macOS 15 will introduce a new icon for Siri and a layout change for system settings
Apple will revamp app menus and user interfaces on macOS 15, with system settings seeing the biggest reorganization since the app redesign.
For its upcoming operating systems, Apple has decided to make changes to the built-in System Settings app. Individual settings within the app will be reordered based on priority and overall importance, people familiar with the matter said. AppleInsider.
For example, the section that covers notifications and sound settings will be moved lower in the list. The move comes with a variety of music and audio-related improvements, including smart song transitions and a new “Passthrough” feature for certain audio hardware.
The section containing general settings will now be located just below the key network settings. General Settings includes arguably the most important user-configurable options in any Apple operating system, so it makes sense that this section is positioned higher in the list.
Settings related to wallpaper and display will no longer be part of their own dedicated section, but will instead be grouped with other options. This means that display-related settings will now be located next to general settings, accessibility settings, etc.
Apple will almost certainly introduce different wallpapers in order to establish the visual identity of macOS 15. It doesn’t appear that any new wallpaper-related options will be included in the next iteration of macOS.
System Settings will receive a layout change with macOS 15
Privacy and security settings will be moved to a more reasonable location near related options, as opposed to their current position next to general settings. It will now be located next to preferences for lock screen, Touch ID, users and groups, in a clear pattern, as Apple intends to move the related settings closer together.
The Siri and Spotlight settings pane will also be moved to the section containing settings related to Internet accounts and Game Center. This is likely due to Siri’s ability to use the Internet to collect relevant search results and information.
Siri will receive a new monochrome menu bar icon with macOS 15
Siri is also expected to receive a new monochrome menu bar icon, allowing it to blend in better with existing icons. Currently, on macOS Sonoma, the Siri menu bar icon is multi-colored, which is why it stands out.
With macOS 15, the monochromatic Siri icon will match the surrounding menu bar icons in terms of color. It will be able to turn black or white depending on the background, as is the case for all other icons in the macOS menu bar.
It would make sense for Apple to introduce Siri-related design changes, given the amount of work the company has put into improving its virtual assistant. The new and improved Siri will be able to analyze and summarize texts or articles, answer complex questions and transcribe voice memos, as revealed in our exclusive report on Apple’s Ajax LLM.
Switch from Apple ID to Apple Account
The System Settings app, along with almost every other built-in app, will reflect Apple’s decision to rename its iconic Apple ID to Apple Account, as previously reported.
With macOS 15, Apple ID will be renamed Apple Account
It also appears that the company is testing new account-related settings and features. We might see new animations or redesigned UI elements, affecting two-factor authentication settings or the login process itself.
The Apple Account renaming could usher in more changes, as Apple is developing a new feature called Printable Account Recovery Summary, or PARS for short. Although we haven’t received specific details, the feature will likely provide users with the most important information related to their user accounts.
Internally, Apple has also created a new iCloud preferences pane, separate from the Apple ID (soon to be Apple Account) settings. Apple iCloud settings will be located in the same section that contains Internet account settings, Apple Pay and password settings.
The company is also testing a new “modern” UI for AirDrop, which will contain the same basic settings and interface elements, but arranged slightly differently. Users will still be able to decide how they appear in AirDrop, who they want to share files with, and more.
Individual system applications will also receive design changes, which in some cases will enable new operating system features.
System-wide UI changes
Besides the System Settings app and Siri, macOS 15 will include visual changes to several core apps, including Calculator, Notes, Safari, and Voice Memos – all of which were exclusively revealed by AppleInsider.
Many UI elements also move in Safari
The Calculator app will receive an iOS-style redesign, with rounded buttons, improvements to the unit conversion system, and an all-new Math Notes feature. Math Notes is expected to introduce support for proper math notation, allowing Apple to compete with products like Microsoft’s OneNote, PCalc, or Soulver 3.
Safari will feature a brand new UI element in the form of a unified menu for page controls, accessible from the URL bar. This menu will allow users to enable new features such as Web Eraser and Smart Browsing, while consolidating existing settings and options.
Apple’s Notes app is expected to get new features that will enable in-app audio recording, audio transcription as well as AI-powered summarization of audio transcriptions. Voice memos will receive a similar addition, allowing a new audio transcription view.
How often does Apple change the design of its operating systems?
Each major operating system update sees the arrival of new features and associated user interface elements. With iOS 14, and later macOS Sonoma, for example, Apple introduced widgets, which can be placed on the home screen or desktop, making their newer operating systems easily identifiable.
Desktop widgets are a feature introduced with macOS Sonoma
Major redesigns also happen from time to time, but their focus may vary. The most significant visual change to Apple’s operating systems occurred more than a decade ago, when the company released iOS 7 and macOS 10.10 Yosemite, introducing a flat appearance across its various platforms.
While the move from skeuomorphic to flat design language was a simple stylistic choice, other UI changes are created with more practical benefits in mind. Often, Apple tries to make its different operating systems more similar to each other.
With macOS Ventura for example, Apple redesigned the System Preferences app, making it look and behave like the Settings app on iOS and iPadOS. The introduction of features like Stage Manager on macOS and iPadOS indicates that Apple’s goal is to create a unified user experience.
The planned changes for Safari and Calculator indicate that the company’s goal is to standardize the overall user interface across all its platforms. Introducing an iPad-style navigation menu for Safari 18 and an iOS-style calculator for Mac would ultimately provide additional convenience, with a consistent appearance across different devices.
Apple to redesign macOS Calculator app to mimic iOS design
Neither iOS 18 nor macOS 15 is expected to introduce any game-changing design changes. Instead, they will maintain the same general appearance as their respective predecessors, while adding minor visual changes to make the new versions recognizable and more user-friendly.
Apple’s decision to revamp key system settings in macOS 15 (and likely iOS 18) was obviously created with the end user in mind. By grouping related options together, the company seeks to make it easier for its users to find specific settings.
It is important to remember, however, that not all features are available. Apple is known for delaying features in later versions of the operating system, renaming them, or canceling them altogether. AppleInsider We’ve been told that the new system settings layout could easily be disabled in pre-release versions of Apple’s operating systems, meaning there’s no guarantee we’ll see this feature.
Apple will showcase its next generation of operating systems at its annual WWDC on June 10, when the design changes described previously are expected to debut, along with new features and improvements.
