macOS 27 Golden Gate Removes Menu Bar Icons
In macOS 27 Golden Gate, Apple has removed the icons that were added to menu items in the previous version, macOS 26 Tahoe. The change was observed by developer Nikita Prokopov and reported by Daring Fireball.
Key Details
macOS 26 Tahoe introduced icons next to most menu bar entries in Apple's applications.
- The icons received criticism from users and developers for being inconsistent and unclear.
- Some third-party developers implemented open-source code to disable the icons by default.
- In macOS 27 Golden Gate, icons are no longer present or are only used where they provide clear utility.
- Apple updated its Human Interface Guidelines to recommend using menu item icons "sparingly and with purpose" and only when they clearly represent the action.
Availability
macOS 27 Golden Gate is currently in developer beta. A public beta is expected next month, with a general release scheduled for the fall.