App icons appear blurry and distorted on iOS 26

Question

Level 1

4 points

App icons appear blurry and distorted on iOS 26

Hi, I don’t know if I’m just stupid or not but apple support couldn’t figure it out so I’m asking, how do I un-blur my app icons on ios 26? They’re giving me a headache, it’s only some icons, things like Pokemon Go are fine but Youtube isn’t. It’s like it has a weird bubbly outline that’s less visible on the bottom half, shadows added for no reason at random places, and a gradient at the bottom that males it feel like I’m looking through fog. I thought I could use shortcuts to change things to old icons but it does it to shortcut icons too! It looks fine in the shortcuts preview but once it gets to the home screen it’s blurry! I turned off the liquid glass nonsense and the apps are set to default I don’t know what else to do other than like make all my icons shortcuts with a plane black icon until it’s fixed

[Edited by Moderator]

iPhone 16, iOS 26

Posted on Feb 3, 2026 6:52 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jeff Donald

Level 8

45,972 points

Feb 3, 2026 9:56 AM in response to Thomas Cloer

Are the icons involved all third party apps? If so, the developers of the third party app(s) need to update their icons to higher resolution, it’s not an Apple issue.

You may need to delete the third party app and download fresh copies from the Apple App Store.

Reply

Answer 2

Jeff Donald

Level 8

45,972 points

Feb 3, 2026 9:58 AM in response to DragonMaker

You may have a focus mode set. Focus modes may use simple lock screens unless a different screen is selected. Do you have any Focus Modes set?

Reply

Answer 3

Jeff Donald

Level 8

45,972 points

Feb 3, 2026 7:37 AM in response to DragonMaker

What device are you using? Take a look at this article.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250010041

Disabling some features may correct the issue.

Reply

Answer 4

DragonMaker Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 3, 2026 7:50 AM in response to Jeff Donald

Using an iphone 16, tried everything in that article already and nothing seems to change the blurriness of the icons. Did learn about the lockscreen clock customisation from that though, thanks. The new update turns off my lock screen wallpaper/turns it black without my consent at night (no idea how to fix that either) but also turns the clock black so I can’t see the time, hopefully the bright purple I just changed it to will stay past nightfall

Reply

Answer 5

DragonMaker Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 6, 2026 7:54 PM in response to Jeff Donald

Just off my home screen, FaceTime, Photos, Camera, Youtube, Google Docs, Notes, Files, Facebook Messenger, Books, Phone, iTunes, App Store, Teams, Ecosia. Things like Pokemon Go/Sleep/Home and Duolingo, where the icon is a more complicated picture, are all fine. It’s mostly Apple apps that are the problem, and any apps with simpler logos. Shortcuts I make with a simple image (like the youtube logo) get the blur effect added, but I tried making a shortcut with a pokeball icon and that was fine

Reply

Answer 6

DragonMaker Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 6, 2026 7:57 PM in response to Jeff Donald

You’re right, turns out it was Do Not Disturb causing the black lockscreen. Even with a specific wallpaper selected for that it is ALWAYS a black screen, no matter which wallpaper I select, even the default ones. Guess I’ll just get disturbed at night until they fix this lol

Reply

Answer 7

Feb 3, 2026 7:35 AM in response to DragonMaker

Same here. Notable also with 2FAS Auth and Lime on my 17 Pro.

Reply

Answer 8

Feb 3, 2026 9:20 AM in response to Jeff Donald

Not a Liquid Glass issue IMHO, since it only affects a few icons.

Reply