Apple has seeded the fourth developer beta of macOS 26.4, continuing testing ahead of the wider release expected this spring. The new build arrived on March 9, 2026, and Apple lists it as build 25E5233c. It comes about a week after the previous beta, which shows the company is moving through this update at a steady pace.
For developers, this release matters because macOS 26.4 already includes a few practical changes rather than one big headline feature. Apple has been refining battery controls, Safari settings, and compatibility warnings for older app technologies, so this beta looks like another step toward polishing those features before the public rollout.
At this stage, Apple has not highlighted a long list of brand-new beta 4 additions in its public release pages, so the safest takeaway is that this build is mainly about continued testing, bug fixes, and refinement of features already seen in the macOS 26.4 cycle.
How to update
If you are a registered developer, you can install macOS 26.4 beta 4 in a few quick steps:
- Open System Settings
- Click General
- Click Software Update
- Make sure Beta Updates is turned on
- Select the macOS 26.4 developer beta and install it
You need a developer-enabled Apple account to access the update.
Changes in macOS 26.4
One of the biggest changes in macOS 26.4 so far is a new Charge Limit option for Mac users. This lets users set a maximum battery charge level between 80% and 100%, which should help people who keep their MacBook plugged in for long periods and want better long-term battery health.
Apple has also brought back the Compact tab layout in Safari, which will be welcome news for users who preferred that look in earlier versions. It is a small change, but it is the kind of interface tweak that many Mac users notice right away in daily use.
Another important change is Apple’s continued move away from Rosetta. In macOS 26.4, Apple silicon Macs show warnings when users open apps that still depend on Rosetta, and Apple’s developer notes say Rosetta support for apps will end after macOS 27. Apple has also said macOS Tahoe 26 is the last major release to support Intel-based Macs.
There is also a broader platform change inside the 26.4 cycle for Apple’s on-device AI tools. Apple says the Foundation Models framework in iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, macOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4 gets an update that improves instruction-following and tool-calling behavior, which matters for developers building around Apple’s newer AI features.
Overall, macOS 26.4 beta 4 looks like a cleanup release that keeps Apple on track for the final version, while still bringing a few useful improvements that Mac users will actually notice. Let us know in the comments what you think about the latest macOS 26.4 beta.
