Next week, WWDC 2025, Apple’s annual developer conference, will take place. The business is anticipated to present the most recent iterations of its iOS, iPadOS, and macOS operating systems at the event.
Why does Apple name macOS 26 macOS Tahoe?
In recent years, macOS Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, and Catalina have been among the names that Apple has chosen to honor famous California landmarks when naming its operating systems. Lake Tahoe, with its crystal-clear waters and mountain views, complements Apple’s long-rumored transparent, glass-like user interface overhaul. Across Apple’s ecosystem, the update is anticipated to provide a new interface, updated icons, and more fluid animations. The Sierra Nevada mountains’ Lake Tahoe, a sizable freshwater lake, is the ideal example of this naming scheme.
Apple is rebranding all of its operating systems to correspond with the year, including macOS Tahoe. Apple will release iOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26 in place of iOS 19, macOS 15, or watchOS 12, making version numbers easier for developers and users to understand.
Design Inspired by Tahoe
Inspired by California’s Lake Tahoe, which is renowned for its remarkably pure and reflected waters, the name “Tahoe” was chosen. The surrounding terrain, including the sky and mountains, is reflected in the lake. This natural occurrence is consistent with macOS 26’s purported design, which is anticipated to have a glass-like appearance with more translucent buttons, windows, and icons. Gurman refers to it as the third significant macOS overhaul since Apple started naming its products after California.
Tahoe for macOS Will Soon Launch
The next macOS Tahoe is anticipated to be formally unveiled by Apple at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in 2025. On June 9 at 10:00 a.m. PT (10:30 p.m. IST), a keynote address will be held to make the announcement. At the presentation, Apple will also present various operating systems, including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26, in addition to macOS Tahoe.
