Apple has released a new developer beta build of macOS 26 Tahoe, introducing a change to a long-standing icon on Macs. The Macintosh HD hard drive icon, which dates back to 2000, is being replaced with a design resembling a solid-state drive (SSD). This switch comes after years of Apple using SSDs as the primary boot media for new Macs.
The original hard drive icon was largely unchanged since its introduction in Mac OS X. However, it received a Retina resolution upgrade in 2012 and a minor facelift in Yosemite (version 10.10) in 2014. The updated design aimed to reduce pseudo-realistic textures, characteristic of the iOS 7 era.
While the reason for updating the icon is unclear, the change appears logical given Apple’s long history of using SSDs. Despite this, it’s surprising that the update comes now, rather than earlier when the original hard drive design had become less visible on desktops.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/08/rip-to-the-macintosh-hd-hard-drive-icon-2000-2025