Month: July 2026

macOS Golden Gate Beta 27.0 Beta 4 (26A5388g) is now Available!

UPDATED: 07/20/26

This article is being updated as new changes are discovered.

Today, Apple released macOS Golden Gate Beta 4 (26A5388g) to developers. The update arrives two weeks after macOS Golden Gate Beta 3 and is available for download through Software Update in System Settings for users enrolled in the Apple Developer Beta program.

Apple has not provided a complete public list of changes included in this beta beyond its developer release notes. As with previous macOS beta releases, many changes are discovered through testing, system analysis, and comparing files between builds.

This article provides a detailed technical breakdown of macOS Golden Gate Beta 4. Along with covering user-facing changes and new features, this guide will examine system changes, update details, firmware updates, developer changes, and other discoveries found while analyzing the latest beta.

This article will track everything new in macOS Golden Gate Beta 4, including confirmed features, UI changes, bug fixes, update sizes, firmware updates, security changes, and additional developer changes identified during analysis.

The macOS Golden Gate Public Beta 2 is expected to become available shortly after the developer release.

System Settings > Software Update:

Table of Contents

1. OCLP for Unsupported Macs Warning
2. Should You Install macOS Golden Gate Beta?
3. Full Apple Beta OS Update Release List
4. Apple macOS Golden Gate Links
5. What’s New in macOS Golden Gate?
6. macOS Golden Gate Beta Release History
7. macOS Golden Gate Full Installer.app
8. Apple Silicon macOS Golden Gate IPSW Restore File
9. macOS Golden Gate Update Sizes
10. Apple Silicon Firmware & iBoot Versions
11. Safari Version
12. macOS Recovery Version
13. Security Content of macOS Golden Gate
14. macOS Golden Gate Release Notes
15. Final Notes

NOTE: I hate website ads, but this one small Google ad below helps me with the cost of running Mr. Macintosh.com. Thank you!

1. OCLP for Unsupported Macs Warning

OpenCore Legacy Patcher is not compatible with macOS Golden Gate and macOS Tahoe. Make sure you go into System Settings > Software Update and TURN OFF Download Updates & Install macOS Updates.

If you use OCLP on an unsupported Mac, wait for official OpenCore Legacy Patcher 3.0.0 testing and compatibility information before attempting to install.

2. Should You Install macOS Golden Gate Beta?

Most users should not install macOS Golden Gate Beta on their main Mac. This is early beta software, which means apps may crash, battery life may be reduced, accessories may not work correctly, and some features may be unfinished.

Install it only if you have a test Mac, a full backup, and a reason to test the new release early. I recommend two types of backups: Time Machine & A direct copy of your important files and apps

This might seem like a lot, but TRUST ME, it will be worth it if something goes wrong!

MacAdmins, developers, and advanced users can begin testing app compatibility, MDM enrollment, security tools, VPN clients, printers, FileVault workflows, software update behavior, and deployment processes.

3. Full Apple Beta OS Update Release List

Beta 4 & RC 6

• Golden Gate 27.0 (26A5388g) Beta 4
• Tahoe 26.6 (25G70)
• Sequoia 15.7.8 (24G822)
• Sonoma 14.8.8 (23J619)
• iOS & iPadOS 27.0 (24A5390f) Beta 4
• iOS & iPadOS 26.6 (23G71)
• tvOS 27.0 (24J5325d) Beta 4
• homePodOS 27.0 (24J5325d) Beta 4
• tvOS 26.6 (23L772)
• watchOS 26.6 (23U67)
• visionOS 26.6 (23O770)

Safari

• Safari 27.0

Developer Tools

• Xcode 27 beta
• Command Line Tools for Xcode 27 beta

4. Apple macOS Golden Gate Links

Official links will be added as Apple publishes more macOS Golden Gate documentation.

• Apple Developer Site release notes – https://developer.apple.com/documentation/macos-release-notes/macos-27-release-notes
• Develop for macOS Golden Gate – https://developer.apple.com/macos/
• macOS Beta Program Information – https://developer.apple.com/download/
• Public Beta Program for macOS Golden Gate 27 – https://beta.apple.com
• Apple Security Updates Page – https://support.apple.com/en-us/100100
• Apple macOS Golden Gate Features Page – https://www.apple.com/os/macos/

5. What’s New in Golden Gate 27 Beta 4?

Apple has released the 4th developer beta of macOS Golden Gate 27.

New Features & Changes

Liquid Glass Design Updates

macOS Golden Gate brings a more polished Liquid Glass design with better readability, improved contrast, more consistent toolbars, edge-to-edge sidebars, updated window shapes, and refreshed menu bar icons. Apple has also added a new slider that lets you adjust the Liquid Glass look from very clear to fully tinted.

Performance Improvements

Apple says the system should feel faster overall, with quicker AirDrop transfers, faster network file browsing, faster Safari start page loading, improved Mail search ranking, and better Spotlight search suggestions.

Siri AI on Mac

The biggest new feature is Siri AI on Mac. Siri can now answer more natural questions, understand personal context, take actions inside apps, work from Spotlight, and live inside a new dedicated Siri app for longer conversations.

