After weeks of testing, Apple has released the final versions of Update 26.1 for its various operating systems. These include iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, VisionOS and the HomePod operating system, which moved to a new, unified year-based version numbering system this fall.
This isn't the first update these operating systems have received since their release in September, but it is the first to add significant changes and tweaks to existing features, eliminating early complaints and bugs that inevitably crop up with any major operating system update.
One of the biggest changes on most platforms is new transparency control for liquid glass this softens it without completely turning off the effect. Users can leave the default Transparent view for a crisper, glassier look that lets you see more of the content beneath the liquid glass, or the new Tinted view for a more opaque background that reveals only vague shapes and colors for improved readability.
For iPad users, the update re-adds updated version of Slide Over multitasking modewhich uses quick swipes to launch and close a separate app on top of the apps you're already using. The iPadOS 26 version looks a little different and includes some functional changes compared to the previous version: It's now harder to switch which app is being used in Slide Over, but the Slide Over window can now be moved and resized like any other iPadOS 26 app window.
