Apple iOS 27 Includes Hidden Dogcow Easter Egg

Apple released iOS 27 to the public this week, introducing its new Siri AI chatbot as a headline feature. Alongside this significant AI upgrade, Apple has also reintroduced a beloved, albeit hidden, element from its computing history: the 'dogcow,' named Clarus. This Easter egg is accessible not only in iOS 27 but also in iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, marking a nostalgic return for long-time Apple users and developers.

The dogcow, Clarus, originated as a pixel art glyph in the early Mac operating systems of the 1980s. Its unique appearance, a blend of a dog and a cow, was initially used to visually indicate the orientation of a page for printing. However, its whimsical design quickly endeared it to the Mac developer community, fostering a unique mythology around the character. Although Apple eventually removed the dogcow from its operating systems, its reappearance in the latest releases signifies a deliberate effort to reincorporate elements of playful discovery into the user experience. The return of Clarus is part of a broader trend of Apple embedding Easter eggs within its software, a practice that was more prevalent in earlier iterations of its operating systems.

To access the dogcow Easter egg in iOS 27, users must navigate through the Settings app. The process involves selecting 'Appearance,' then 'Liquid Glass.' Within the preview window for Liquid Glass, users are instructed to continue scrolling past the 'The Rainbow' heading. As they scroll further, the letters "Moof!" will sequentially appear in the search field. Simultaneously, the preview image will update to display a modern rendition of the dogcow, depicted gazing into a pool of water. This sequence of events triggers the visual reveal of Clarus, the dogcow.

The inclusion of the dogcow Easter egg in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 serves as a direct callback to a period when Apple's software was rich with hidden surprises and playful elements. While many of these iconic Easter eggs have been removed over time, their continued presence in select areas suggests a conscious decision by Apple to preserve and occasionally revive these nostalgic features. The reappearance of Clarus, the dogcow, is a testament to the enduring appeal of these subtle, often overlooked, components of Apple's digital heritage, offering a moment of recognition for those familiar with the company's long history.