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macOS 26 update issues ?

pfschim

pfschim

Just a Skeleton with a Jazz bass
Supporting Member
Apr 26, 2006
9,355
10,950
SF Bay Area
#1
So, I see MacOS 26 is now available. I don't really have the hots to do this update/upgrade, but I was curious if there are any early adopters here, and what has anyone found with this new OS.

I'm running Logic on a M4 Macbook Air with 16gb ram and 1Tb SSD. I use a Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 v3 that works great for my needs.

I know it's important on any platform to make sure your specific hardware has been validated as compatible. I use a Focusrite audio interface and will check Focusrite to see if their stuff has been tested good with the new OS.

Again, I have a very stable system now and do not feel like I'm missing anything. I'm also not aware of any music/media specific tweaks in MacOS 26 that would be meaningful for DAW work.

Just asking!
 
#3
pfschim said:
I have a very stable system now
Click to expand...
As long as you get security updates, keep it as is!
I only upgraded to MacOS Sonoma a few weeks ago, partly because I wanted the enhanced Stem Splitter in Logic 11.2, partly because Apple introduced a nasty SMB networking bug in a recent Ventura security update. Sonoma fixed the latter but… introduced other unexpected issues concerning external USB drives. Duh. The torture never stops, to quote FZ :/
Since Sequoia would likely break other things that I'm depending on, I won't upgrade any further for quite some time.
Not to speak of "26".

That all said…
pfschim said:
1Tb SSD
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that with APFS drives you can add volumes on the fly without having to format the drive. So simply create a new volume (Disk Utility > Edit > Add APFS Volume) and install Tahoe on it. Then you can check out how it works without affecting your current boot volume.
I've done the same with Sequoia, and previously with Sonoma.
 
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#4
Mac user since 1987 (and, once, many many moons ago, Apple employee).

I never upgrade macOS right away.

I will consider it during the holiday break, but not before. Sometimes I wait until the following May. Gotta let all the other apps catch up and find all the new bugs, which takes a while.

iOS I'll upgrade sooner, probably when there's an x.2 update or an x.1.2 update. A couple cycles of bug fixes, anyway, probably late October or early November. Those have historically been more stable.
 
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#5
yes to all of the above. As I said in my OP, I have no particular motivation to update at this time, Liquid Glass does not have any overt appeal, I was just wondering what anyone else's experience might be. I do tend to wait until x.1 updates at least, but even then in the case of MacOS 26, I have not read about anything particularly compelling for my uses in 26.

FWIW, I did update my TVOS to 26 without any seeming issues, but that's a whole different system. I may also update my iPadOS to 26 as I use my iPad for very basic stuff (Kindle app and checking the weather seem to be the main uses for me).
 
#6
I updated both my iPad and iPhone to iOS 26. No issues, other than finding Liquid Glass annoying and therefore I minimized the effect. I don’t really do anything critical on either. Everything seems to work more or less like it did before, with the caveat that a few things have been rearranged.
 
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#7
wait until the DAW and all your plugin manufacturers confirm they support the new OS and no known issues are around. it might take some time, but better safe than sorry.

as a side note, Safari 26 is totally borked up. got it in my Sequoia and had to install a different browser.
 
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#8
DON'T DO IT. Sorry, I didn't mean to yell. I just had my coffee. Let me rephrase that... Please don't upgrade now, if ever. The 26.0.1 bug fix is due out in the next few days (www.macrumors.com/2025/09/28/ios-26-0-1-what-to-expect/) . Then a few weeks later will be 26.1 update. If you are stable now, please don't upgrade now. If you are really in need of something to do to keep yourself busy, may I suggest you buy another bass and learn a new song with it. Everyone needs a new bass and we like seeing pictures of people's new basses, not a picture of their updated computer. Or... for much less than the cost of the new Rickenbacker 4030 I want to buy, you can buy a new macbook with the new OS and test it to see if it works with the rest of your setup. Shiny new hardware, faster processor, new OS... Let us know what you decide.
 
