macOS 26.4: What's new and known issues
In March, Apple released macOS 26.4, and it’s not just bug fixes (although they’re included). It’s got quite a few additions, like a new battery charge limiter, Terminal security warning, and a compact Tab Bar from Safari (actually an old returning feature), but that's not all. There are security updates and eight new emojis.
What’s new in the macOS 26.4 update?
Battery Charge Limit
This is my favorite feature, because it will help prolong battery lifespan for those of us who need to keep our Macs plugged in all day. It lets compatible models (used to be only available on iPhone/iPads) cap charging between 80-100% via System Settings > Battery > Charging. I read that occasionally your Mac will charge to 100% even when this has been configured to basically support battery calibration.
Slow charger indicator
In macOS Tahoe 26.4, you’ll get a new alert in your battery menu and System Settings when your power adapter delivers below the recommended wattage (this varies per model, MacBook Neo: 20W, 16" MacBook Pro: 140W). This is really going to help people diagnose slow charging issues.
Terminal paste security warning
This one has been a long time coming. Finally, macOS can show a warning to stop people from blindly pasting malicious shell commands in Terminal. You’ll now get a Paste blocked warning, but it only appears once per session. This is going to be great for newbie Terminal users.
Compact Tab Bar in Safari
If you remember the Compact Tab Bar option in Safari that disappeared in earlier Tahoe builds — good news — it’s back.
New emojis
From a ballet dancer to an orca and even a trombone, there are eight new emojis to choose from, but they’ll only be visible to other users running macOS 26.4.
Creator Studio in Freeform
Freeform gets a few little updates too; you can basically do more advanced image creation, and you get more editing tools plus premium content support.
Other improvements
In Reminders, you can filter urgent reminders in Smart Lists. In Family Sharing, members can use their own payment methods. There’s a real-time preview from captions in Subtitles, and Rosette 2 discontinuation warnings for apps that depend on it.
macOS 26.4 bug fixes
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The window corner radius bug is now fixed.
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General stability and performance improvements all around.
Known macOS 26.4 issues
There are always glitches with updates, and honestly, by now, users should expect them. On the forums, I saw weird Wi-Fi disconnection issues, Bluetooth not connecting, and the usual app compatibility problems. For third-party apps, that's common — they need time to catch up.
If your Mac feels painfully slow, it could be down to old or outdated version caches. I always run the Smart Care feature from CleanMyMac after an update now to help with post-update settling pains (get your free trial here).
Should I update to macOS 26.4?
Yes, if you want any of these new updates and improvements. Wait if you’re mid-project, and you know the apps you're reliant on don’t yet have confirmed 26.4 compatibility.
It’s your choice, but always make sure you back up with Time Machine first, and check you’ve got at least 20 GB of free space for a pain-free upgrade. Freeing up disk space reduces the chance of updates stalling, crashing, or just refusing to update. I always run a couple of scans in CleanMyMac to help me.
How to Update to macOS 26.4
Go to System Settings > General > Software Update and start the update, or you can go here to Apple support and look at the other ways you can do this.
macOS Sequoia 15.7.5 and macOS Sonoma 14.8.5 also have updates for older Macs.
FAQs: macOS 26.4 new features
What was the macOS 26.4 release date?
March 24, 2026.
What are the main new features in macOS 26.4?
Everything listed above in this article, from the new battery Charge Limit to eight new emojis.
Is macOS 26.4 safe to install?
For most users, absolutely, just back up your Mac, and make sure any important apps you're using have compatibility.
Does the macOS 26.4 update fix any bugs?
Yes, notably the window corner radius bug where the resize pointer didn't follow the corner shape correctly, plus multiple security fixes.
What does the Rosetta 2 warning in macOS 26.4 mean?
Basically, a notice that Rosetta 2 support (which runs Intel apps on Apple Silicon) will end in macOS 27.
Which Macs support macOS 26.4?
All Macs that support macOS Tahoe (26).