macOS 26.5 public beta 1 is now available for Apple's beta testers following last week's developer release. Unlike iOS 26.5, which brings several new features including Live Activities forwarding and RCS encryption, this macOS update appears more conservative. The public beta carries build number 25F5042g, matching the developer version released earlier.

This release focuses primarily on bug fixes and stability improvements rather than major feature additions. Apple introduced more substantial changes in macOS 26.4 with features like Charge Limit and Safari's compact tab view. macOS 26.5 likely represents the final significant update before WWDC26 and the expected announcement of macOS 27.

Users can install by visiting Apple's beta program website, then navigating to System Settings > General > Software Update and selecting the macOS beta. The update provides early access to refinements that will polish the operating system before its official release, ensuring a smoother experience for all users who choose to participate in testing.