macOS Tahoe 26.3: Two Design Fixes That Should Make Your Mac More Usable

Apple has released macOS Tahoe 26.3, addressing two of the most frustrating design problems that emerged with the operating system's Liquid Glass redesign. The update specifically targets issues with window resizing and Finder's column view that had been plaguing users since the initial release.

The Window Resizing Nightmare

When macOS Tahoe launched, many users immediately noticed that resizing windows had become unexpectedly difficult. What should be a simple, intuitive action—grabbing a window corner and dragging—had become frustratingly inconsistent.

Developer Norbert Heger provided a detailed technical explanation for why this was happening. The issue stemmed from macOS Tahoe's dramatic design change: windows now feature large, rounded corners that extend well beyond the traditional rectangular boundaries. While aesthetically pleasing, this design choice created a practical problem.

Here's what was happening: macOS windows have a small 19×19 pixel area near each corner that responds to resize clicks. In previous macOS versions with minimal corner rounding, about 62% of this resize area fell within the visible window. However, Tahoe's massive corner radius pushed approximately 75% of that clickable area outside the window boundary, making it nearly impossible to grab consistently.

Heger described the frustration perfectly: "Since upgrading to macOS Tahoe, I've noticed that quite often my attempts to resize a window are failing. This never happened to me before in almost 40 years of using computers."

The Finder Column View Breakdown

Finder's column view, a longtime favorite among power users, also suffered from the Tahoe redesign. Jeff Johnson highlighted another frustrating issue: the horizontal scrollbar was covering the column resizing widget, preventing users from adjusting column widths.

Column view has been a staple of macOS since the early days of Mac OS X, offering an efficient way to navigate file hierarchies. The inability to resize columns effectively broke one of the most productive workflows for many users.

macOS Tahoe 26.3: The Fixes

According to Apple's release notes, macOS Tahoe 26.3 addresses both issues:

• Window resizing: "Window resize areas now follow corner radius instead of using square regions."
• Finder column view: The horizontal scroller is now properly positioned under the column resizing widget.

These changes should restore the intuitive window management and file navigation that Mac users have come to expect over decades of using Apple's operating systems.

Update: The Fixes Aren't Working

However, there's a significant caveat. After the initial release of this article, Apple updated its release notes again, clarifying that the window resizing bug is still present and listed as a known issue in macOS Tahoe 26.3.

Jeff Johnson followed up with additional observations about the Finder fix, noting that while there have been improvements, the problems aren't completely resolved. He described the current state as "baby steps," suggesting that Apple may need to continue refining these interface elements in future updates.

Why These Issues Matter

The window resizing and Finder column view problems highlight a broader challenge in modern interface design: balancing aesthetic innovation with functional usability. While Liquid Glass introduced visually striking elements to macOS, these changes inadvertently broke fundamental interactions that users rely on daily.

Window resizing is one of the most frequent actions performed on a computer—users constantly adjust window sizes to multitask, compare documents, or organize their workspace. Similarly, Finder's column view remains a preferred navigation method for many professionals who need to quickly browse complex folder structures.

Looking Forward

These fixes in macOS Tahoe 26.3 represent Apple's responsiveness to user feedback, even if the solutions aren't yet perfect. The company's willingness to acknowledge and address these issues suggests that future updates may continue to refine the balance between Tahoe's visual design language and practical usability.

For now, Mac users can at least expect some improvement in their daily interactions, even if the complete resolution of these long-standing annoyances will have to wait for future updates.