Apple again warns developers not to do what Apple did in macOS 26 Tahoe
9to5Mac • • technology
Key Points:
- macOS 26 Tahoe's menu icons faced widespread criticism for being unattractive and complicating usability, with many users disliking the introduction of icons for every menu option.
- A software engineer highlighted that Apple’s 1992 Macintosh human interface guidelines explicitly warned against overusing menu icons, describing the practice as cluttered and confusing.
- Apple has now revised its guidelines for macOS 27 Golden Gate, advising developers to use menu icons sparingly and only when they clearly represent the menu item to improve clarity and usability.
- Industry observers, including John Gruber, view this correction as a positive sign that Apple’s UI design team is improving and moving away from poor design choices made in recent years.
- The updated approach emphasizes highlighting key actions and features with icons while avoiding unnecessary or unclear icon use to enhance the user experience.