On September 15, 2025, Apple released its newest version of the Macintosh operating system, macOS 26 Tahoe. This release includes a series of upgrades to macOS, including a new interface design (Liquid Glass), Continuity improvements, productivity enhancements, and minor improvements to Apple Intelligence. macOS 26 is also a component of Apple’s new operating system numbering schema.
At the time of release, Information Systems & Computing (ISC) strongly recommended that all University users adopt a “wait and see” approach and continue using earlier macOS versions for at least a week following the release. This period allows for any initial bugs and compatibility issues in Tahoe to be identified and, in most cases, either fixed or avoided.
macOS Tahoe versions 26.1 and above only are now cleared for general use by University constituents. This clearance supports Penn users with new systems that ship with macOS 26 pre-installed. macOS 15.x Sequoia remains the supported and recommended version of macOS and will likely remain so until the end of FY2026. Please refer to the Operating System Life Cycles charts for ISC’s current support of and long-term guidance on operating systems.
ISC recommends that those with niche needs of untested apps or features continue to exercise caution before upgrading their macOS devices to Tahoe. Institutional users should also ensure they are running at least version 7.29 of the CrowdStrike sensor, now present on approximately 81% of the University’s managed macOS systems.
macOS 26 Tahoe also has several incompatibilities that affect the functionality of various software relevant to the University, including third-party audio applications. Adobe has yet to officially announce support for macOS Tahoe.
macOS 26 Tahoe is compatible with all Macs released in 2020 or later, as well as the 2019 versions of the MacBook Pro 16-inch and Mac Pro. It is also the final version of macOS that will work with even the most modern Intel-based Macs. Tahoe is currently shipping on some new Macintoshes, including the recently announced M5 macBook Pro 14-inch.
Apple’s system engineer for Penn, Brett Gross, will present on macOS Tahoe and other topics at the November 20, 2025 MacNet meeting. More information and a registration link for this virtual meeting are here.
Support for macOS Tahoe continues the retirement clock for the University’s remaining affiliated Intel-based Macs, which currently account for about 18% of Penn’s macOS installed base. Users of these systems should plan to replace them no later than June 2028.