Apple today announced macOS Sonoma at WWDC 2023. macOS Sonoma introduces new features to the Mac, including new screen savers, interactive widgets, Game Mode, massive updates to Safari, and more.

macOS Sonoma introduces a new screen savers experience with slow-motion video that elegantly transition into a user’s desktop when they unlock their Mac. Widgets are also getting a new look and place on macOS Sonoma, as users can now pin them on the desktop. Widgets continuity means that users can easily move widgets from iPhone and iPad to the Mac. Interactive widgets from iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 are also available as part of macOS Sonoma, so users can interact with apps just through their widgets without opening them.

macOS is the heart of the Mac, and with Sonoma, we’re making it even more delightful and productive to use. We think users are going to love macOS Sonoma and the new ways it enables them to personalize with widgets and stunning new screen savers, see new levels of gaming performance, and gain powerful productivity for video conferencing and browsing with Safari.

Apple SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi

macOS Sonoma introduces a new Game Mode, which prioritizes CPU and GPU resources to games instead of background tasks. The sampling rate has also been updated for gaming controllers, now at double the rate of prior macOS releases. Game Mode also enables lower latency when using AirPods, and requires no extra optimization from developers.

macOS Sonoma introduces many improvements to Safari. Profiles on Safari allow users to maintain separate spaces for separate work and personal tab groups. Safari on macOS Sonoma also adds support for web apps, which can now be pinned directly in the Dock. Private Browsing is greatly enhanced on macOS Sonoma, which now locks out the window when not in active use, while also adding even more advanced blocking against tracking and fingerprinting.

Video conferencing gains new enhancements on macOS Sonoma. A new Presenter Overlay feature displays a cutout of the presenting user on top of the content being shared. Reactions allow users to express their feeling towards the shared video content through quick effects by simply recreating a reaction through a hand gesture. A new Screen Sharing picker makes it easier to share app content during video calls through a new button.

Remote workflows are made even faster through a new high-performance mode which greatly reduces audio latency while delivering high frame rates. A new color reference mode and support for up to two virtual displays make it easier for professionals to access their workflows from anywhere.

macOS Sonoma also introduces smaller improvements across the board:

• Enhanced PDFs: PDFs now appear inside the Notes app in full width, and now forms can be filled quickly with AutoFill

• Siri: Users can simply toggle Siri using a new “Siri” keyword

• Passwords: Users can now share, add, and edit passwords with a defined group through iCloud Keychain with end-to-end encryption. One-time verification codes received through Mail now autofill in Safari

• Messages: All-new stickers picker with upgrades across the board to search, reply, and groups.
• Reminders: Smart grocery lists make weekly trips to the store more convenient. Lists can be organized into sections with a new horizontal column view.

• Keyboard: An all-new smarter autocorrect with inline completions for quicker and more accurate typing. Enhanced speech recognition allows more accurate Dictation.

• Privacy and Safety: Communication Safety is now available to AirDrop, the Photos picker, incoming calls, and FaceTime messages. Sensitive Content Warning prevents unwanted exposure to graphic media in AirDrop and Messages, incoming calls, and FaceTime messages, with easy access to block the sender or to seek further resources for help.

macOS Sonoma will be available to select Macs later in the fall, with the first developer beta to begin rolling out today alongside other newly-announced software.