WWDC 2026 is just two weeks away, and anticipation is building for Apple’s next major operating system updates: iOS 27, macOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 12, and tvOS 27. While rumors have focused on hardware refreshes and AI enhancements, there are several software features that users desperately hope to see but haven’t been widely discussed. This article compiles a wishlist of seven features that could transform the Apple ecosystem if introduced at the June 8 keynote.

Health app on the Mac

Apple brought the Health app to the iPad with iPadOS 25, marking the first time health data could be viewed on a larger screen beyond the iPhone. The iPad version offered a comprehensive dashboard, trends, and sharing capabilities, but many users still rely on their Mac for daily work. A Mac version of Health would allow users to access their step counts, sleep analysis, heart rate variability, and more without switching devices. It could integrate with macOS notifications and widgets, enabling quick glances at vitals. Moreover, with Apple’s growing focus on mental health, a Mac Health app could include journaling prompts and mood tracking directly on the desktop. The absence of Health on Mac feels like a gap in Continuity; with the Mac being a productivity hub, having health data readily available would encourage better wellness habits during work hours.

iPhone Mirroring on iPad

iPhone Mirroring debuted with macOS 26, allowing users to control their iPhone directly from a Mac, complete with audio pass-through and drag-and-drop file transfer. This feature proved invaluable for accessing iPhone-only apps, managing notifications, and even taking calls. However, on the iPad — Apple’s most versatile device — iPhone Mirroring remains absent. The iPad already supports Sidecar, Universal Control, and AirPlay, so adding iPhone Mirroring would be a natural extension. Imagine using an iPad Pro as a secondary screen for your iPhone, running apps like Health or Camera while keeping your phone in your pocket. It would also benefit developers who test iPhone apps on a larger display. The lack of this feature on iPad is one of the biggest oversights in the current ecosystem.

iPad Mirroring on Mac

Conversely, many users want the ability to mirror an iPad screen on a Mac. This would be the logical counterpart to iPhone Mirroring. While the Mac can already use an iPad as a secondary display (Sidecar), mirroring the iPad’s own screen would enable Mac users to interact with iPadOS apps, manage files, or give presentations from a larger monitor. It could also facilitate remote iPad troubleshooting. Apple’s Continuity strategy has always aimed to blur lines between devices, and full bidirectional mirroring would complete the circle. Such a feature could leverage the Mac’s powerful processors for tasks that iPad apps cannot yet handle natively, like advanced video editing.

Upgraded Journal app on the Mac

The Journal app, introduced with iOS 17, has evolved into a polished reflection tool that includes writing prompts, photo suggestions, and location-based entries. It came to iPad and Mac with OS 26, but the Mac version is a pale shadow of its mobile counterparts. It lacks the rich content suggestions — such as recent workouts, photos, or music — that make Journal feel intelligent on iPhone. This year, Apple should bring feature parity to the Mac Journal app, including real-time sync with iCloud so that entries appear instantly across devices. Additionally, a desktop version could support Markdown formatting, keyboard shortcuts, and deeper integration with the Photos library. With many users preferring to type on a full keyboard, a robust Journal on Mac would encourage more consistent emotional logging.

Liquid Glass appearance toggle on Apple Watch

Apple’s Liquid Glass design language, introduced with visionOS, has brought translucent, shimmering interfaces to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. However, the Apple Watch still lacks a native toggle to enable this aesthetic. Some users find the current opaque watch faces and notifications too flat, while others dislike the strong glass effects. An appearance toggle would allow Watch owners to choose between the traditional flat look and the Liquid Glass style that adds depth and vibrancy. Notifications in particular would benefit: a translucent card effect could reduce visual clutter. Given that the Watch is a small-screen device, subtle transparency could make information feel more layered without overwhelming the display. Apple could offer this as an Accessibility setting or as part of the watch face customization options.

Expanded window limit on iPad

iPadOS 26 finally embraced floating windows with Stage Manager-like flexibility, allowing users to run up to 12 app windows simultaneously. For power users, however, this limit feels restrictive. Many Mac workflows involve dozens of windows — a web browser with multiple tabs doesn’t count as one window per tab, but still, the iPad’s limit is hit quickly when using apps like Safari, Notes, Mail, and Messages alongside specialized tools. As the iPad Pro continues to rival laptops with M-series chips, removing the window cap would make it a true desktop replacement. Users should be able to open as many windows as system memory allows, mirroring macOS behavior. This change would require careful memory management, but Apple has already pioneered efficient multitasking on iPadOS.

Wallet app everywhere

The Wallet app remains iPhone-exclusive for actual cards and passes, while on the iPad and Mac it only exists as a settings pane for Apple Pay configurations. With iOS 26, Apple moved Passwords from Settings to a standalone app, proving that dedicated experiences can thrive across platforms. A full Wallet app on iPad and Mac would allow users to view boarding passes, store loyalty cards, manage credit cards, and even store digital car keys. It could also support receiving tickets or coupons shared via AirDrop. This would reduce reliance on the iPhone for everyday transactions and make the iPad a more viable wallet replacement. Moreover, with Apple’s rumored expansion into buy-now-pay-later and savings accounts, a universal Wallet app would become a financial hub.

These seven wishes represent just a glimpse of what WWDC 2026 could deliver. Apple has historically surprised users with features that were never rumored, such as the original iPadOS cursor support or iOS 14 widgets. With two weeks to go until the keynote, the Apple community is buzzing with hope for OS 27 updates that will refine workflows, enhance health monitoring, and deepen ecosystem integration. Whether these specific wishes come true remains to be seen, but the pattern of Apple listening to user feedback suggests that many of them are already in active development.

Source: 9to5Mac News