Farewell to the Classic Macintosh HD Icon (2000–2025)
▼ Summary
– Apple released a new macOS 26 Tahoe beta, replacing the old spinning hard drive icon with an SSD-like design.
– The Macintosh HD icon became less visible in recent years as macOS stopped displaying internal disks on the desktop by default.
– Apple transitioned to SSDs as the primary boot media years ago, making the icon update logical but delayed.
– The original hard drive icon dates back to 2000 and remained largely unchanged until minor updates in 2012 and 2014.
– The 2014 Yosemite update refined the icon’s design to align with iOS 7’s flatter, less textured aesthetic.
Apple’s latest macOS beta marks the end of an era with the retirement of the classic Macintosh HD icon, a visual staple for over two decades. The newly released macOS 26 Tahoe developer preview replaces the familiar spinning hard drive symbol with a modernized design resembling a solid-state drive, a fitting update for an era where SSDs dominate Mac hardware.
The original hard drive icon debuted in 2000 alongside Mac OS X’s public beta, becoming an instantly recognizable part of the desktop experience. Though Apple stopped displaying internal disks on the desktop by default years ago, the icon persisted through multiple macOS updates. It received minor refinements over time, including a Retina-resolution boost in 2012 and a flatter, less metallic redesign in 2014 with OS X Yosemite.
Why the change now? While Apple transitioned to SSDs long ago, the outdated hard drive icon remained, until now. The shift aligns with the company’s broader design philosophy, prioritizing clarity and modernity. The new SSD-inspired icon, though stylized rather than technically accurate, better reflects today’s storage technology.
For longtime Mac users, the update may feel bittersweet. The spinning disk was more than just an icon; it symbolized an era of computing. Yet progress marches on, and even the smallest visual details evolve to match the hardware they represent. The change underscores Apple’s commitment to keeping macOS visually cohesive, even as the underlying technology advances.
(Source: Ars Technica)
