Conceptual illustration of tabs organized into workspace windows, not a screenshot of Notion. Illustration: MacDigest.
Notion 7.39.0 brings an optional desktop tabs beta alongside a higher Mac system requirement. Before updating, check the operating system on your Mac; before joining the beta, check how you currently arrange workspaces and windows.
Check your macOS version first
The version-specific release notes require macOS 13 or newer for 7.39.0. They identify 7.38.1 as the last desktop update for macOS 12 Monterey.
Notion’s general system-requirements page still lists macOS 12, as checked October 16. For this update, the release-specific notice is the more relevant guidance.
This is a desktop-update cutoff. It does not establish that an installed copy stops opening or that the entire Notion service becomes unavailable on Monterey. Check your Mac’s upgrade options before planning around the new build.
Expect your windows to change
The beta requires desktop version 7.39.0 or later. Enable it under Settings → Preferences → Desktop beta; Notion then restarts. One instance of Notion handles all tabs in each window. Notion says this reduces average memory use, keeps the sidebar from reloading and preserves scroll positions and selections.
A window can contain only one workspace. Mixed-workspace tabs separate into different windows, and existing tab groups become windows. Leaving the beta restores the previous layout.
For people who keep several projects together, the resulting window arrangement may matter as much as tab-switching speed. Leave time to get familiar with it before a busy working session. Keep a short note of your current window arrangement so you can compare it after restarting.
Plan around the beta caveats
Notion flags AI Meeting Notes issues with recording indicators, pop-up and floating windows, and recordings ending cleanly when the app restarts. Support asks users to leave the beta before troubleshooting.
If you rely on meeting capture, trying the beta between meetings is the cautious choice. MacDigest has not tested this build or measured its memory use. The performance expectations here come from Notion’s description, rather than independent benchmarks.
