Apple is preparing to name the next version of its Mac operating system macOS Tahoe, marking the third major redesign in the California-themed naming era, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter.
Since 2013, Apple’s “crack marketing team” as it calls it, has used notable California locations as names for macOS, starting with Mavericks and continuing through Yosemite, Big Sur, and most recently, Sequoia. The names have often reflected the significance of each update. Yosemite brought a dramatic new design in 2014, and Big Sur symbolized the company’s shift to Apple Silicon in 2020.
Now, with macOS 26, Apple is once again signaling something big. Lake Tahoe—a well-known resort destination and second-home spot for many Apple employees—has been selected as the next namesake.
Internally, it’s seen as fitting for a refresh focused on new visual themes. Gurman notes that the lake’s ability to reflect the sky and nearby mountains may serve as a metaphor for the striking design updates expected in the upcoming release.
macOS Tahoe will mark a major step forward in Apple’s desktop software, aligning with broader interface changes across the ecosystem expected to be unveiled at WWDC.
Apple this year will change how it names its operating systems, as previously leaked by Gurman. Names will be based on years instead of versions. So expect iOS 26, iPadOS 26, tvOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26 and visionOS 26 to be revealed at WWDC, unifying the names, along with a “Solarium” design overhaul based on visionOS themes.
