Apple Removes Menu Item Icons in macOS 27 Golden Gate

Overview

• The change appears in the macOS 27 Golden Gate developer beta and removes the small icons that Apple added next to nearly every menu entry in macOS 26 Tahoe, as shown in before-and-after screenshots shared publicly.
• Apple revised its Human Interface Guidelines to say developers should use menu-item icons sparingly and only when they clearly represent an action or item.
• Designers, engineers, and users had widely criticized Tahoe’s ubiquitous icons for creating visual clutter, inconsistent meaning across apps, and reduced legibility.
• Commentary frames the rollback as a corrective move that could restore established usability practices and reflect a shift in Apple’s design leadership and priorities.
• For users this will reduce menu clutter and for developers it sets clearer rules for when icons are appropriate, with the public beta expected next month and a full release planned for this fall.