Apple has officially rolled out the public beta of iOS 26, and people are eagerly jumping in to explore what’s new. One of the most noticeable changes is the all-new Liquid Glass design, which completely revamps the visual experience across the OS.
What is Liquid Glass in iOS 26?
The Liquid Glass interface is Apple’s latest design overhaul that brings a more dynamic and futuristic look to iOS 26. It uses real-time rendering and looks aesthetically cool with smooth animations and sleek glass-like elements throughout the UI.
While many users appreciate the visual appeal, others find the design overwhelming or distracting, especially those who prefer a minimalistic and flat design. It feels more like a conceptual design, and users with readability concerns may find it challenging to adopt.
Can I Disable Liquid Glass on iOS 26?
Unfortunately, Apple does not currently offer a setting such as a slider to adjust the intensity of the Liquid Glass effect. Since this design is deeply integrated into the system and is here to stay, there’s no toggle to turn off Liquid Glass on iOS 26 and revert to the previous flat design.
However, there’s a simple workaround using iOS’s Accessibility settings that can help you get rid of the Liquid Glass effect on iOS 26 up to some extent.
By enabling the “Reduce Transparency” option, you can significantly tone down the glassy, translucent appearance seen in the Control Center, Notification Center, and other areas.
While this won’t completely disable Liquid Glass UI, it does replace many transparent elements with solid and frosted backgrounds, thereby improving clarity and readability.
How to Turn Off Liquid Glass Design on iOS 26
Follow these steps to disable the glass effect in iOS 26 on your iPhone:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
- Tap on Display & Text Size.
- Turn on the toggle next to Reduce Transparency.
Once enabled, you’ll notice less visual clutter, a cleaner and more focused interface that is easier on the eyes.
Check these screenshots for comparison:
Tip: Add a Home Screen Shortcut to Toggle Reduce Transparency
You can create a shortcut on your iPhone Home Screen to quickly turn the Reduce Transparency setting on or off with a single tap. Here’s how to set it up:
- Open the Shortcuts app and go to the Library tab.
- Tap the + icon in the top-right corner to create a new shortcut.
- Tap on “Search Actions“.
- Type “reduce” in the search bar and select “Set Reduce Transparency“.
- Tap the word “Turn” and choose “Toggle” from the dropdown menu.
- Tap the Info (i) button at the bottom center of the screen.
- Select “Add to Home Screen“.
- Give your shortcut a name (e.g., Toggle Transparency) and choose an icon.
- Tap “Add” in the top-right corner, then tap Done.
That’s it! You can now toggle the Liquid Glass effect on or off directly from your Home Screen using this shortcut.
Our Thoughts
Apple’s new Liquid Glass design marks a bold step forward in UI aesthetics, but it might not be for everyone. If you’re not a fan of the flashy visuals or prefer a less distracting UI, then the above workaround is currently your best bet.
Keep in mind that Apple is still fine-tuning this new design in the beta stages. So, we might see further improvements or customization options in future iOS updates based on user feedback.
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