How to disable Liquid Glass effect in iOS 26?

lobsterghost1 wrote:

BartelsMedia wrote:

I already reduced transparency but it still looks broken to my eyes. it is distracting and overly unpleasant.

How to switch off LiquidGlass entirely, please?

There is no on/off switch for liquid glass. If you've reduced transparency, that's all you can do.

I quite like it and with all things which change it often takes time to adjust when things look different. But adjust you'll need to do.

Sometimes what you need to do is say no over and over and if enough people agree with you, Apple may revert some things. I've had success with that in the past....not often, but it does happen. Here the effect is reducing contrast and legibility in support of 'coolness'. We don't always have to accept it without making a fuss, and for sure sending LOTS OF FEEDBACK.

Here is how to remove the Liquid Glass effect in iOS 26

1. Start on your iPhone home screen (locked)
2. Tap and hold on your Home Screen
3. Tap "Customize"
4. Tap the time and the customize option screen will pop up
5. At the bottom of your screen you can toggle from "Glass" to "Solid"
6. Then tap the "x" or anywhere else on the screen
7. Finally select "Done" in the top right hand corner of your screen

AngeloG_SP wrote:

This suggestion only addresses the glass effect in the lock screen clock. I want this liquid glass BANISHED from my device and any other device. Let’s focus on iPhone. I want it gone. Liquid glass is trash! How do I switch it back to normal format?

What you want is not possible.

Have you reviewed this article? It has many tips on how to adjust Liquid Glass and has even been updated for iOS 26.2. It covers more than just the lock screen.

Liquid Glass - Love It Or Hate It - It's … - Apple Community

You can also let Apple know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

BartelsMedia wrote:

I already reduced transparency but it still looks broken to my eyes. it is distracting and overly unpleasant.

How to switch off LiquidGlass entirely, please?

There is no on/off switch for liquid glass. If you've reduced transparency, that's all you can do.

I quite like it and with all things which change it often takes time to adjust when things look different. But adjust you'll need to do.

AppleAnswerDude wrote:

1. Here is how to remove the Liquid Glass effect in iOS 26

Start on your iPhone home screen (locked)

2. Tap and hold on your Home Screen

3. Tap "Customize"

4. Tap the time and the customize option screen will pop up

5. At the bottom of your screen you can toggle from "Glass" to "Solid"

6. Then tap the "x" or anywhere else on the screen

7. Finally select "Done" in the top right hand corner of your screen

This is fine, but really only affects the lock screen, not the home screen as it relates to the liquid glass effect overall.

AngeloG_SP wrote:

This suggestion only addresses the glass effect in the lock screen clock. I want this liquid glass BANISHED from my device and any other device. Let’s focus on iPhone. I want it gone. Liquid glass is trash! How do I switch it back to normal format?

It's not going to be gone. You can pout, stamp your feet, complain or anything you want, but Liquid Glass is built into the very fiber of iOS and while you can change many of the effects as detailed in my user tip, which you should read ALL the way through --> Liquid Glass - Love It Or Hate It - It's … - Apple Community

Surely, you can find a way to make things work better for you after trying the options I detailed?

Diamond-Carrots wrote:

I agree, the new UI is really hard on the eyes, and the weird effects that come into play when you turn on the accessibility settings is very unpleasant!

Tell Apple:

Product Feedback - Apple

Marocr wrote:

Agreed. Liquid Glass is atrocious! There must be a way to disable this mess. Did any one consider those who have visual impairment? I say NO. Come on Apple. Find the solution.

if you had read the other threads….

Settings, Accessibility, Display & Text size, reduce transparency

Settings, Accessibility, Display & Text size , increase contrast

Settings, Accessibility, Motion, Reduce motion

Apple’s user base is literally over 1 billion. Making a user interface perfectly compatible for every user is literally impossible. Apple will make changes (or not make changes) based partially on the feedback they receive through their official channel, linked below and good luck.

Product Feedback - Apple

Re: IOS slow or increased battery usage?

Here's what Apple and some Trade Press have to say:

Performance and battery impact

Apple’s hardware and software are designed together to deliver great performance and great battery life. As new features and improvements are added, they can change the way we use our devices, as you explore and utilize these new capabilities. Here are some important things to keep in mind:

Immediately after completing an update, particularly a major release, you might notice a temporary impact on battery life and thermal performance. This is normal, as your device needs time to complete the setup process in the background, including indexing data and files for search, downloading new assets, and updating apps. 

New features are exciting and help you get even more out of your Apple product, though some may require additional resources from the device. Depending on individual usage, some users may notice a small impact on performance and/or battery life. Apple continually works to optimize these features in software updates to ensure great battery life and a smooth user experience.

from:

About Apple software updates - Apple Support

The main takeaway? After installing iOS 26, or any other major software update, there will be an initial period of additional background processing that puts a strain on your device. This should be a non-issue after the first couple days.

from:

https://9to5mac.com/2025/09/15/apple-explains-why-ios-26-could-affect-your-iphones-battery-life/

I advise don’t update to 26 stay on 18.6 etc. there is no going back. It is very challenging. I think it was a mistake that they did. I don’t know many users that are happy about the update. It would be wise of Apple to give an option to continue to run 18 and get updates and security patches and not migrate to 26.

I did not buy a new device because of 26. I just returned an iPad and kept my old one running, 18.6 etc.

So sad!

😭

Exactly, you get the point if you are visually challenged, it makes it impossible to use their devices. I concur. I don’t believe they thought it is form without function. If you are visually challenged, it makes it absolutely impossible to use it as a viable device.

I can deal with most of the Liquid Glass issues, but I cannot tolerate the sub-screen when I am dialing my phone, with Favorites/REcents/Contacts/Keypad/Voicemail. It cover-up the delete button and the "dial" button. It's totally nuts. I haven't seen anyone address this issue. Talk about "Accessibility". I spent half an hour trying to call a phone number and I can't do it because of this outrageously dysfunctional "feature".

This suggestion only addresses the glass effect in the lock screen clock. I want this liquid glass BANISHED from my device and any other device. Let’s focus on iPhone. I want it gone. Liquid glass is trash! How do I switch it back to normal format?

adrianpiwo wrote:

Every! real „physical“ person I know is upset about Liquid Glass

And every "real, physical person" I know isn't bothered in the least by Liquid Glass. ALL of my friends and co-workers use me as their Apple Support person, after being on this forum for more than 15 years. While I've helped many with some of the settings changes I detailed in this user tip I authored --> Liquid Glass - Love It Or Hate It - It's … - Apple Community, no one I know who is on Liquid Glass (and I know a LOT) are unhappy at all. Many actually like it, as do I.

On a final note, I'm in my 70s as are a LOT of my friends. It's safe to say our vision isn't what it was when we were much younger and Liquid Glass isn't causing us visibility issues as many here claim it does.