iOS 26 Liquid Glass Got You Seeing Double? Tame the Transparency!

Hate iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design? Here's How to Tone It Down

iOS 26 has arrived with a splash, introducing a brand new design material that Apple is calling Liquid Glass. This design puts a major focus on transparency, aiming to let your display content shine through the controls, creating a visually stunning effect. However, not everyone is immediately enamored with this new aesthetic. Some users are finding it difficult to adjust, while others are struggling with readability. If you're in this camp, don't worry – there's a simple solution to make things more opaque without completely abandoning the new look.

Apple understands that not all users have the same visual needs. That's why they've included a robust suite of Accessibility options, designed to customize iOS for diverse users. One of these incredibly useful options is Reduce Transparency. Let's explore how this feature can help you fine-tune the Liquid Glass design to your liking.

What Does Reduce Transparency Do?

Toggling on Reduce Transparency essentially adds a darker background to the translucent areas of iOS 26, such as the Control Center, app icons, and app folders. This seemingly small change significantly improves contrast, making text and icons easier to read and the overall interface less visually distracting. It's a great way to dial back the intensity of the Liquid Glass effect.

How to Activate Reduce Transparency:

Turning on Reduce Transparency is a breeze. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to Accessibility.
3. Select Display & Text Size.
4. Tap the toggle next to Reduce Transparency to activate it.

Quick Access Tip:

For even faster access, you can add Reduce Transparency to your Accessibility Shortcuts. This allows you to toggle the setting on and off directly from the Control Center interface, giving you on-the-fly control over the transparency level.

Important Considerations:

• Activating Reduce Transparency doesn't eliminate all translucency. It provides a more opaque look, enhancing contrast and readability.
• The setting doesn't alter the shape of buttons or revert to a pre-iOS 26 design. It's purely a visual adjustment to the transparency levels.

Apple is Listening:

Keep in mind that iOS 26 is currently in its early beta testing phase. This means that Apple is actively gathering user feedback and will likely make tweaks and refinements to the Liquid Glass design based on that input. If you're a developer running the beta and are struggling to adapt to the new interface, activating Reduce Transparency can provide a helpful temporary solution.

The Future of Liquid Glass:

While a new interface can initially feel jarring, most users will likely adapt to the updated Liquid Glass design within a few days. Apple has been careful not to make drastic changes to app interfaces and layouts, ensuring that iOS 26 still feels familiar, despite its fresh look.

The Liquid Glass design is also subject to change as iOS 26 evolves over the coming months. Currently, iOS 26 is available to developers. A public beta is scheduled to launch in July, with the official release expected in September.

Ultimately, the goal of Liquid Glass is to enhance the user experience, and with options like Reduce Transparency, Apple is ensuring that everyone can enjoy the new design in a way that suits their individual needs. So, give it a try, experiment with the settings, and see how you can make iOS 26 work best for you!

Tags: iOS 26, Liquid Glass, Transparency, Reduce Transparency, Accessibility, iPhone settings, Display settings, Control Center, iOS tips, Apple

Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/11/ios-26-liquid-glass-transparency/