Apple is entering warp speed as macOS Tahoe’s release nears, rolling out Public Beta 3 as part of its new weekly beta schedule. If you’ve been eager to explore the revamped visual design and workflow enhancements before the official fall launch, this is your invite to dive in. Here’s everything you need to know — from what’s new to the safest way to install.
What’s New in Beta 3?
Today’s Public Beta 3 mirrors the Developer Beta 6 released just days ago (InsanelyMac,2025). Expect mainly under-the-hood improvements and fixes instead of flashy new features, as Apple zeroes in on stability and polish.
Tahoe is already turning heads with its Liquid Glass aesthetic — think translucent windows, sleek animations, and a modern feel across macOS (Tom,2025). Key new features include
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A revamped Spotlight powered by Apple Intelligence for smarter results and quick actions
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Folder customizations — color-code folders or add emojis for fun organization.
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A new Games app offering a curated gaming hub with multiplayer features.
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The Journal app arrives on Mac alongside continuity-enhanced Live Activities from iPhone.
Should You Install It?
If you love new features—or just want to be an early adopter—this is your moment. Still, a few cautions:
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Beta software equals bugs. Even things that worked in Beta 2 may break in Beta 3.
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Best practice: Install on a secondary Mac, a separate volume, or use a Time Machine backup.
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Don’t upgrade your primary work machine, especially if you rely on stability.
How to Install macOS Tahoe 26 Public Beta 3
Ready to jump in? Just follow these steps:
1. Enroll in Apple’s Public Beta Program
Go to beta.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
2. Backup First
Use Time Machine or another backup solution to save your data and allow for easy rollback (Tom, 2025).
3. Navigate to Software Update
Open System Settings, head to General → Software Update, then click the “i” button next to Beta Updates.
4. Select the Beta and Install
From the dropdown, choose macOS Tahoe 26 Public Beta, hit “Done”, then click “Upgrade Now” once the update appears (Macworld, 2025).
Your Mac will download the update, restart, and land you automatically into Tahoe.
What’s Next?
Beta updates will keep arriving every 1–2 weeks as Apple finalizes Tahoe ahead of a likely fall release. Future public beta builds may introduce additional refinements or minor new features.
Why It Matters
This is more than cosmetic eye candy. macOS Tahoe is ushering in:
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A unified aesthetic across Apple platforms via Liquid Glass.
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AI-powered productivity workflows embedded into tools like Spotlight.
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New-first apps like Games and Journal — bringing rich functionality to macOS.
With Public Beta 3 live, Apple is signalling it’s almost ready for the launch stage.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Release | Public Beta 3 of macOS Tahoe (build follows Developer Beta 6) |
| What’s new? | Mostly bug fixes and refinements — core features already introduced in prior betas |
| Install steps | Enroll at beta.apple.com → Backup → System Settings > Software Update → Enable Beta Updates → Install |
| Recommendation | Use secondary hardware or backup — don’t install on critical machines |
Curious about how it feels? Reach out and share your experience — we’d love to hear whether Liquid Glass lives up to the hype on your Mac.
