Apple will release macOS 26 Tahoe later in 2025, bringing with it a fresh new “Liquid Glass” aesthetic, improved Spotlight search, a more capable Apple Intelligence, and some brand new apps.
While Apple’s implementations might be a bit more seamless, you don’t need to wait for many of these changes. Some of the best features can be added to macOS 15 Sequoia right now.
6Add Clipboard History to Your Mac Right Now
If there’s one feature I use multiple times, every single day to save hours per month, it’s a clipboard manager. Rather than moving back and forth between documents, webpages, and folders; a clipboard manager lets you select previously copied items and deploy them again and again.
Apple is finally bringing native clipboard history to the Mac in macOS 26 via Spotlight. The next version of the desktop OS will feature a dedicated button that appears when you hit the Command+Spacebar shortcut, beneath which you’ll find clips including text, files, and more.
My clipboard manager of choice isMaccy. The app can be downloaded for free under an open-source model, which means that the code is available for anyone to check. This ensures that the app isn’t doing anything untoward with your data, which is important if you’re copying addresses, login credentials, or sensitive documents.
The best thing about Maccy is how easy it is to use thanks to the Command+Shift+C keyboard shortcut. Use the arrow keys to select an item, and copy it with Return or hit Option+Return to copy and paste right away. I use this to frequently copy URLs and text passages, effectively “loading up” my clipboard with things I know I’ll need and deploying them without taking my hands off the keyboard or breaking my focus by switching windows.
Maccy costs $9.99 on the Mac App Store, but you can download it for free from the project’sGitHubpage or viaMac package manager Homebrew.
5Add New Shortcuts Triggers with Shortery
Shortcuts lets you build simple or complex workflows to do all manner of things. The app uses an approachable block-based workflow system and simple variables, and even supports syncing with the iOS and iPadOS versions over iCloud.
The one thing that the Mac version of Shortcuts has always lacked is the “Automations” tab that appears on the mobile and tablet versions. This allows you to set up triggers based on the time of day, when a specific peripheral is connected, when you get in your car, or even when an app of your choosing is launched.
For macOS 26, Apple is fixing this deficiency. You’ll be able to trigger actions based on the time, when receiving mail or messages from specific contacts, or using macOS-specific options like display states and file changes. Luckily, you can alreadyadd many of these features to Shortcuts with an app called Shortery.
Shorteryis a free app that can trigger workflows based on a huge range of parameters including desktop appearance, running apps, Focus modes, folder changes, display states, power states, and the time of day. Many of these are available in the free version, though the full set of features is locked behind a Shortery Pro in-app purchase of $9.99.
4Get a Better Version of Spotlight with Alfred and Raycast
Spotlight is getting some much-needed attention in macOS 26. On top of new views for folders, apps, and Shortcuts workflows (and the aforementioned clipboard history), Apple is adding system actions that let you get a head-start on tasks without taking your fingers off the keyboard.
For example, using what Apple is calling Quick Keys you can do things like start an email by specifying the recipient, subject, and an attachment then move to the Mail app to compose. You can also create calendar events, send messages, play specific podcasts, and more. This sort of accelerated workflow has caused many users to flock to apps likeAlfredandRaycastfor years.
Alfred is a launcher that’s free to try, though many of its most useful features are locked behind a £34 (roughly $50) Powerpack upgrade. It lets you design custom workflows to do hyper-specific things like count words, pick colors, ask ChatGPT, and more. There’s a whole gallery ofAlfred Workflowsto browse and pick from. The app also provides a “Spotlight on steroids” basic feature set.
Raycast is another great alternative, also with a generous free option. The app bundles window management, clipboard history, and AI integrations (which requires the $8 monthly upgrade) into a simple command-based launcher. It’s most notable for theRaycast Storewhich gathers thousands of add-ons for expanding what’s possible using a few keyboard commands.
Both of these apps can greatly speed up keyboard-based workflows, though you may need to spend a little time getting to know them before they really prove their worth.
3Export Apple Notes as Markdown with Exporter
Apple is adding the ability to export Apple Notes as Markdown files in macOS 26, a feature that feels long overdue but that further emphasizes whyApple Notes is one of the best note-taking appson the market. For the unaware, Markdown is a simple markup language that uses easy syntax to create written content. While its primary use is for exporting to the web, there are some great reasons touse Markdown for almost everything.
Fortunately, you don’t need to wait for Tahoe’s arrival to do this. A small, free app calledExporteris available on the Mac App Store and lets you export as Markdown right now. You can export every note as an individual MD file in one go to a directory of your choosing. There’s a $4.99 in-app purchase if you’d rather export notes folder by folder instead.
The main caveat here is that you can only exporteverythingat once (alternatively, create a folder with just the note you want to export then use the premium option). Even so, the process is quick since we’re just dealing with text. It’s also a must-have for anyone who wants to back up their Apple Notes in a useful format or jump ship from Apple Notes to a different note-taking app entirely.
Alternatively, you could use note-taking appObsidianwith theObsidian-Importerplugin topull notes in from Apple Notesand then export as Markdown.
2No Need to Wait for Native Journal
Apple added the Journal app to iPhone with the iOS 17.2 update back in 2023 and hasn’t really done much with it since. WhileApple’s approach to journaling is a bit different from apps like Day One, it always felt like a missed opportunity for the app to exist purely on a touchscreen device where typing out longer entries is a chore (and not everyone wants to dictate their inner-thoughts aloud).
macOS 26 and iPadOS 26 address this by bringing the Journal app to both platforms. Thanks to iCloud, anything you add on one device will push to all devices. You can start an entry on your iPhone, then finish it up on your Mac. But you don’t have to wait till the fall to finally start recording your long-form inner dialog.
Thanks to the wonders of iPhone Mirroring, you canuse your Mac to create entries in Journal with a real keyboardin macOS 15 Sequoia (as long as you have iOS 18 and an Apple silicon or Intel model Mac with a T2 chip) . Both devices must be signed into the same Apple Account, have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on, and your iPhone should be locked and nearby. You’ll then see an iPhone icon appear in your Mac dock which you can click.
Once you’re connected, find the Journal app and start typing. Alternatively, you could draft your thoughts in any app and then use the Universal Clipboard feature to copy the text on your Mac and paste it on your iPhone.
1Generate ChatGPT Images With the Free App
macOS 26 will make some changes to Apple Intelligence when it arrives in the fall, with Apple specifically mentioning Image Playground in its announcement. One example the company gave was adding ChatGPT image styles, many of which have taken the internet by storm (for better or worse). These include anime, oil painting, print, vector, and watercolor.
While Image Playground enjoys a bit more integration into the wider Apple ecosystem, you can easily get your hands on these styles using the freeChatGPTapp for Mac. All you need to do is drag your image from the Photos app into the ChatGPT prompt box (or paste from elsewhere), and ask the service to recreate your image in a style of your choosing.
My test image above took a few minutes to generate on account of ChatGPT being busy, which is probably something Apple’s implementation won’t have to deal with. Even so, if you’re keen you can have it right now.
Alternatively, Install the Beta Right Now
For the full set of macOS 26 changes, including that brand new visual style, you may install Apple’s Developer Beta right now. To do this you’ll need to enroll as anApple Developerwith your Apple Account, then head to System Settings > General > Software Update and switch “Beta Updates” from “Off” to “macOS Tahoe 26 Developer Beta” then apply the update.
However, we’d recommend against doing this and waiting for the more stable public beta or even final release when it finally arrives if you value having a stable operating system. Alternatively, you’re able to easilyuse an app like Parallels Desktopto install the new operating system in a virtual machine. Check out thefull list of changes coming to the Mac in macOS 26.
