Apple releases macOS 26.5 beta 4, here’s what to expect [U]

Update: Apple is now rolling out public beta 3 (which is mismatched with developer beta 4, since Apple skipped a public beta release a few weeks ago). macOS 25.4 public beta 3 has the same build number as macOS 26.4 developer beta 4 released earlier today.

Just a week after releasing macOS 26.5 beta 3, Apple is now rolling out the fourth beta, ahead of its official release in a few weeks. Here’s what to expect.

A quiet release this time around

Contrary to macOS 26.4, which reintroduced the compact tab view in Safari, and introduced features such as the Charge Limit, it looks like macOS 26.5 will be a rather quiet release.

So far, macOS 26.5 hasn’t seen any major changes, with most new features either landing in iOS 26.5 or introduced as cross-platform updates.

That includes progress on end-to-end encryption for RCS, Live Activities support for third-party accessories in Europe, and a new “Suggested Places” feature in Apple Maps.

Specifically on macOS, it is increasingly looking like the update will be a “bug fixes and performance improvements” kind of release, which is widely expected to be the last update before WWDC26 and the unveiling of macOS 27.

The release build for macOS 26.5 beta 4 is 25F5068a.

How to install the new beta

Here’s how to install the macOS Tahoe 26.5 developer beta 4:

1. Backup your Mac
2. Open System Settings
3. Go to General ⇾ Software Update
4. Click the ‘i’ icon next to Beta Updates
5. From the dropdown menu in the top-right, select the macOS Developer Tahoe Beta
6. Hit ‘Done’

Did you spot any changes in today’s betas? Let us know in the comments.

Worth checking out on Amazon

• David Pogue – ’Apple: The First 50 Years’
• MacBook Neo
• Logitech MX Master 4
• AirPods Pro 3
• AirTag (2nd Generation) – 4 Pack
• Apple Watch Series 11
• Wireless CarPlay adapter