Mac Hidden Features in macOS Tahoe You May Have Missed

With the introduction of macOS Tahoe (macOS 26), Apple continues refining the Mac experience — not just visually, but functionally too. The new naming convention using the year for versioning helps align macOS with iOS, iPadOS, and other platforms, making it easier to determine which systems were released together.

While much of the buzz has been about the system’s new glass-like look, there are several new features and enhancements that may have flown under the radar. Here's a breakdown of what’s new and noteworthy in macOS Tahoe.

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1. System-Wide Themes & Appearance Customization​

macOS Tahoe introduces true theme support, allowing users to customize their interface with more control than ever before. Within System Settings under Appearance, you’ll find:

• Color and Text Highlight Color: Previously known as Accent Color and Highlight Color, they work similarly but are now part of a larger theme group.
• Icon & Widget Style: Choose from:
  • Default: The classic look.
  • Dark: A new black-themed visual for icons and sidebars.
  • Clear: Makes the background more transparent, with Light or Dark modes.
  • Tinted: Lets you tint icons and folders with a color of your choice.

In the Folder Color section, you can go beyond the default blue and choose from preset colors or create a custom one. This color change affects all folders unless you customize them individually (which we’ll get to below).

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2. A Transparent Menu Bar — With Options​

The Menu Bar is now transparent by default, adding a sleek and modern touch to the macOS interface. If transparency isn’t your thing, you can adjust it:

• Head to System Settings > Accessibility > Display
• Enable Reduce Transparency or Increase Contrast for a solid background behind the Menu Bar

Alternatively, you can craft a custom wallpaper that includes a solid-colored area behind the Menu Bar, giving you complete visual control.

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3. Individual Folder Customization​

Beyond default folder color settings, you can now customize individual folders using:

Tags:​

Apply a colored tag to a folder, and it will adopt the color of the tag. This works with both default tags (like red or blue) and custom ones. The folder will use the color of the last tag applied if multiple tags are used.

Custom Icons & Emojis:​

• Select a folder and choose Customize Folder from the context menu.
• Add predefined icons or even emoji and Unicode characters to personalize your folders further.

These enhancements provide a great way to organize and visually differentiate folders.

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4. Spotlight Gets a Major Upgrade​

Spotlight in macOS Tahoe is now completely revamped, with four distinct modes:

• Applications Mode: Replaces Launchpad. This mode only shows apps and even uses a similar icon.
• Files Mode: Focuses strictly on document and file results.
• Actions Mode: Lets you trigger system actions or Shortcuts (e.g., start a timer).
• Clipboard Mode: A brand-new Clipboard History built into macOS.

Each mode has a keyboard shortcut:

• Command + 1: Applications
• Command + 2: Files
• Command + 3: Actions
• Command + 4: Clipboard

You can view, search, and reuse previous clipboard items — including both text and images. Items can be pasted directly or copied back to the clipboard, and you can clear your clipboard history when needed.

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5. Auto-Categorization in Reminders​

The Reminders app gains a helpful new feature: Auto-Categorization.

• After creating a list, go to File > Auto-Categorize.
• macOS will analyze and organize items into smart categories.
• As you add new items, they’re automatically sorted into these categories.

This is a great time-saver and adds intelligent organization without requiring manual setup.

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6. Password History​

In the Passwords app, you’ll now see a Password History section for each login. If you update a password, macOS keeps a record of previous ones — complete with timestamps — in case you need to revert or verify a change. It's especially useful if you're unsure whether a password change succeeded.

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7. Shortcut Automations Come to macOS​

One of the most powerful new additions is automations in the Shortcuts app, a feature previously limited to iOS.

Now, Shortcuts on macOS can run automatically based on triggers such as:

• Time of day
• Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections
• Opening or closing apps
• Battery level changes
• File additions or modifications in folders
• External drive connections
• Focus mode changes
• Receiving emails or messages

For example, you could create a shortcut that watches your Screenshots folder, and when a new screenshot is added, it automatically renames the file. This brings tremendous potential to automate workflows without third-party tools or Automator scripts.

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Final Thoughts​

macOS Tahoe is more than a visual update — it’s a functional evolution. From customization and automation to smarter system tools, these features bring added flexibility, power, and polish to your Mac.

While it's still early in the release cycle (with possible changes before the final version ships), it’s already clear that macOS Tahoe brings some of the most user-friendly improvements we've seen in recent years.

Stay tuned for deeper dives into these features, and don’t forget to explore them hands-on when you install the update.