One of the most significant innovations introduced with iOS 26, the Liquid Glass design, emphasizes transparency in the user interface. Many areas, such as the Control Center, app folders, and icons, are now translucent, allowing screen content to be seen behind interface elements. However, this visual change may not provide a positive experience for every user. For those experiencing readability issues or simply disliking this new look, Apple has an integrated solution.
Those who dislike the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26 can use this setting for a less transparent look.
The Reduce Transparency option in iOS 26 increases contrast by making backgrounds more opaque in certain areas of the screen. This makes text and icons, especially in areas like Control Center, more visible. To enable this setting, simply navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and enable the Reduce Transparency option.
This feature doesn’t completely eliminate the Liquid Glass design, but it simplifies the look by adding less transparent and darker backgrounds to interface elements. There are no changes to the button shape or a return to the previous design from iOS 26. If you want easier access to this setting, you can add it to Accessibility Shortcuts and quickly toggle it on and off from Control Center.
Apple is currently testing the developer beta of iOS 26. Improvements to the Liquid Glass design are expected based on user feedback. While Apple has introduced the new interface without disrupting the familiar app layout, the visual change may take some time to adapt to. For developers and users who struggled to adapt during the beta process, the Reduce Transparency option offers a temporary solution.
The public beta of iOS 26 will be released in July. The stable version will be available alongside the new iPhone 17 series in September. The final Liquid Glass design will continue to be shaped by user feedback during this process.
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