How to disable liquid glass in iOS 26?

Dlira wrote:

You (and some others) have commented to a number of persons that Apple doesn’t read this website. I believe you are wrong - even if Apple says so. (If you were Apple, and wanted to make your product better, would you just ignore such a site? Probably not the best idea.)

Believe what you want to believe. But people like IdrisSeabright and other people who are higher level in the forum have the opportunity to interact directly with Apple through the forum and we DO know Apple doesn't participate nor pay attention to the posts in this user to user only forum.

If you want Apple to hear you, you use this link, where it WILL be read by Apple --> Product Feedback - Apple

Apparently, in 26.0.1, the setting is now Accessibility > Display > Reduce transparency.

You'll see it there amongst a bewildering list of new setting options that no one asked. Who adjusts the Display contrast? This is a bad April Fools Day joke waiting to happen. I see a few dozen trips to the Genius Bar for people who are wondering why their monitor is messed up.

margit85 wrote:

Just updated my devices and I find the transparency makes reading and writing very difficult. I have done all of the suggested help options but just want my old settings back.

Without knowing what "all of the suggested help options" are you've tried, see if this helps you --> Liquid Glass - Love It Or Hate It - It's … - Apple Community

stee1969 wrote:

I reduced the transparency of Glass on my phone, but it didn’t change much. I still can’t read the clock on my Lock screen unless I squint - and I have pretty decent vision.

Did you try changing the numerals on the locksreen from glass to solid? Did you try changing the color so that it shows up better against that background?

Create a custom iPhone Lock Screen - Apple Support

As a former a product design manager and art director, I can’t believe Apple's flagrant disregard for accessibility with iOS 26. My designers would never have submitted something like this, they paid close attention to little things like usability.

You can share your wisdom with Apple here:

Product Feedback - Apple

You've certainly chosen a difficult lock screen wallpaper for Liquid Glass. Read this link which explains what you can do on your Lock Screen --> Liquid Glass - Love It Or Hate It - It's … - Apple Community

Emi055 wrote:

I agree. I hate the glass and want it gone now. It’s so difficult for me to even see the time because I’m half blind.

please Apple, take the glass away! I’m so serious that I would consider an android at this point,

Apple doesn't read here in this user-to-user forum for feedback or suggestions. You can, however, let them know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Along with some of these replies I went to settings then did this to revers the look of safari:

Apps > Safari > Tabs

From here you can either set it to the bottom or top centered depending on your preference.

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.