Apple's new Liquid Glass user interface design has become one of the most notable and divisive features of this year's major software updates. It adds extra smoothness and transparency to iOS, iPadOS, macOS and other Apple operating systems. as we noted in our reviewsThe default settings were not always easy to read.
The upcoming 26.1 update for all of these OSes takes a step towards addressing some of the complaints, although it doesn't change the default appearance of Liquid Glass. Rather, the update adds a new toggle that will allow users to choose between a clear and tinted look for liquid glass, with “Transparent” presenting the default appearance and “Tinted” increasing the opacity and contrast.
The Tinted switch fogs the glass, maintaining a hint of translucency.
Andrew Cunningham
The Tinted switch fogs the glass, maintaining a hint of translucency.
Andrew Cunningham
Glass view of notifications by default in iOS 26.
The Tinted switch fogs the glass, maintaining a hint of translucency.
Andrew Cunningham
In macOS 26.1, the switch behaved less consistently, but here's an example of the glass view in the Photos app.
Andrew Cunningham
In macOS 26.1, the switch behaved less consistently, but here's an example of the glass view in the Photos app.
Andrew Cunningham
And the same user interface with the Tint switch enabled.
Andrew Cunningham
And the same user interface with the Tint switch enabled.
Andrew Cunningham
In macOS 26.1, the switch behaved less consistently, but here's an example of the glass view in the Photos app.
Andrew Cunningham
And the same user interface with the Tint switch enabled.
Andrew Cunningham
The new toggle adds a half-step between the default visual settings and a “reduce transparency” setting that, in addition to changing a bunch of other things about the operating system's appearance, is hidden further down in the accessibility options. The Tint switch makes colors and blurry shapes visible under glass panels, maintaining the overall look of liquid glass while erring on the side of contrast and visibility, where the “reduce transparency” setting is more of a blunt all-or-nothing tool.
