MacOS Big Sur is major revamp of the Mac operating system. Most notably, it is the first time in years that its visual appearance has been radically altered.

　　Contents

　　DesignSettings and notificationsSafariMessagesApple MapsSmall Mac app changesEvery other change coming to MacOS Big SurShow 2 more items

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　　But it is not all about aesthetics — Big Sur rethinks almost every one of Apple’s own apps, as well as its operating system features like Spotlight and Siri, and its overall performance.

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　　Even though it’s still in public beta, there’s a lot to dig through.

　　

Design

Image used with permission by copyright holderThe most obvious change Big Sur has brought to MacOS is its visual redesign. Almost every element of the user interface has been polished up and tweaked, bringing a lighter, more spacious feel to the Mac.

　　For instance, Apple apps now feature full-height sidebars, increased spacing between menu items, and new toolbar buttons that blend more seamlessly with the app’s background. But the changes do not affect only apps — the menu bar is now translucent, the dock has rounded corners, and dock icons for Apple apps all use the same rounded-square style, giving more visual uniformity. The overall effect is of a smoother, cleaner operating system that looks and feels great to use.

　　Full list of changes: Design

　　Full-height sidebars, with more space for sidebar itemsNew style for toolbarsLighter design for windowsShare sheets/dialog boxes redesignedRounded corners on the edges of the dockUniform app style in dockNew design for menu barNew sounds (made using snippets of previous MacOS sounds)New symbols for buttons, icons, etc.

Settings and notifications

Howard Bouchevereau/UnsplashMacOS Big Sur has made it a lot easier to access commonly used system settings. Instead of digging through System Preferences, a lot of settings are now housed in the Control Center. This is one of the most helpful changes in Big Sur, as it puts common controls at your fingertips. Not only that, but you can customize it to add or remove settings, and even drag settings onto the menu bar for even quicker access.

　　The Notification Center has also been revamped. Mac notifications from the same app are now grouped together to save space, and alerts are more interactive, making it easier to act on your notifications. The widget system from iOS 14 has come to Big Sur as well, and you can choose between several sizes of widgets to display in the Notification Center.

　　Full list of changes: Control Center and Notification Center

　　Control Center added to MacOSAdd or remove Control Center optionsPin settings to the menu barNotification Center tweaked and updatedWidgets in Notification CenterCustomize widget shape/appearanceThird-party widgets on the App StoreGrouped, interactive notifications

Safari

Image used with permission by copyright holderOf all Apple’s Mac apps, Safari has received perhaps the biggest renovation in Big Sur. There are security improvements, such as the introduction of the Privacy Report, which shows you how many trackers each website attempts to use (and blocks them). Safari will also tell you if one of your passwords has been leaked in a data breach and will suggest a strong replacement.

　　Elsewhere, Safari’s Start Page can now be customized to your liking, and tabs display more information (such as page previews when you hover over them). An on-page translation feature has been added, and performance has been tuned to give a speedier experience that uses less of your battery.

　　Full list of changes: Safari

　　New Start Page: Change the background image, show/hide elements like favorites, Privacy Report, etc.Privacy Report to show and block trackers (can be customized for each website)Tab width expands when you mouse over it, and website previews are shown when you hover over themFavicons on tabsSafari extensions in the App Store. You can grant extensions website access or restrict them, and there is support for WebExtensions API, so developers can now bring Chrome extensions to SafariOn-page translationPassword monitoringPerformance improvements to speed and battery lifeImport passwords and settings from Chrome

Messages

Image used with permission by copyright holderThe Messages app on the Mac has long been overshadowed by its iOS sibling. MacOS Big Sur corrects a lot of these disparities: You can now create Memoji and Memoji stickers on the Mac just like on iOS, pin conversations, and add inline replies and threads, all of which are already on iOS. When you search the Messages app, your results are sorted into categories, also like on iOS.

　　Group messages have had some tweaks, too. You can choose an image to use as an icon for the group or use a combination of the participants’ profile pictures (this option also indicates who last wrote in the group). Big Sur also makes it easier to share your name and photo with others, as well as add GIFs and message effects such as balloons and confetti to your conversations.

　　Full list of changes: Messages

　　Change image for group messagesSee who last wrote in the groupInline replies and mentionsCreate Memoji on your Mac, including Memoji stickersPin up to nine conversationsSearch for and add GIFs to conversationsMessage effects, i.e., confetti, balloons, etc.Search results sorted into categories, people, etc.Share your name and photoEnhanced photo picker

Apple Maps

Image used with permission by copyright holderUnlike Safari and Messages, Apple Maps has undergone more of a gradual shift in MacOS Big Sur, but there are still plenty of notable new features. For instance, Big Sur sees the introduction of guides. These are curated collections of nearby places — such as the best hiking trails in your area — from popular websites and publications. You can make your own guides and share them with friends, too.

