Your Mac is getting more iPad-like in macOS Tahoe, here’s how

A lot has been said about iPadOS 26 bringing many powerful Mac-like features to the iPad. While that’s true, the exchange is also mutual. Apple has several iPad-inspired changes coming to the Mac in macOS Tahoe. Here’s what’s new.

macOS Tahoe comes with several iPadOS-inspired changes

Mac users may not love the sound of macOS Tahoe borrowing features from the iPad.

But Apple’s goal with this year’s software updates is greater cross-platform cohesion, not just with the Liquid Glass design but in feature enhancements too.

While keeping each platform distinct, Apple has made a lot of efforts to smooth out the differences in its operating systems.

Here are several ways the Mac gets more iPad-like in macOS Tahoe.

Control Center revamp

Last year the iPad and iPhone got major Control Center upgrades that included tons of first- and third-party controls. In macOS Tahoe, those changes are coming to the Mac too.

New features include:

• Brand new system controls that can do a lot more things
• Resizable controls, so you can build your own custom setup
• Rearrange option, another way to customize
• Menu bar support for any control you want accessible there
• Third-party controls via a new API

Automation in Shortcuts

The Shortcuts app has been part of the Mac for years, but until now it’s always had one glaring omission: automations.

No doubt this was due to macOS already having its own, separate automation tools. But in macOS Tahoe, Apple is bringing iPad-style Shortcuts automations to the Mac.

The updated Shortcuts app in macOS Tahoe includes automation options based on triggers like saving a file to a folder, connecting to an external display, at specific times of day, and more.

App icons are changing

This might prove controversial, but macOS Tahoe has some iPad-like changes for app icons too.

Gone are the days of app icons having their own unique shapes, as macOS now uses the standard squircle shape found on iPhone and iPad.

There’s a benefit to this change though, as icons will now support light and dark theming and icon tinting, including the new ‘Clear’ Liquid Glass look.

Launchpad becomes more like the App Library

If you’re a regular Launchpad user, macOS Tahoe will require some adapting. Launchpad has disappeared from the system, replaced in the Mac’s dock with a new app browser reminiscent of the App Library on iPad and iPhone.

Like the App Library, the new Apps screen shows a list of suggested apps first, followed by a breakdown of apps automatically sorted into different categories. Spotlight will remain a faster way to launch apps, but if you have a lot of apps on your Mac, the new browser should make them easier to find.

macOS Tahoe’s iPad-inspired changes: wrap-up

No doubt, the Mac’s iPad-inspired changes this year aren’t as numerous or drastic as the iPad’s Mac-inspired updates. Nonetheless, macOS Tahoe does make the Mac more like Apple’s two most popular platforms—iPhone and iPad—in ways that should make it more approachable to new users than ever. And hopefully longtime Mac users will find plenty to appreciate too.

What do you think of macOS Tahoe’s iPad-inspired changes? Let us know in the comments.

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