Your MacBook is getting a free upgrade from Apple - here are 5 features you won't want to

There's good news for anyone who owns a Mac. Apple has just announced a major update to these popular machines at its WWDC Developers Conference which not only refreshes the name of the operating system but also adds a swathe of bonus features. Firstly, let's talk about that name. Apple is bringing all of its operating systems in line with one another which means they all get the same tag.

When the updates arrive in the autumn, they will be called iOS 26 (iPhone), iPadOS 26 (iPad), watchOS 26 (Apple Watch), and VisionOS 26 (Apple Vision Pro).

The Mac is also following suit and is being named macOS Tahoe 26.

So, other than that huge rebrand, what else will arrive on Apple-powered PCs in the next few months?

Here are the top 5 things to watch out for.

Apple is updating the appearance of the Mac with a new look called Liquid Glass.

As the US firm explains, "The gorgeous new design enhances the Mac experience in new ways, while maintaining the familiarity of macOS. It is crafted with Liquid Glass, a translucent new material that reflects and refracts its surroundings."

This change will affect the menu bar, toolbars and sidebar with Apple hoping that it will bring greater focus to a user’s content.

Another nice bonus is finally being able to change the colours of your folders - until now you have only been able to add coloured tags. You can even add symbols or emojis to give each folder a unique look and identity.

If you also use an iPhone as well as MacBook you find two devices work even better together. Apple is bringing new Continuity Experiences to users which include being able to receive cellular phone calls right from the Mac.

The Phone app on Mac will even get familiar features of the Phone app on iPhone — including Recents, Favorites, and Voicemails — and the latest updates like Call Screening and Hold Assist.

Live Activities from a user’s nearby iPhone will also appear in the menu bar on their Mac so they can stay on top of things happening in real time, like an upcoming Uber ride, flight, or live sports score.

Apple is promising the 'biggest ever update to Spotlight' on the Mac. Once macOS 26 is installed, all search results — including files, folders, events, apps, messages, and more — will be listed together and ranked intelligently based on relevance to the user.

New filtering options rapidly narrow searches to exactly what a user is looking for, like PDFs or Mail messages. Spotlight can also surface results for documents stored on third-party cloud drives.

You'll also be able to take hundreds of actions directly from Spotlight — like sending an email, creating a note, or playing a podcast — without jumping between apps.

Apple has confirmed that macOS Tahoe introduces Apple Games. This is a dedicated app that gives players a home for all their games, making it easier to jump back into favourites, discover new games tailored just for them, and play with friends in whole new ways.

With the new Game Overlay, players can conveniently adjust their system settings, chat with friends, or invite them to play, all without having to leave their game.

If you message from your Mac, you'll find updates coming soon, including new Backgrounds which can be changed for each of your contacts, you can add Polls, and a redesigned details view helps users easily navigate what has been shared in a conversation.

Photos has also had an update with a design refresh that includes beautiful Liquid Glass elements, enhancements for customisation, easier workflows, and sidebar consistency with iPadOS.