Apple Releases Tenth Beta of macOS Big Sur to Developers

Apple today seeded the tenth beta of an upcoming macOS Big Sur update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after releasing the ninth beta and nearly four months after the new update was unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

macOS dev beta 10 feature
The macOS Big Sur beta can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center and once the appropriate profile is installed, subsequent betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.

macOS Big Sur introduces a refreshed design to the Mac operating system, overhauling the entire look from the curvature of the window corners to the dock icons to the system sounds. Everything features a lighter and more modern appearance. There's a new customizable Control Center that mirrors the Control Center on iOS devices, putting key system controls right at your fingertips.

The Notification Center has been redesigned with iOS-style widgets that are available in multiple sizes, plus there are more interactive notifications that are now grouped by app to make it easier to see what's going on. Safari is faster and more battery efficient, plus there's a new start page that can be customized with wallpapers and sections that include Reading List and iCloud Tabs, which makes Safari more tailored to your individual usage needs.

Tabs now support webpage previews, there's a built-in language translation feature, Chrome and Firefox Extensions can be ported to Safari, and YouTube supports 4K video playback. There's also an option to choose which sites an extension works with for greater privacy. Speaking of privacy, a new Privacy Report feature lets users know the trackers Safari is blocking when you visit websites.

Messages has been brought in line with the Messages app on iOS with support for pinned conversations, mentions, inline replies, and Memoji creation, plus the built-in search feature has been overhauled to make it easier to find links, photos, and conversations in the app.

Apple redesigned the Maps app to add support for Look Around, indoor maps, and Guides, which are lists of notable attractions, restaurants, and more created by trusted sources. Maps can also be used to generate directions for cycling routes and electric vehicle trips that can be sent to iPhone, and shared ETA updates are now viewable on the Mac.

For more on everything that's new in macOS Big Sur, make sure to check out our roundup.

Update October 15: The update has also been released to members of the public beta program.

Related Forum: macOS Big Sur

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 17 air dummy unbox therapy

iPhone 17 Air's Extreme Thinness Demoed in New Video

Tuesday April 22, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an all-new super thin iPhone this year, debuting it alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We've seen pictures of dummy models, cases, and renders with the design, but Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy today showed off newer dummy models that give us a better idea of just how thin the "iPhone 17 Air" will be. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ...
iphone 17 dummies sonny dickson

iPhone 17 Air Almost as Thin as Its Buttons, New Images Show

Thursday April 24, 2025 2:14 am PDT by
If you missed the video showing dummy models of Apple's all-new super thin iPhone 17 Air that's expected later this year, Sonny Dickson this morning shared some further images of the device in close alignment with the other dummy models in the iPhone 17 lineup, indicating just how thin it is likely to be in comparison. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be around 5.5mm thick – with a thicker ...
ipad air windows 11 arm

M2 iPad Air Runs Windows 11 ARM via Emulation, Thanks to EU Rules

Tuesday April 22, 2025 5:01 am PDT by
A developer has demonstrated Windows 11 ARM running on an M2 iPad Air using emulation, which has become much easier since the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations came into effect. As spotted by Windows Latest, NTDev shared an instance of the emulation on social media and posted a video on YouTube (embedded below) demonstrating it in action. The achievement relies on new EU regulatory...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
iOS 18

iOS 18.5 Includes Only a Few Changes So Far

Monday April 21, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 18.5 to developers today, and so far the software update includes only a few minor changes. The changes are in the Mail and Settings apps. In the Mail app, you can now easily turn off contact photos directly within the app, by tapping on the circle with three dots in the top-right corner. In the Settings app, AppleCare+ coverage information is more...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 13 New Features

Wednesday April 23, 2025 8:31 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...

Top Rated Comments

mariusfanu Avatar
59 months ago

How far out do you think the GM is? I'm surprised that GM didn't drop yesterday.
I expect the GM to drop in November when they announce the new Apple Silicon Macs
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chris The Bipolarbear Avatar
59 months ago

How far out do you think the GM is? I'm surprised that GM didn't drop yesterday.
over the last few years they have not released a GM Just A GM candidate with still showed beta. I am not one for second guessing apple I'd rather carry on with BETA's till they ge it right Not work to a time table
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JuanArreguin Avatar
59 months ago
– New Backgrounds!
– "AirPod Switching" is LIVE!


Or are these from last version?


Attachment Image

Attachment Image

Attachment Image
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WaruiKoohii Avatar
59 months ago
This all looks new. I don't recall "On Hold", or "Will be charged by", or a "Charge to Full Now" option. Previously it would just hold at 80% and say Not Charging.

Attachment Image
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TechRemarker Avatar
59 months ago

And based on the last beta's, this one will introduce a whole bunch of new ones.

Regression testing isn't exactly a core competency for apple apparently.
I've tested each year, and many years they were dreadful where popular apps didn't work at all or major functionality broke which was aweful (but of course to be expected for a beta). Where this year it's been insanely reliable with the few bugs I've run into and reported have mostly all been cosmetic. Apple gets yelled out from both ends. If they focus some years just on bug fixes and reliability improvements, everyone says apple is doomed, and is boring and can't innovate, etc. On years they focus on new features, people say they shouldn't focus on new stuff until they fix what's broken. So no matter some people will never be happier, but for the rest of us, pretty happy with the balance of new features and bug fixes. Though some ui glitches or little bugs that sometimes I see don't get fixed for several years which is frustrating but I also understand there are probably a million small little things and they have to prioritize.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JuanArreguin Avatar
59 months ago
Can anyone else confirm this is New? I haven't seen this before.



Attachment Image
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)