Transform Your iOS 26 Experience: Simple Tips to Soften the Liquid Glass Design You Dislike

iOS 26 is shaking things up with a fresh design called Liquid Glass. This new look emphasizes transparency, making your display’s content visible through the controls. But if you find the transparency distracting or hard to read, don’t worry! You can make adjustments.

Apple included a handy feature called Reduce Transparency. When you turn it on, it darkens the background in translucent areas like the Control Center and app icons, enhancing contrast. This small change can really improve usability, especially if you want clearer visibility. According to a survey by the American Foundation for the Blind, about 70% of users with visual impairments find high contrast helpful when navigating digital interfaces.

To enable Reduce Transparency, just follow these steps: Open the Settings app, go to Accessibility, select Display and Text Size, and then toggle on Reduce Transparency. For quick access, you can add it to your Accessibility Shortcuts in the Control Center.

It’s important to note that turning on Reduce Transparency doesn’t eliminate all transparency; it gives the interface a more solid feel without changing the basic layout. You won’t lose the new iOS look entirely, just gain a bit more clarity.

Early testers of iOS 26 have shared mixed reactions on social media. While some appreciate the modern aesthetic, others struggle with the readability challenges. Developers are still experimenting with Liquid Glass, and Apple is likely to make tweaks based on user feedback before the final release.

Historically, changes like this often take time for users to adapt to. Think back to the days when iOS switched to flat design in iOS 7. Initially, it was met with skepticism, but over time, many users embraced the change. Experts like UX designer Don Norman argue that while new designs can be jarring, they eventually provide a fresh experience that can enhance user engagement.

If you’re eager to try it out yourself, iOS 26 is currently in developer beta, with a public beta expected in July. A wider launch is anticipated in September, so there’s still time for Apple to refine the experience based on collective feedback.

As always, keeping accessibility in mind is crucial. Apple’s commitment to inclusivity within its interfaces is evident, and they continue to adjust based on user needs. For more details on their accessibility features, check out the [Apple Accessibility page](https://www.apple.com/accessibility/).

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