macOS Tahoe 26.1 Beta 4 - Bug fixes, changes, and more

[WilliApple]

Release Date ― October 20, 2025
Build Number ― 25B5072a
T2 BridgeOS System Firmware Version ― Pending
Apple Silicon System Firmware Version ― Pending

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Features & Changes (Found something new? Please press "Edit" on the bottom of this post and add it here)
Resolved Issues
New Issues (If you are encountering any issues, please press "Edit" on the bottom of this post and add it here)
Remaining Issues
Untested Issues

• Alarms may not play when your display is asleep for a long period of time (FB10086690)
  • Workaround: Make your display not fall asleep in Settings > Lock Screen > Turn display off on ____ when inactive. You can turn your brightness off.
  • Issue present since macOS 13.0

Additional Notes

• Please know, Memory Management has always been an issue on any OS (not just Apple's). If you believe there is a Memory Leak, please go to the Apple Menu > Restart > Restart to fix it.
• When a new macOS release comes out, all issues automatically go to "Untested Issues" until they are moved by someone. Issues that stay in Untested for 3 releases (beta or smooth) will be removed from all future threads. When there is a new macOS release, please be sure to let us know about the issue's status by moving it to either "Remaining Issues" or "Resolved Issues"
• macOS 26 Tahoe will be installed via a Delta Update in System Settings. Please be aware about this and the update won’t install with an installer.
• macOS 26 is officially supported on the following devices. If your device is not listed below, it has unfortunately been dropped by Apple. Any efforts of trying to get your Mac running macOS 26, including bugs should be discussed in this thread.
  • MacBook Air: M1, M2, M3, M4
  • MacBook Pro: 2019 (16 Inch only), Intel 2020 (4 thunderbolt port only), M1, M1 Pro/M1 Max, M2, M2 Pro/M2 Max, M3/M3 Pro/M3 Max, M4/M4 Pro/M4 Max
  • Mac mini: M1, M2/M2 Pro, M4/M4 Pro
  • iMac: 5K 2020, M1, M3, M4
  • Mac Pro: 2019, M2 Ultra
  • Mac Studio: M1 Max/Ultra, M2 Max/Ultra, M3 Ultra, M4 Max
• macOS Tahoe 26.1 Release Notes
• macOS Tahoe Overview
• Apple Security Updates
• Become an Apple Beta Tester
• Full Installer (Direct Download) (Pending)

 

[LutzRFrank]

Liquid Selection in beta 4

 

[nortonandreev]

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

This is as much an admission that Liquid Glass is a failure as you can get.

Apple could have saved themselves a boatload of issues by simply having this option in the first.

 

[flowrider]

^^^^Not in my opinion. It seems like Apple is listening 👍

Lou

 

[PotentPeas]

I think this is just a sign that this OS is not out of beta yet :-\

I'm glad they made this change though. I'm not on Tahoe yet, but I just installed iOS 26.1 beta 4, and it is definitely better with the "tinted" option.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

^^^^Not in my opinion. It seems like Apple is listening 👍

Lou

That’s exactly my point; they’re providing the option because users don’t like Liquid Glass.

 

[WilliApple]

That’s exactly my point; they’re providing the option because users don’t like Liquid Glass.

My only hope now is that they make it as clear as possible but still readable so users who actually like it can get liquid glass.

 

[flowrider]

That’s exactly my point; they’re providing the option because users don’t like Liquid Glass.

Well, I guess we view Apple in a different way

Lou

 

[JoeSilver]

What I'd really like, it's a way of creating Appearance profiles. For example, when the system switches to Dark mode, I would like a setting which makes me choose to automatically switch the icons style to Dark as well, or to Tinted.

This is possible on the iPhone, although in that case I can achieve that with the Focus setting: it doesn't just filter Notifications, but allows to link together Light/Dark mode, Icons style, Wallpaper.

I like when my phone switches to my Sleep mode, the icons are tinted (i.e. monochrome), the wallpaper changes to the Moon, the system is of course in Dark mode and the notifications are limited. Mac Os can also be turned to a Focus mode in sync with the iPhone, but the Icons theme must be changed manually, for example.

And there's still the issue that some wallpapers have Light and Dark versions, but you can't decide of having a wallpaper for Light mode and another for Dark.

 

[fisherking]

That’s exactly my point; they’re providing the option because users don’t like Liquid Glass.

some users don't like Liquid Glass.

 

[elptdbi3lYI]

Glass menu bar when?

 

[mikecwest]

did they fix the 00:15:15PM annoyance??

 

[thebart]

I changed liquid glass to tinted and I honestly can't see any difference? The control panel looks the same

(But then, I never saw much liquid glass to begin with since I run in dark mode and don't use Safari, Music, etc.)