you obtain the macOS beta, you need to make it possible for your Mac is backed up. For those who lose necessary knowledge, if the software program replace is unsuccessful or if you wish to roll again to the secure model of macOS after attempting out the beta, this backup will save your pores and skin.
Double-check in System Settings > Common > Time Machine. Proper underneath the identify of your backup drive, there ought to be a line of textual content that claims “Backups:” that lists the oldest and most up-to-date backup. It ought to say “Right this moment.” If not, you want to make a backup. To take action, right-click and choose Again As much as “[disk name]” Now. (To be additional secure, you need to have your Time Machine backup on an exterior drive.)
2. Examine that your photograph library is backed up
Subsequent, open Pictures. Scroll all the best way down beneath the newest photograph to see in case your images are backed up. If it says “Synced with iCloud,” you’re golden. In any other case, click on Sync Now to be sure you don’t lose something.
In case your Mac has sufficient storage (or an exterior drive) you need to have one other copy of your photograph library, too. Backing as much as iCloud will assist if one thing occurs to your Mac, but when a bug corrupts your photograph library and people adjustments are synced to iCloud, a separate, offline copy will be sure you have a secure copy.
Within the Dock, click on on the Finder and open the Dwelling folder along with your identify (⇧⌘H). Open Photos. You must see a file referred to as Photograph Library. Make a neighborhood copy by clicking File > Duplicate (⌘D), or copy it to an exterior drive by clicking and dragging it over. Then, rename it one thing descriptive, like Photograph Library (Backup).
3. Change to permit beta software program updates
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Go to System Settings > Common > Software program Replace. After it checks for updates, you’ll see the choice seem for Beta Updates. If this selection doesn’t seem, open this hyperlink to enroll within the developer program. Faucet Begin your enrollment, register utilizing your Apple ID and comply with the phrases. After that, you need to be capable to see the “Beta Updates” part in Software program Replace.
Click on the ⓘ to convey up the pop-up menu, then click on Off to see the choices at present accessible: Off, macOS Tahoe Developer Beta, macOS Sequoia Developer Beta and macOS Sequoia Public Beta.
- The macOS Tahoe public beta is a safer strategy to benefit from the prerelease software program. Updates will exit on the similar tempo of each two to 3 weeks, however launched a couple of day later to ensure there are not any vital bugs within the software program. The general public beta will probably be accessible in July.
- The macOS Tahoe developer beta is the quick monitor, supposed for app builders to check performance and implement new options. These betas are launched a bit of early, however have a better danger of bugs.
Click on macOS Tahoe Developer Beta to get the flashy (however very buggy) new replace.
4. Obtain the macOS beta replace
Click on Finished and also you’ll see the macOS Tahoe replace accessible. Click on Improve Now to obtain the macOS beta and Set up Now when it’s prepared. It could take longer than a traditional software program replace.
On the finish, you’ll reboot into the shiny new beta working system! You possibly can anticipate to get a brand new software program replace about each few weeks till September. If I can’t cease you from putting in macOS Tahoe now, I a minimum of advocate switching over to the general public beta when that’s accessible in July.
We initially printed this text on methods to obtain the macOS beta on June 11, 2024. We up to date it with the most recent data on June 10, 2025.