#9
I've been on the developer Betas for a month or so and am now running it on my main machine (M4 Mac mini). Not had any problems. It's solid. However if you depend on any tech then holding off a little longer is always the safe option.

You mention your Audio interface - Aside from very old interfaces (like over 15 years old), all USB interfaces should be class compliant which means they should all just work out of the box. I'd be surprised if there are any issues with it.

However you don't specify what DAW or other software you're using. A DAW is FAR more complex than an audio interface in terms of what can go wrong with it, and it's far easier for issues to hide in obscure places. I'd check with your DAW vendor and verify that they support on the new OS. Once they give you the OK, then consider it.
 
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#11
I updated my iPad Pro M1 and my iPhone 14 Pro and discovered both worked smoother and faster plus
I love the Liquid Glass interface.

My next upgrade was to the MacBook Pro I use in business and OS 26 installed without any issues, the laptop is working great.
After several days I risked it and updated my Mac Mini M2 which I use in my home studio to Mac OS 26. I use CuBase 14 Pro and Luna as the two DAW’s on that machine. Both appear to be working fine with no glitches during any sessions yet. With Logic being an Apple product there should be minimal issues but one never knows.

I have an engineer’s heart and love beta testing to find and help correct issues. That said, some love upgrading their basses and for the most part that has been a money pit/disappointment for me that in one time out of six has actually worked for the better. YMMV

With respect to everyone’s opinions, upgrade at your own risk, fortunately it worked out fine (so far) for me.
 
#13
Me, as someone who develops music/audio tech, to my friends: Always wait a few months before major OS upgrades and check with your music software & hardware makers to see if it's compatible yet.

Me to myself: Ooh! New OS! Let's see what this breaks! {clicks Update Now button}

---

But seriously, Logic will probably be ready for the new OS, being an Apple product. Focusrite might need some time to update; might not. Just check the websites of any must-have software & hardware for compatibility. Usually a google search "[OS VERSION NAME] [SOFTWARE/HARDWARE NAME] Compatible?" will take you to the company's official compatibility announcement.
 
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#14
My take is that for music creation there are diminishing returns with new updates. DAWs have been able to do most anything I'd ever want to do with my music and do it efficiently for over a decade at this point, and nearly every time I've been an early adopter to a new operating system I've been burned in some way (my current computer was an unplanned upgrade last year due to an accidental OS upgrade on an older Mac that ended up overworking its CPU in a pretty short period of time when it was working perfectly fine as an offline music-creation box for years until that change).
 
#17
pfschim said:
Just asking!
Click to expand...

Typically I wait because often DAWs, synth software or plugins I use tend to be slow to be fully compatible when new OS versions come out. No reason to rush until I know there's compatability with everything I use. To wit:

1759188212767.png
 
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#18
FWIW, I did go ahead and check the Focusrite page for MacOS 26 compatibility, and it seems as if all of the Scarlett Gen 2, 3 and 4 range of interfaces is good to go on Tahoe. Looks like the Clarett USB devices are good as well. The Clarett Thunderbolt stuff seems to need an updated driver before it's ok.

I'm still not going to do this just yet, but I thought I'd pass it on.
 
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#19
In general there's little reason to immediately upgrade to new macOS versions. I typically wait 2-3 months to make sure software compatability catches up, but also because you'll typically see 1-2 bugfix versions in that time.

On his Eclectic Light Company blog, Howard Oakley has pored over the past two years of macOS releases to predict when we might see scheduled macOS 26 Tahoe updates -- and, by extension, updates to Apple’s other operating systems, which typically come out on the same day. He suggests:

1759195406479.png


If this historical trend is accurate I'd recommend waiting until December to upgrade unless there's software you use that demands the new macOS version.
 
#20
Upgraded my MacBook to Tahoe without any issues, but don't use it to create music stuff. Musically mostly just use it to store song files and playback practice sessions via "Music".
Use it more for creating graphics than anything.
Other than that just streaming, emails, social media, a lil' shopping, and browsing.

This os seems to run down the battery a little faster, but this machine is getting up there.
 
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