After installing iOS 26 noticing glaring issue on iPhone Home Screen

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Level 1

10 points

After installing iOS 26 noticing glaring issue on iPhone Home Screen

Just installed ios 26 and noticed a glaring issue on the home screen..

I use dark mode for my home screen (press and hold home screen, "edit" in upper left, "customize", select "dark" and "always")

The home screen goes into dark mode, icons, etc.. The dock on the bottom goes into dark mode as well, background turns black.

Now open any app, shouldn't matter which one. The dock background now turns grey and sticks out like an ugly sore thumb. I go back through the settings, blah blah, it never stays black...

THIS IS ALSO an issue with all the folders, the background is the same grey color instead of remaining black.

Any ideas, or a bug?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Dark mode- home screen dock and folders turning grey

iPhone 15 Pro

Posted on Sep 15, 2025 1:04 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

jericeric

Level 1

8 points

Sep 30, 2025 4:56 AM in response to robjw33

Figured out (with the help of this post, thank you) that you must enable Dark Mode in BOTH Home Screen settings AND global settings: Settings > Display & Brightness > Appearance > Dark (I don’t have either set to automatic)

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Answer 2

Sep 17, 2025 1:05 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

IdrisSeabright wrote:

I believe they meant that, after switching to an app, the next time they switched back to the Home Screen, it looked weird.

I was able to replicate this by toggling Smart Invert on.

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Answer 3

Sep 15, 2025 1:24 PM in response to robjw33

What do you have selected under Settings>Display & Brightness? Is the Dark setting the same?

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Answer 4

Sep 21, 2025 3:14 PM in response to Dononapple

There’s no going back for any of us.

All we can do is provide ⇢ Product Feedback.

If enough requests are made, your feedback might help with future development.

I just submitted my own feedback.

Good luck! 👋🏼😉

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Answer 5

sammi125

Level 1

14 points

Sep 22, 2025 3:09 AM in response to robjw33

I have literally the exact same thing happen to me but in reverse, it wont stay light. It seems like there really isnt anything to do about it yet. Since the update is pretty new there are going to be bugs so hopefully they will fix it soon!

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Answer 6

Oct 3, 2025 9:46 AM in response to Difficultviewing

Difficultviewing wrote:

Followed all their recos and visibility is still reduced vs before the update! Why would you possibly make your screen more difficult to see?

I didn't make my screen or yours more difficult to see.

If you don't like what Apple did, you can let them know here:

Product Feedback - Apple

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Answer 7

robjw33 Author

Level 1

10 points

Sep 15, 2025 7:22 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

I already had most of the relevant setting in the right mode, including reduced transparency... I also have increase contranst selected as well. i've toggle these both on and off in all combinatination with the same result.

Here are pics of what I mean.. After I select "dark" & "always", the dock has the black background. After opening any app, it goes back to the grey color and remains that way.

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 8

robjw33 Author

Level 1

10 points

Sep 15, 2025 7:21 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

No, i dont want the entire interface/apps in dark mode, just the home

screen like I had my phone setup prior to the update, it was never an

issue in ios 18.x. After selecting dark mode, the dock and folder

backgrounds revert to light mode after opening any application.

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Answer 9

Sep 16, 2025 10:51 AM in response to Smilin-Brian

Smilin-Brian wrote:

All iPhone apps run in full screen.

The Dock should never be visible when running an App.

I believe they meant that, after switching to an app, the next time they switched back to the Home Screen, it looked weird. I did observe this behavior myself once or twice. However, I can't remember which configuration of setting it was that did that.

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Answer 10

Sep 17, 2025 6:58 AM in response to johnfromodense sv

johnfromodense sv wrote:

Another issue with dark mode is Safari’s keyboard.

it opens in light mode, but as soon as you type something, it changes to dark mode.

Quite an obvious bug

You should absolutely report this to Apple:

Product Feedback - Apple

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Answer 11

Oct 3, 2025 8:06 AM in response to robjw33

Help Apple! After updating to iOS 26 everything on screen looks grey (black is greyed out)and translucent- very difficult to see clearly! Even after following all of apples recommendations it’s still bad -reducing transparency, increasing contrast …. Why not give us an option to go back to original display font, black, apps everything the same! Many of your users eyes are over 50!

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Answer 12

Rcinkle

Level 1

32 points

Oct 3, 2025 7:39 PM in response to robjw33

that little “sun” in the corner sets light or dark for that Home Screen. Annoyingly, it changes back to dark when you change the other settings. I always have to tap that before exiting to get back to light.

[Edited by Moderator]

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