How to disable liquid glass in iOS 26?

ckmrt wrote:

I’m just looking for genuine help and hoping my concerns can be taken seriously.

You have received all the options in this post to reduce the Liquid Glass effect. There really is nothing left to add and sending Feedback using the provided link is how you let Apple know how you feel about the UI. Continuing to express your frustration here will make no difference.

As for switching to another platform, that is completely up to you and makes no difference to any of us here. I would recommend to make a purchase based on what best meets your needs, whatever that is. As for Android devices, you may want to be aware of the recent Android 16 version of the OS, where they have introduced blur and transparency effects in the UI very similar to Liquid Glass. The only difference is that they call it Material Design 3, and no it cannot be removed there either.

ravenby wrote:

Please add separate toggle for icon shimmer/parallax effects to save battery without full Reduce Motion. +1

You're asking the Author of this thread, who is a user only, like everyone else on this user to user only forum, to make a change in iOS? You're not writing Apple here. Just other users like yourself.

Here is everything you can do to change the effects of Liquid Glass --> Liquid Glass - Love It Or Hate It - It's … - Apple Community

Anything else you'd like to see, you can let Apple know, using this link --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Cabel57 wrote:

This “liquid glass” display is terrible for somebody with visual issues. My friend cannot see her icons as well, since this update. I have tried everything you’ve mentioned, but it does not help. It needs to be gone.

Tell Apple:

Product Feedback - Apple

jentrepreneur wrote:

I just tried to submit feedback re Liquid Glass, but the terms button is not working. What the H E double hockey sticks is going on??

Here is what I was trying to say:

I am 48 yrs old, and I just got prescribed glasses and contacts for the first time. My nearsightedness is the one thing I can rely on without glasses. Liquid Glass has ruined that for me. Everything is blurry as if I didn't have my glasses on. Please release an OS update that allows the user to make Liquid Glass optional. It is truly mean to make anyone older than 45 feel like they can’t see when their eye sight is already becoming an issue. In short, Liquid Glass is a completely ageist / disability UNfriendly feature that completely ignores the needs or comfort of what I can only assume is the majority of users. Especially parents; we pay for all the devices in our household. Why would you force a feature that is only appropriate for a 20-yr old? It is literally giving me a headache, and it’s been on for less than 24 hours.

Just to be clear, this is a user to user only forum, which Apple neither participates nor reads for user feedback. I don't know what link you tried to use to send feedback, but this link surely works --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

I'm in my 70s. I'm nearsighted and astigmatic and I wear glasses. Liquid Glass has done NOTHING to cause me issues. If it is causing you issues now that you've gotten glasses, I'd recommend you visit your ophthalmologist, as it would seem your prescription may not be good.

Assuming anyone over 45 is having issues with Liquid Glass is a bad assumption as is the assumption that the vast majority of users aren't happy with Liquid Glass. I don't think you can speak for the millions upon millions upon millions of people who are now on iOS 26.

Since you responded to the opening post in this thread, perhaps you didn't read any of the other posts in the thread? I wrote this for people who may be less than thrilled with Liquid Glass --> Liquid Glass - Love It Or Hate It - It's … - Apple Community

Read it all the way through and try the various setting changes I spoke about and chances are you can find a way to manage to live.

Mee369 wrote:

Here is the simplest answer… You Can’t. But if you have IOS 18 backup(s), you can open Time Machine on Mac and select an iOS 18 backup, with iPhone in recovery mode.

Did you check your facts? Clearly not. Backups, no matter where they are stored NEVER include the iOS version. So, NOPE. Restoring a backup from Time Machine or anywhere will most definitely NOT restore a phone to the iOS version which was on the phone at the time the backup was made.

anandamanav wrote:

This was more of a feedback to Apple, if that helps as I'd also like to turn it off if it were possible.

So my question is whether Apple has any plans to make this theme an opt-out feature for users that don't like it.

We aren't associated with Apple here on this user to user only forum. We have no inside knowledge of anything Apple has planned for the future and Apple doesn't comment or participate here.

It's HUGELY unlikely Apple will offer an opt-out for Liquid Glass as explained above and is in the link I provided, which I hope you took the time to read.

It's very easy, I don't know how people are missing this. Edit the wallpaper through settings or by tapping and holding your chosen one and selecting customize. Now tap the time and select "solid".

Edit: May only be on 16.1? From what I recall 26.2 is not released so it must not be this version

We’ve mentioned every solution we have. You don’t expect us to create solutions to software that we didn’t make, right? Animations can be partially disabled by reducing motion. You’ve never been able to change the layout of UI, that’s simply not how design works. Apple will not revert the change, make the right choice for you whether it is android or not.

17albinozebras wrote:

You can turn on “Show Borders” (also in accessibility > display & text size) and it’s still not great but it does get rid of the worst part of the “glass” effect

That's a good suggestion. I don't recall seeing it before.

johnmac7 wrote:

It's not possible to read the time on my lock screen due to the type being semi transparent. Reducing transparency has not impact on text, only on the background. The whole Liquid Glass thing is awful looking; it looks like something is wrong with the display, the app icons look like what happens when printing is out of registration. There NEEDS to be a way to turn it OFF!! Seriously, Apple, what were you thinking?

You aren't writing Apple. Asking what they were thinking is pointless here on this user to user only forum.

This will help you with the Clock on the Lock Screen and keep an eye out for the next update (coming any day now), which will offer even more options for the Clock on the Lock Screen --> Liquid Glass - Love It Or Hate It - It's … - Apple Community

singerhayes wrote:

It's awful. You can't read the time if you have a picture set for your wallpaper. That's the biggest issue for me. I wish we could disable it. I can adapt to the rest but it's a useless feature. So much for accessibility.

Darker wallpapers, worked best with Liquid Glass. Perhaps just choosing a different photo as your wallpaper will help a lot.

This is how my home screen looks with a darker wallpaper:

KNA228 wrote:

Disliking the iOS 26 update is not about preference or "getting used" to the placement of new icons. There are real accessibility issues that Apple has seemed to ignore.

Have you given Apple your feedback? The more people who do, the more likely it is that there will be a change.

Product Feedback - Apple

Davescrownncoke12 wrote:

horrible idea for UI. Please listen to your users and give us an option to disable this and revert back. I’m sure your feedback loop is blowing up on this.

No one reading your post had anything to do with creating this. Nor can any of us give you the ability to disable it or revert back.

You can let Apple know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

See also:

Liquid Glass - Love It Or Hate It - It's … - Apple Community

Yohonlp wrote:

I am a person that has visual impairment and this new update has made it impossible. Even when I am seeing OK, all of the blurry looking little glass is not OK.

Please check this site for good tips on how to make Liquid Glass easier on the eyes. I found it to be very helpful.

Liquid Glass - Love It Or Hate It - It's … - Apple Community

How do we request a change from apple?

You can make a suggestion to Apple here -

Feedback - iPhone - Apple