Glaringly inconsistent and often utterly inscrutable: macOS 27 Golden Gate just fixed one of my biggest macOS Tahoe gripes

Date:
Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:55:15 +0000

Description:
Apple has fixed its divisive menu design in macOS 27 Golden Gate, much to Apple users relief.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter macOS 27 Golden Gate has fixed menu icons on your Mac Menus are no longer stuffed to bursting with unnecessary icons That makes it much easier to find things at a glance Apple
s macOS Tahoe operating system came in for its fair share of criticism, particularly when it came to design decisions. One of the most controversial concerned the way it used icons in menus, but it now appears that macOS 27 Golden Gate introduced at Apples WWDC 2026 event has backtracked completely much to the relief of long-suffering Apple fans. And it has big implications for anyone who wants a better experience of using their computer.

The problem in macOS Tahoe was that app menus were stuffed full of icons, making it very difficult to tell the difference between menu items at a glance. In macOS 27, thats been scrubbed entirely, as noticed by programmer Nikita Tonsky Prokopov , with most menus now containing only a smattering of icons. Now, only certain menu items have icons next to them, with others remaining simple text entries. That restores the menu design to the way it used to be and greatly reduces the visual clutter in macOS menus, reducing
the work it requires to tell menu options apart. Latest Videos From Watch
full video here:

As well as the design change, Prokopov noticed that Apple has also updated
its guidelines for third-party designers, reminding them to use menu items sparingly and with purpose. Icons should be used to highlight the most common actions and key features of your app, Apple says. If a menu item doesnt fit
an existing icon, it probably shouldnt be used. Better late than never A cluttered, confusing menu in macOS Tahoe. (Image credit: Future) Menu design might seem like a pretty niche gripe, but it can have a big impact on how you use your computer. You may like Liquid Glass is getting a macOS 27 overhaul
to fix its worst problems macOS 27 Golden Gate announced at WWDC 2026 here's everything you need to know Ive been using Mac for decades - here are 5 new features in macOS Tahoe that I cant live without

If youre having to analyze fistfuls of icons every time you open a menu, it slows you down and can cause frustration. The entire purpose of an icon is to quickly convey meaning if a menu is overflowing with icons, an icons meaning is quickly lost among the sea of competing visual elements. Its one small thing, but it taps into a broader picture: good design makes using a product effortless; bad design makes it infuriating.

The situation was so bad in macOS Tahoe that it left prominent Apple commentators livid. Influential blogger John Gruber , for example, called macOS Tahoes menu icons glaringly inconsistent and often utterly inscrutable. Respected macOS developer Rogue Amoeba called them infuriating. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

This is not the first time Apple has had icon trouble. Both macOS Tahoe and iOS 26 came with transparent icons that obliterated your ability to tell
icons apart at a glance. It felt like Apple didnt understand the basic principles of good design and this is the company thats meant to be a global design leader.

For me, the worst part of all this is that Apples menu design in macOS Tahoe broke its own rules . As pointed out by Prokopov , Apples Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines from way back in 1992 said that menus chock-full of
icons could overload the user. And yet it still went ahead and ignored its
own advice in macOS Tahoe anyway, often reusing the same icons for different menu items, sometimes right next to each other .

It all contributed to my despairing feeling that macOS Tahoes visual language was far worse than I initially realized . Under now-departed design chief
Alan Dye, it seemed that Apple naively thought design meant taking something average and painting it in pretty colors, functionality be damned. In other words, exactly the kind of shallow thinking that Apple founder Steve Jobs railed against in the past.

Yet with macOS 27 fixing its menu icons and Alan Dye out of the way, things are looking up. Putting things right in your Macs menus might be a small
step, but it suggests that Apple is starting to remember why good design
makes everything better for its users. As Gruber put it, its proof that the rot has been rooted out of Apples software design team. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Today's best Apple MacBook Pro M5 (2026) deals Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M5 Pro (2026) 2,442.97 View See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/glaringly-inconsistent-and-often-utterly-i nscrutable-macos-27-golden-gate-just-fixed-one-of-my-biggest-macos-tahoe-gripe s


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