Visual Intelligence

Visual Intelligence is also coming to the Mac, letting you ask questions about what’s on your screen and get help based on the content you’re looking at.

Writing Tools & Apple Intelligence

Golden Gate expands Writing Tools with Siri, adds better AI photo editing, improves Image Playground, and lets you create Shortcuts from plain-language descriptions.

Safari & Passwords

Safari gets smarter tab grouping, page-change alerts, and faster start page loading. Apple is also adding one-click password fixes to help update weak or reused passwords more easily.

Family, Safety & Accessibility

Golden Gate includes stronger child safety controls, improved Screen Time features, and new accessibility improvements across the system.

Other Notable Changes

Other smaller changes include ultrawide display upgrades, better iCloud Shared Albums, Call Context, enhanced Flyover in Maps, swipe-to-refresh in more apps, and a refreshed video podcasts experience.

6. macOS Golden Gate Beta Release History

• 5. macOS Golden Gate 27 Developer Beta 4 (26A5388g) – 7/20/26
• 4. macOS Golden Gate 27 Public Beta 1 (26A5378n) – 7/13/26
• 3. macOS Golden Gate 27 Developer Beta 3 (26A5378j) –7/06/26
• 2. macOS Golden Gate 27 Developer Beta 2 (26A5368g) – 6/22/26
• 1. macOS Golden Gate 27 Developer Beta 1 (26A5353q) – 6/08/26

7. macOS Golden Gate Full Installer.app

The full installer is useful if you want to create a USB installer, install macOS Golden Gate on another Mac, or archive the installer for testing.

Use this link to download the latest version of macOS Golden Gate Full installer AKA InstallAssistant.pkg

https://mrmacintosh.com/macos-golden-gate-full-installer-database-download-directly-from-apple/

8. Apple Silicon macOS Golden Gate IPSW Restore File

An IPSW restore file is mainly used to restore or revive Apple Silicon Macs with Apple Configurator, Finder, or another Mac.

Most users do not need the IPSW file for normal macOS updates. IPSW files are intended for restores, revives, troubleshooting, clean installs, and testing workflows.

Use this link to download the full Mac IPSW restore file directly from Apple:

https://mrmacintosh.com/apple-silicon-m1-full-macos-restore-ipsw-firmware-files-database/

9. macOS Golden Gate Update/Upgrade Size

Update Size Information

The delta update & upgrade size will automatically change in size for exactly what your macOS version needs. For example the smallest update size will be from Beta 3 to Beta 4. But if you are upgrading from Beta 1 to Beta 4, the upgrade size will need to include all the fixes in Beta 2 and 3.

Apple Silicon Updates

Delta from macOS Golden Gate Beta 3 with size = 6.93GB

Upgrade from macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 with size = 20.24GB

10. Apple Silicon Firmware & iBoot Versions

The Apple Silicon firmware and iBoot versions included with macOS Golden Gate Beta are listed below.

• 5. macOS Golden Gate 27 Developer Beta 4 = 20457.0.125.0.2
• 4. macOS Golden Gate 27 Public Beta 1 = 20457.0.77.0.2
• 3. macOS Golden Gate 27 Developer Beta 3 = 20457.0.77.0.2
• 2. macOS Golden Gate 27 Developer Beta 2 = 20457.0.13.0.11
• 1. macOS Golden Gate 27 Developer Beta 1 = 20356.0.0.0.15

11. Safari Version

macOS Golden Gate Beta includes Safari 27.0.

• 5. macOS Golden Gate Developer Beta 4 = Safari 27.0 (22625.1.24.11.2)
• 4. macOS Golden Gate Public Beta 1 = Safari 27.0 (22625.1.22.11.4)
• 3. macOS Golden Gate Developer Beta 3 = Safari 27.0 (22625.1.22.11.4)
• 2. macOS Golden Gate Developer Beta 2 = Safari 27.0 (22625.1.20.11.3)
• 1. macOS Golden Gate Developer Beta 1 = Safari 27.0 (I need this please email)

12. macOS Recovery Version

• 5. macOS Golden Gate Developer Beta 4 =
• 4. macOS Golden Gate Public Beta 1 =
• 3. macOS Golden Gate Developer Beta 3 = 27.0 (26A5378j)
• 2. macOS Golden Gate Developer Beta 2 =
• 1. macOS Golden Gate Developer Beta 1 =

13. Security Content of macOS Golden Gate Beta

Apple does not publish full CVE security content for macOS beta releases.

This section will be updated if Apple publishes security details for macOS Golden Gate 27.

• Security Fixes: Not disclosed for beta releases
• Safari Security Fixes: Not disclosed for beta releases
• WebKit Security Fixes: Not disclosed for beta releases

14. macOS Golden Gate Beta Release Notes

This is the official link to Apple’s developer notes for macOS Golden Gate 27:

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/macos-release-notes/macos-27-release-notes

15. Final Notes

If you install macOS Golden Gate Beta, make sure you have a full backup before proceeding. Beta software can cause app compatibility issues, performance problems, and data loss. Do not install this beta on your main Mac unless you are comfortable troubleshooting and restoring macOS.