OpenAI has rolled out a substantial update nine new features to its ChatGPT Atlas browser for macOS, making the app more powerful and native for Mac users. According to OpenAI’s own Atlas product lead, Adam Fry, the update adds everything from iCloud passkey support to a revamped downloads UI.
iCloud Passkeys: A Big Security Upgrade
Perhaps the most notable addition is iCloud passkey integration. With this update, users of ChatGPT Atlas on Mac can now create passkeys for websites and save them directly into their iCloud Keychain.
That means when you’re on sites that support passkeys (a modern, phishing-resistant login method), Atlas can generate a secure passkey instead of relying on traditional passwords. And if a website supports upgrading legacy logins, you should be able to switch to a passkey within Atlas, too.
This aligns with Apple’s broader shift: in macOS (and its Passwords app), Apple has made passkey management deeply integrated with iCloud Keychain.
Improved Tab Management & Navigation
OpenAI didn’t stop with security, there are several user experience improvements:
- Vertical Tabs: You can now switch to a vertical tab layout, giving you a sidebar-style view that many power users prefer.
- Multi-Tab Selection: Users can select multiple tabs (using Shift + Click) and perform actions on groups of them.
- Quick Tab Switching: A new keyboard shortcut — Control + Tab — lets you cycle through your most recently used tabs. According to Fry, this helps make Atlas feel faster and more fluid.
Other Productivity Features
In addition to enhanced tab controls and passkeys, the update brings:
- Extensions Import: You can import browser extensions from your current browser, helping make the switch to Atlas smoother.
- Download Manager UI: A new interface for downloads, making it easier to track and manage files you save via Atlas.
- Search Engine Choice: You can now set Google as your default search engine within Atlas, a somewhat surprising move given OpenAI’s own ecosystem.
Why These Updates Matter
These upgrades show OpenAI is serious about making Atlas not just a novelty browser, but a real competitor:
- Security First: Adding iCloud passkey support makes Atlas more secure and modern, putting it on par with leading browsers when it comes to authentication.
- Tailored for Mac Users: Vertical tabs, multiple selection, and keyboard shortcuts demonstrate that Atlas is being optimized for the way Mac users browse.
- Smooth Onboarding: Importing extensions lowers the barrier to adoption, if you’re coming from another browser, you don’t have to rebuild your workflow from scratch.
- More Control: Giving users the option to choose Google for search is a user-first decision, not just locking them into AI-driven search by default.
What It Does Not Change (Yet)
- While the update improves browsing, it doesn’t fundamentally change how ChatGPT’s AI integrates into the browser: the AI’s core functions remain conversational and search-augmented.
- There’s no word (yet) on similar passkey support in ChatGPT’s iOS or Windows versions of Atlas, this update is focused on the Mac.
- It’s unclear if the passkey feature supports all websites or only those compatible with specific passkey standards, real-world compatibility may take time.
With this update, ChatGPT Atlas for Mac takes a big step forward. The introduction of iCloud passkeys makes it more secure; the UI tweaks and tab enhancements boost productivity; and extension import lowers the friction for new users. For Mac users who already enjoy ChatGPT’s power, Atlas is becoming a more compelling, full-featured browsing option not just a chatbot wrapper.