　　Maps has added Look Around (Apple’s version of Google Street View) in Big Sur, and introduces routing for bicycles and electric cars, plus more detailed interior maps for airports and shopping centers. There is also more detailed information for navigating congestion zones such as those in London and Paris.

　　Full list of changes: Maps

　　Guides (from third-party publishers or create your own)Bicycle and electric vehicle routing (including charging stops). You can send the route to your iPhoneLook Around for certain locationsImproved interior routes for airports and shopping centersLive updates for shared ETANew detailed maps available in more countriesInfo for congestion zones, including tolls, plus info for areas that restrict access based on your license plate

Small Mac app changes

Image used with permission by copyright holderOne of the things that makes Big Sur such a large update is the sheer number of apps that have been refreshed. Many of these apps have only received small upgrades, but those upgrades add up.

　　Apple’s Mac Catalyst apps have had a lot of changes. Music and Podcasts now feature a new Listen Now screen to surface content you might be interested in, Notes has more text styles and a collapsible Pinned section, and Reminders comes with smarter suggestions and organization tools.

　　Apple Arcade, Apple’s gaming subscription service, also sees a noticeable overhaul to improve the user experience. It is now more easier to see what your friends are playing and find new games, and you can prepurchase games and download them as soon as they are released.

　　Apple has also upgraded a whole heap of its other apps and services, from the Home app and Photos to FaceTime and Weather. See below for the complete rundown.

　　Full list of changes: Other Apple apps

　　PhotosImproved editing for photos and videos, i.e., filters, adjustments, cropping, etc.Improved Retouch toolImproved navigation, i.e., zooming in/outAdd context to photos and videos with captionsImprovements to Memories, with more relevant selections, more music tracks to choose from, enhanced stabilization, and moreMusic appListen Now screen to resume listening or discover new contentImproved search based on music/activities you like, with more helpful suggestions as you typePodcastsListen Now screen to resume listening or discover new contentNotesCollapsible Pinned sectionTop Hits in searchAccess additional text styles from the Aa buttonEnhanced scanning with Continuity Camera: Sharper scans, more precise autocropping. Ability to automatically send results to other devicesRemindersAssign reminders to people you share lists with and they will get a notificationSmart suggestions for dates and locationsPersonalized lists with emojiReminder suggestions from MailOrganize smart lists or hide themNew keyboard shortcutsImproved searchWeatherNext-hour precipitation in medium and large weather widgetsWeather widget shows significant shifts in weatherWeather widget shows government alerts about severe weatherApple ArcadeGame recommendations based on what your friends are playingAchievementsPick up progress from one Apple device to anotherBrowse/filter entire Apple Arcade catalogGame Center in-game dashboard shows your game progress and that of your friendsSee upcoming games and download them as soon as they are releasedHomeKit Secure Video notificationsHome appHome status shows any devices/accessories that need attention, updates, etc.Adaptive Lighting for smart light bulbsFace Recognition for video cameras and doorbellsActivity Zones for video cameras and doorbellsFaceTime detects when someone is using sign language and makes them prominent in the call

Every other change coming to MacOS Big Sur

Image used with permission by copyright holderThat is not all. Apple has made improvements under the hood as well. Alongside Safari’s privacy features, Apple is doubling down on App Store privacy. Apps now have to self-report what trackers they install and what user information they harvest. This information is then displayed prominently on an app’s page on the App Store, giving you a clearer idea of whether the app is a good privacy citizen.

　　Big Sur is also kinder to your Mac battery life, with an Optimized Battery Charging feature that learns when you need power and helps to reduce battery wear. You will also be able to see your battery usage history.

　　Elsewhere, Spotlight is streamlined and more performant, works with Quick Look previews, and is integrated into the Find menu in various apps. The Siri virtual assistant now makes greater use of the internet to help you answer a broader set of questions.

　　Full list of changes: Everything else coming to Big Sur

　　App StorePrivacy info for each app on the App StoreShare third-party app subscriptions with family membersBatteryOptimized Battery Charging reduces wear on batteryBattery usage historySpotlightImproved performanceStreamlined list of resultsSupport for Quick LookSpotlight now powers Find menus in apps, i.e., in Safari, Pages, Keynote, etc.Siri has deeper web knowledge