can you undo the recent recent “glass” update? I am finding it impossible to work with and I wish I could just undo it and go back to the one right before this one. If I had known it was this bad, I wouldn’t ever have installed it. Now I don’t know what to do. I am trying to run a business with an “update” that is impossible to work with.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: New update is impossible
iPad Pro, iPadOS 26
Rolling-back to an earlier version of iOS/iPadOS is not possible. All System Updates are digitally signed by Apple - and can only be installed whilst the digital signatures remain valid. After release of a new iOS/iPadOS version, the digital signatures of the preceding version are revoked within days, preventing reinstallation of the earlier version.
As mentioned by Mac Jim ID, iOS/iPadOS 26.1 introduced a new setting that subtly charges the appearance of Liquid Glass:
Settings > Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass - select Clear or Tinted
Sadly, for iPad, this new setting makes very little difference for those that struggle with both the appearance and overlapping screen elements introduced with Liquid Glass - an issue that is often not understood by those that don't have or regularly use an iPad. While iOS for iPhone and iPadOS for iPad are closely related, some features can have substantial differences in how they appear on related devices.
If you are experiencing difficulty with the new Liquid Glass UI, there are other settings that can significantly improve the appearance and suppress the majority of unwanted effects:
Each if these settings can be used individually, or in combination. Setting Reduce Transparency alone (1) will likely suppress the majority of your issues. The Reduce Motion setting (3), if used, will eliminate the "lensing" effects of the Liquid Glass UI. Experiment; you should find a combination that works for you.
I suggest that you begin with setting Reduce Transparency to ON - and then, if needed, experiment with additional use of one or more of the other options.
NB: The new Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass setting can only be changed/toggled while Reduce Transparency is set to OFF. You might find that setting Liquid Glass to Clear, prior to enabling Reduced Transparency to ON, may give the best result.
Liquid Glass is here to stay - and will likely evolve throughout the lifespan of iPadOS 26. Hopefully, Apple will provide additional controls with which to selectively eliminate some aspects of the new UI to better meet the functional and visual needs of the wider user population. Liquid Glass is very "pretty" - but for some is arguably form over function, reducing legibility and usability.
I am sorry to hear liquid glass is here to stay……. Sometimes developers do what they want without thinking of the users who ‘HAVE’ to adapt to their dreams. I do not like this new feature and prob never will
thinking about moving back to a reg dos laptop……. Horrible update 26.1
Highly dislike the new Liquid Glass update but now I’m stuck
Apple please get rid of it
even changing settings makes it much harder to see
terrible new isn’t always better give me an option for this function
ON/OFF Button Liquid Glass
Bronco77 wrote:
This new update has made my email unmanageable, I loved the previous versions that looked the same for years!
Are you using the native Apple Mail App - or some other App? While there have been some minor visual enhancements to the Mail App, its functionality is largely unchanged.
In what manner has your email become "unmanageable"?
KellyR1969 wrote:
agree with this! Worst update they have done so far
What’s really amusing is that after every one of the19 major updates and hundreds of “point” updates there are always a few posts that say "Worst update they have done so far"
Lawrence Finch wrote:
What’s really amusing is that after every one of the19 major updates and hundreds of “point” updates there are always a few posts that say "Worst update they have done so far"
Yep! Nothing new there. Could you imagine making dinner for millions of people? I would expect the same "Worst dinner they have done so far" comments from those few. I know that would not be acceptable in my household.
What is even funnier is that even when iOS 18 was released there were those same posts of people you said they hated it, yet now that is the one that those few want to go back too. Not possible to make everyone happy, and I am not even sure they know what they want!
ALo1234 wrote:
I agree with KellyR…. Terrible update!! About to go get an Android! I am over apple!
Buy whatever you want. No one on this user to user only forum cares what you purchase. But if you think Andoid doesn't change their operating system on an annual basis, you'll be hugely disappointed to learn they do. And Android has been rolling out Material Design 3 on their devices with many of the same design elements included in Liquid Glass. Feel free to visit the Android forums, where their users are threatening to move to iPhone.
The simple fact is with an installed user base of more than 1.5 Billion users, it's impossible for Apple to create any operating system which makes everyone happy.
Still, enjoy your Android if you think it's a better option for you.
ALo1234 wrote:
About to go get an Android!
Some Cell providers are giving them away for free, check with yours. Also here is the Android Support forum that may be helpful in your research for what you may expect.
Mac Jim ID wrote:
Also here is the Android Support forum that may be helpful in your research for what you may expect.
Android Support
Basically, Android appears to be not working.
So, if anyone wants to switch to Android, go ahead. You’ll be back. 😉
Smiliñ 😎 Brian
I don’t like the little bubbles that they now let you choose. I want to be able to have just 3 equal rectangular blocks in order to do the work that I do. It is much harder for me now. I would like to be able to revert back to the way it was before this mislabeled “upgrade”.
Londasuefromnc wrote:
I don’t like the little bubbles that they now let you choose. I want to be able to have just 3 equal rectangular blocks in order to do the work that I do. It is much harder for me now. I would like to be able to revert back to the way it was before this mislabeled “upgrade”.
Huh? What bubbles are you referring to? Take a screenshot and show us otherwise, we'd just have to guess what you mean.
My screen size is reduced and I am unable to consistently use a full screen. I have an iPad so that the view is larger and this recent update has made it smaller. Also since the screen is not “full” the area around the exterior of the view is very distracting. We should be able to opt in or out for an update. Updates are recommended for SECURITY reasons, and ultimately we end up with features we don’t like.
I have been unhappy with several updates, however this is the first that has prompted me to voice a concern.
mloding wrote:
My screen size is reduced and I am unable to consistently use a full screen. I have an iPad so that the view is larger and this recent update has made it smaller. Also since the screen is not “full” the area around the exterior of the view is very distracting. We should be able to opt in or out for an update. Updates are recommended for SECURITY reasons, and ultimately we end up with features we don’t like.
I have been unhappy with several updates, however this is the first that has prompted me to voice a concern.
iPad OS 26 and the newest iPad OS 26.2.1 most certainly didn't reduce the size of our screens. I think you may be the only person I can recall saying it did. Can you show us a photo of what you're seeing?
Everything about this Apple update has made navigating my phone way harder. Why change things like this?
please can Apple revert or do something where we can choose! I am almost tempted to change my phone to android!
Justanotherperson12 wrote:
I hope this gets attention.
If that is the reason you are posting on someone else’s thread, then you are sadly mistaken.
Here at the Apple Support Community, we are volunteers (thoughtful Apple users) who share knowledge in an effort to help others, such as yourself.
We don’t have the power to look into accounts, make changes, authorize repairs, offer discounts, change the operating system or any reverse an upgrade to fit your needs.
I wish you the best, but you need to provide ⇢ Product Feedback.
Thanks again for sharing your concerns with us. Your feedback is appreciated. 👍🏼
All the best! 👋🏼😉
Justanotherperson12 wrote:
The new update was installed on my iPhone 11 (26.3) and it has been an absolute nightmare.
"Was installed?" An update can only be installed if 1) you do it manually or 2) you've enabled auto-update. So, this isn't something that was inflicted on you by someone else. If you are change-averse, make sure auto-update is turned off.
How do I revert to the previous update?
