How to disable Liquid Glass in iOS 26 and return to the familiar interface

Apple users are massively discussing the new visual style of Liquid Glass in iOS 26, which has become one of the main features of the update. However, not everyone liked the updated interface — and there are already ways to make it less intrusive.

What's wrong with Liquid Glass in iOS 26

With the release of iOS 26, Apple relied on an updated design called Liquid Glass. It includes:

• translucent panels and menus
• enhanced blur effects
• “floating” interface elements
• more dynamic animations

Although Apple is positioning this as a step towards a more “live” interface, some users complain about:

• deterioration of text readability
• overload with visual effects
• decreased performance on older devices

According to discussions on specialized forums, about 30–40% of users consider the new style “too aggressive” for everyday use.

How to change or weaken the effect of Liquid Glass

class=»notranslate»>__GTAG19__While there's no dedicated switch to turn Liquid Glass off completely, the system does have a few settings that can significantly tone down the visual style.

1. Reducing transparency

One of the most effective ways:

• Open “Settings”
• Go to «Universal Access»
• Select «Display and Text Size»
• Enable the «Reduce transparency» option

This makes the interface more contrasty and removes the “glass” effect.

2. Disabling animations

class=»notranslate»>__GTAG23__ To reduce visual load:

• “Settings” → “Universal Access”
• Section «Motion»
• Activate “Reduce Motion”

The interface will become more static and familiar.

3. Increasing contrast

class=»notranslate»>__GTAG8__ Additional setting:

• “Display and text size”

class=»notranslate»>__GTAG13__ Turn on «Enhance Contrast»

This improves the readability of elements, especially in menus and notifications.

4. Dark mode as an alternative

Using a dark theme also helps smooth out the effect of Liquid Glass:

• “Settings” → “Display and brightness”
• Select «Dark Mode»

On a dark background, transparency becomes less noticeable.

Expert opinion

Interface designer and UX analyst Mark Levin noted in a comment for Gizmodo:

«Apple continues to experiment with the depth of the interface, but such solutions always cause polarized reactions — especially among users who value simplicity and readability.»

According to xrust, the trend for “glass” interfaces is returning, but requires fine-tuning for different use cases.

Why Apple introduced Liquid Glass

Apple explains the new design with the desire to make the interface more “spatial” and adaptive. Liquid Glass is part of an overall strategy to unify the visual language between iOS, iPadOS and macOS.

However, as practice shows, universal solutions are not always suitable for all users.

Necessary explanation

Apple regularly updates the visual style of iOS, starting with a radical redesign in iOS 7. Since then, the company has gradually added depth, transparency and animations. Liquid Glass in iOS 26 was the most noticeable change in recent years, but, like previous updates, it caused mixed reactions from users.

Based on materials from gizmodo

Xrust How to disable Liquid Glass in iOS 26 and return to the familiar interface