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SoftRAID 8.6 Now Available for macOS 26 Tahoe with SMART-over-USB and Day-One Compatibility

Update to macOS 26 Tahoe without missing a beat. SoftRAID 8.6 delivers day-one compatibility, new SMART-over-USB health monitoring, and the performance, RAID options, and cross-platform sharing pros rely on. Download today.

Wayne Grayson • Sep 15, 2025

Apple has launched the latest version of its Mac operating system, macOS 26 Tahoe. Here at OWC, we’re excited to announce the release of SoftRAID 8.6 so you can update to Tahoe with confidence and keep working at full speed.

But this release isn’t just about day-one support of Tahoe. It’s also packed with smarter drive monitoring to help you avoid surprises and protect the projects you can’t afford to lose.

What’s new in SoftRAID 8.6

Day-one compatibility with macOS 26 Tahoe: Update your OS today without breaking your storage workflow.

SMART over USB: SoftRAID can now read S.M.A.R.T. health data from nearly all USB-connected drives (in addition to Thunderbolt), so you get early warnings about potential failures across more of your storage.

Why SoftRAID remains the pro choice

SoftRAID is simply the easiest to use and most versatile method for creating and managing RAID arrays as part of a professional workflow. SoftRAID allows you to build exactly what your workflow needs—RAID 0/1/4/5/10—for maximum throughput, redundancy, or a smart balance of both, with best-in-class driver tech for macOS and Windows.

SoftRAID also provides proactive protection with SoftRAID Monitor. Our predictive health monitoring watches disks and usage patterns and can warn you months ahead of a problem; plus, rich notifications keep you in the loop even when you’re away.

Finally, SoftRAID provides seamless Mac to Windows sharing. Collaborate across platforms without hoops: use Apple-formatted APFS and HFS+ SoftRAID volumes on Windows—no extra tools or fees—powered by built-in MacDrive technology.

Two tiers to fit every setup

Standard (Free):No-cost access to your volumes, rebuild capability, and ongoing OS-compatibility updates—ideal for machines that need reliable read/write access without creating new arrays.

Premium: Create high-performance arrays (RAID 0/1/4/5/10), unlock SoftRAID Monitor and remote/email alerts, and get OWC Pro Support. Pricing is $149.99 for year one and $79.99/year thereafter; many OWC enclosures include three years of Premium.

Who can benefit from SoftRAID?

  • Creative pros moving to Tahoe who need guaranteed uptime and maximum throughput for multi-stream video, audio, and photo work.
  • Studios, labs, and teams standardizing on shared arrays across Mac and Windows environments.
  • Any power user who wants early warning of drive health issues—now extended to most USB-connected drives.

Availability and upgrade

SoftRAID 8.6 is available now at software.owc.com. Existing users will receive the update automatically. New users can download and start with SoftRAID Standard for free, then upgrade to Premium when you’re ready to build or expand arrays.

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