Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 5 hrs ago
macOS 27.3 beta brings Live Activities to Mac menu bars
Apple’s macOS 27.3 developer beta adds Live Activities to Mac menu bars for computers without a Dynamic Island.
Live Activities show updates from running tasks, such as a timer, music playback or a recording, near the top-right of the screen.
Apple’s new MacBook Pro models use a Dynamic Island for these updates, but other Macs can display them in the menu bar instead.
The beta supports Apple Music, Clock, Voice Memos and screen recording.
Third-party Mac apps can also add support, though no specific future apps are confirmed.
The change means more Mac users can see timely updates at a glance without switching windows.
Apple is expected to include the feature in the stable macOS 27.3 release in December 2026.
The first macOS 27.3 beta adds Live Activities to the menu bar on supported Macs.
The feature shows at-a-glance updates from apps such as Apple Music, Clock, Voice Memos and screen recording.
Live Activities appear at the top of the screen, including on Macs without a Dynamic Island.
Apple Silicon Macs that can run macOS 27.3 are expected to support the feature.
Developers can add Live Activities to third-party Mac apps.
- Who
- Apple and users of supported Macs.
- What
- The macOS 27.3 beta adds Live Activities to the Mac menu bar.
- When
- The first beta was released on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
- Where
- In the menu bar at the top of the Mac screen.
- Why
- To provide timely updates at a glance, such as timers, music playback and recording status.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Live Activities debuted on iPhone with the iOS 16.1 update.
iPadOS 17 expanded Live Activities to the iPad.
Apple announced the new MacBook Pro with Live Activities.
Apple released the first macOS 27.3 beta, which revealed Live Activities for supported Macs.
- Beta version
- macOS 27.3
- Supported hardware
- Apple Silicon Macs capable of running macOS 27.3
- Built-in apps
- Apple Music, Clock and Voice Memos, among others
- Screen position
- Top of the screen, in the menu bar
- Third-party support
- Developers can implement Live Activities for their apps
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What people are saying
With Live Activities, users can now get timely updates at a glance, and can accept an AirDrop request or pause a song with a tap of their finger.