Lorene Melone
How To Disable Liquid Glass Effect on iOS 26
Honestly, that Liquid Glass thing in iOS 26 is kinda annoying, especially if you prefer sharper text and clearer icons. It’s like Apple decided to add a frosted, blurry overlay that makes everything look cool but sometimes just messes with readability. Luckily, there’s a fairly simple way to turn it off, but finding the right setting can be a bit tricky the first time. Here’s what I did, and it worked on one iPhone but on another, the setting was buried a little deeper. Goes to show, iOS isn’t always consistent.
Step 1: Open Settings
First, unlock the iPhone and head straight to Settings. That gear icon on the home screen. If you’ve got a bunch of apps, it’s usually in the first couple of rows or sometimes in your dock. Just tap it.
Step 2: Find Accessibility
Next, scroll down until you see Accessibility. This section is meant for all the visual and movement tweaks. Tap on it. Because of course, Apple has to make it harder than necessary by hiding some options here.
Step 3: Tap on Display & Text Size
In Accessibility, you want to look for Display & Text Size. It’s usually right in the middle of the list. Tap that. This is where Apple keeps all the stuff that changes how stuff looks on your screen.
Step 4: Turn on Reduce Transparency
Now, here’s the kicker: look for Reduce Transparency. This toggle is key because it’s what really dims the frosted glass effect. Flip that switch to on. And voilà, your screen should look a lot clearer right away. Sometimes, you might need to toggle it off and back on if it doesn’t seem to change immediately.
Pro tip: On some setups, toggling it doesn’t work right away — a quick reboot or forcing the setting toggle a second time can help. After enabling it, check areas like your Control Center and notification banners. Usually, you’ll notice icons and text are sharper.
Step 5: Confirm the Change
Once you’ve turned on Reduce Transparency, browse around a little. If the background behind menu overlays looks less blurry and the text is easier to read, you’re good. If not, revisit the setting or restart your device. Honestly, on a couple of iPhones, it’s needed.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Some extra thoughts:
- Revisit Accessibility Settings: If things aren’t quite right, don’t be afraid to poke around other options like Bold Text or increasing contrast.
- Adjust Brightness: Cranking up or down brightness sometimes makes a world of difference for visibility.
- Check for Updates: Always keep iOS updated. Sometimes, bugs or glitches get fixed in newer versions.
Oh, and a side note — the transparency effects can be toggleable in Dark Mode too, so turning that on might also make things look sharper, especially in combination with Reduce Transparency.
Conclusion
Turning off that Liquid Glass effect isn’t the most obvious process, but once you find the right toggle, it makes your display much less blurry and more watchable. It’s pretty much just a matter of navigating through Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Reduce Transparency. Not sure why it’s so tucked away, but hey, it works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I revert the changes after disabling the Liquid Glass effect?
Absolutely. Just go back into Accessibility and toggle Reduce Transparency off whenever you want that frosted look again.
Will messing with this setting slow down my iPhone?
Nope. This just changes how things are displayed. Purely visual — no impact on performance or battery life.
Are there other tricks to improve screen clarity in iOS 26?
Definitely. Adjust brightness, enable Bold Text, turn on Dark Mode, or even reduce motion. Sometimes these combined can really help reduce eye strain and improve readability.
Summary
- Found the Accessibility menu in Settings.
- Inside that, tapped Display & Text Size.
- Switched on Reduce Transparency.
- Checked that icons and text look clearer.
Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone. Because, really, why make things so cryptic?