Juli Clover (release notes, security, enterprise, developer, full installer, IPSW):
macOS Tahoe 26.5 adds a Suggested Places section to the search interface in the Apple Maps app. It also lays the groundwork for ads in the Maps app, which are coming this summer.
The App Store is also getting a monthly subscription option that will let users pay a lower price on a monthly basis, but agree to pay for a subscription for a 12-month period.
I’ve heard that macOS 26.5 introduces problems with disabling System Integrity Protection; I’m not sure whether this was fixed before the final release.
See also Mr. Macintosh and Howard Oakley.
Previously:
Update (2026-05-12): Rich Trouton:
One of the features included with macOS Tahoe 26.5.0 is a new option in the Energy preferences in System Settings for automatically starting a Mac when power is connected to it, either following a power failure or when the Mac is plugged in to power.
Matt Gemmell:
With macOS 26.5, unmounted external thunderbolt drives are no longer automatically remounted whenever the screen is unlocked, bringing my 8 months of mild suffering to an end.
Update (2026-05-13): John Brayton:
I am seeing a bug in macOS 26.5 that affects keyboard shortcuts that have no modifiers and are attached to menu items.
Update (2026-05-18): PotentPeas:
The poll will remain open for 30 days.
[…]
As someone who values stability and “things working right” more than access to the latest new features, I’m holding off on upgrading to Tahoe until I believe that it will be a reasonably smooth experience.
With the initial Tahoe release, reading comments and posts from the community, I saw a lot of repeatedly noted issues.
[…]
I am interested in your take, after using macOS Tahoe 26.5 for a bit. Did they make any improvements that meaningfully fix or improve any issues you were experiencing with prior 26.X releases? Should a “regular” user upgrade yet? Is it “safe”? Or is it still not worth it, because of the bugs and UI jank?
Ricky Mondello:
macOS 26.5 fixes a weird bug that could sometimes happen in the Passwords app where ⌘F wouldn’t focus the search field.
Update (2026-05-25): Nik:
I just bought an M5 MacBook Air. I like the hardware but really dislike MacOS Tahoe. The user interface is unfinished, distracting and it wastes space. I think other people covered these issues in detail.
The thing is: I thought that I would be able to downgrade to Sequoia somehow, unfortunately I have not found a way to do so for an M5 machine.
Hence, I am on the verge of sending the machine back for a refund.
Apple Password Manager Keyboard Shortcuts Mac macOS Release macOS Tahoe 26 Power System Integrity Protection
Juli Clover (iOS/iPadOS release notes, security, no enterprise, developer):
iOS 26.5 introduces end-to-end encryption for RCS messages exchanged between iPhone and Android users. E2EE for RCS requires both participants in the conversation to have a carrier that supports the feature, and carriers will be rolling out support over time. Encrypted RCS messages have a small lock symbol, and match the end-to-end encryption protections of iMessage.
In the Maps app, there is a new “Suggested Places” section that displays recommendations based on location and recent searches. The Maps app is getting ads this summer, and the groundwork for ads is included in iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5.
Apple added a new Pride Luminance wallpaper that matches the Pride Luminance Apple Watch face and Apple Watch band. The updates are largely the same on iPad.
Apple is calling encrypted RCS a beta:
Apple and Google have led a cross-industry effort to bring end-to-end encryption to Rich Communication Services (RCS), making the cross-platform messaging format that replaces traditional SMS more secure and private.
[…]
Encryption is on by default and will be automatically enabled over time for new and existing RCS conversations.
[…]
[iMessage] remains the best way to communicate between Apple devices.
See also: Wired.
Previously:
Update (2026-05-12): Juli Clover:
iOS 26.5 introduces several interoperability changes for third-party wearables, which means European iPhone users have access to new capabilities when using non-Apple accessories.
John Gruber (Mastodon):
I hope this leads to a future where all RCS messages are end-to-end encrypted, but I doubt it. Currently this E2EE RCS depends both on the carriers (of both parties) in a direct chat, and the software running on their devices. The carrier list is pretty broad, but as far as I can tell, it still doesn’t include Google’s own Google Fi.
But the indication for this is subtle. You have to read the small print metadata in each chat to see if it’s encrypted. The message text remains the same shade of green.
Juli Clover:
Encrypted messages are denoted with a small lock symbol.
Matt Birchler:
Support is excellent as well. Here in the US, all carriers that support RCS, also support encrypted RCS except for H20 Wireless and Total Wireless.
Previously:
Update (2026-05-13): John Gruber (Mastodon):
These new DMA compliance features are the result of requirements imposed in March last year — again, from investigations that began under Vestager, not Ribera.
[…]
The EU hasn’t rescinded any of their existing requirements under the DMA. But Ribera has clearly deescalated the EU’s approach to regulating American companies in general, and Apple specifically. No new requirements in over a year, no new investigations, and no inflammatory rhetoric. (Still no iPhone Mirroring in the EU, either, though, because they haven’t rescinded any already-imposed requirements.)
Antitrust Digital Markets Act (DMA) iOS iOS 26 iOS Release iPadOS iPadOS 26 iPadOS Release Messages.app Privacy Rich Communication Services (RCS) Security
Juli Clover (release notes, security, developer):
watchOS 26.5 adds a new Pride Luminance watch face. It also fixes a bug with dual SIM iPhones and an issue that could cause audio alerts to fail to play in the Workout app.
Previously:
watchOS watchOS 26 watchOS Release
Juli Clover (release notes, security, no enterprise, developer):
Apple’s release notes say that visionOS 26.5 includes bug fixes and security improvements.
Previously:
visionOS visionOS 26 visionOS Release
Juli Clover (release notes, security, developer):
No new features were found in tvOS 26.5 during the beta testing period, so it likely focuses on bug fixes and performance improvements.
Previously:
tvOS tvOS 26 tvOS Release
Juli Clover (release notes):
According to Apple’s release notes, HomePod Software 26.5 includes performance and stability improvements.
Previously:
audioOS audioOS 26 audioOS Release
