How to disable liquid glass in iOS 26?

I think that lots of people post general comments on these Apple issues, because, face it, a Community Forum that is strictly limited to Support Questions is pretty rare. Most such forums are fine with soliciting and giving help, or course. But also fine with the users having some leeway to talk about things they like or dislike. Usually, as long as it stays mostly relevant and talking about anything Apple is doing with OUR phones, is relevant. And in those cases, those forums are often monitored by someone from whichever said company is involved.

QuiGonJohn wrote:

I think that lots of people post general comments on these Apple issues, because, face it, a Community Forum that is strictly limited to Support Questions is pretty rare. Most such forums are fine with soliciting and giving help, or course. But also fine with the users having some leeway to talk about things they like or dislike. Usually, as long as it stays mostly relevant and talking about anything Apple is doing with OUR phones, is relevant. And in those cases, those forums are often monitored by someone from whichever said company is involved.

Hello~ I think that lots of users perhaps skip over these two bits of information when posting here…

Apple Support Communities Use Agreement

Community etiquette guidelines

Take care.

~Katana-San~

QuiGonJohn wrote:

I think that lots of people post general comments on these Apple issues, because, face it, a Community Forum that is strictly limited to Support Questions is pretty rare. Most such forums are fine with soliciting and giving help, or course. But also fine with the users having some leeway to talk about things they like or dislike. Usually, as long as it stays mostly relevant and talking about anything Apple is doing with OUR phones, is relevant. And in those cases, those forums are often monitored by someone from whichever said company is involved.

And people do have that leeway, as can be seen by the number of complaints in this thread. However, that leeway also extends to other users pointing out the folly of trying to tell Apple anything from these forums. Or of giving concrete suggestions.

Every time there is an update I have to hunt down all these settings and fix them again to turn off the horrible Liquid Glass. Either Apple doesn’t do usability testing with older users or they just don’t want us buying their products. At the very least there should be one setting that completely turns off Liquid Glass.

You do know that you are posting to a user-to-user site......correct?

And you do know that we are all users here.....just like you.....correct?

And you know that Apple will never see your post here or reply here....correct?

All of these things were detailed in the Terms of Use Agreement....which you signed to use this site.

Why are you telling other users what you think Apple should do?

Wouldn't it make more sense for you to tell Apple what you think Apple should do?

If you agree......you can use this link to tell Apple.....Find Locations

At the very least, Apple could make the further updates to v26 such that they RETAIN settings a user did. So people would not have to go in and change all the various settings that affect Liquid Glass (make it more like previous versions).

QuiGonJohn wrote:

At the very least, Apple could make the further updates to v26 such that they RETAIN settings a user did. So people would not have to go in and change all the various settings that affect Liquid Glass (make it more like previous versions).

I've been on iOS 26, since it was released and not once on any update all the way through the current iOS 26.4.1 has an update changed any of the settings on my iPhone, iPad Pro or MacBook Pro. If settings are changing on your iPhone, something isn't right. After an update, do your Force Restart (I do after every iOS update) --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support

OK thanks. I only commented because of a prior post that the person said every time they get an update, they have to reset all kinds of things to make the Liquid Glass tolerable. Haven't checked what happens on my wife's phone. And I am still on iOS 18.7.2. Refuse to upgrade until I am forced to, due to something that my phone won't do, but I actually "need", unless I upgrade. I really hate the constant barage of updates. If it's not Apple, it's nearly every App developer. Apparently their coders have NO SKILLS and can NEVER get the App right, ergo, constant updates.

QuiGonJohn wrote:

OK thanks. I only commented because of a prior post that the person said every time they get an update, they have to reset all kinds of things to make the Liquid Glass tolerable. Haven't checked what happens on my wife's phone. And I am still on iOS 18.7.2. Refuse to upgrade until I am forced to, due to something that my phone won't do, but I actually "need", unless I upgrade. I really hate the constant barage of updates. If it's not Apple, it's nearly every App developer. Apparently their coders have NO SKILLS and can NEVER get the App right, ergo, constant updates.

That day will be coming. In January, any iPhone which is capable of updating to iOS 26, which isn't updated will lose access to some features, like Face Time and iMessage, which for most people are essential services.

This year, we've seen fewer updates than in years past. iOS 26 has been incredibly stable. But updates will continue to come as updates don't just bring new features, they include very important bug fixes and security updates, which you are not getting by not updating. Your choice of course, but not a choice I would honestly be willing to make. I'd prefer to have the best protection and bug fixes available to me.

Ah see. First of all, I don't want feature upgrades. I'm fine with things as they are. Secondly, you mention bug fixes. That just means the programmers don't code it right to begin with. If Apple is so intent on my using the phone, the way THEY want, looking like THEY want, then why don't they just give me the darn thing.

QuiGonJohn wrote:

Ah see. First of all, I don't want feature upgrades. I'm fine with things as they are. Secondly, you mention bug fixes. That just means the programmers don't code it right to begin with. If Apple is so intent on my using the phone, the way THEY want, looking like THEY want, then why don't they just give me the darn thing.

Huh? There is no such thing as software which is totally bug free. Not on iOS, Android, Windows or for that matter any operating system. You're expectation is unrealistic. Clearly, you're not a software engineer? I don't care if you ever update your phone. It's your phone. Do as you want with it. But come January, you're going to lose access to services whether you like it or not.

I don't see the point to this conversation. No one here on this user to user only forum is in any way associated with Apple. Apple isn't here, doesn't respond here, nor read for user feedback. If you feel Apple isn't doing a good enough job, tell them, not us. You can use this link --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

emcgowen wrote:

Either Apple doesn’t do usability testing with older users or they just don’t want us buying their products.

I agree with lobsterghost1. Please don't assume that all "older users" dislike Liquid Glass or are in any other way a group with one unified set of preferences and abilities.

At the very least there should be one setting that completely turns off Liquid Glass.

Where that's really needed is Accessibility. Very often people make changes in those settings without fully understanding the implications. This can lead to their phones being almost unusable.

iPhoneSE6yearsold wrote:

Well you can technically reduce the Liquid Glass effect by setting it to transparent in settings > Display and brightness > Liquid Glass but you cannot disable Liquid Glass completely.

You do realize you responded to a post from September 2025, right? It was the very first post in this thread, which is now 40 pages long, so it's highly likely the Author of the thread is pretty aware of what can be done with Liquid Glass. It's a good idea to check the date of a post you respond to.

even these "fixes" and work-arounds are not enough. Ever since the 26.x updates and the nightmare of Liquid Glass i have been experiencing extreme eyestrain, headaches, and if I use my phone for too long nausea and vomiting.

I can use my other (android) phone all day with no issues, no issues with PC's or anything else but I now have to take breaks from the iPhone every ten to fifteen minutes or I start to get severe headaches and pain.

I don't understand why Apple can't make a simple switch to disable these extreme graphical features - the motion, the blurry text and edges, its just too much.

Be aware that Android 17 is coming and will be including the same blur and transparency effects, if not more according to the article here. Of course some will hate it and there is no indication of a switch that will turn it off there either as it is a fundamental UI design choice built into the OS. I would expect similar settings like found with Liquid Glass to tone down those effects, but so far there is no indication of what that would entail.

https://www.androidauthority.com/android-17-blur-effects-images-3635155/