Not Vibing with Liquid Glass in iOS 26? Here’s How to Make It Easier on the Eyes

With the release of iOS 26, Apple introduced one of the most striking visual updates to iPhones and iPads in years—Liquid Glass. Designed to bring a more fluid, reflective aesthetic to the operating system, Liquid Glass merges dynamic visual layers with a surreal, almost sci-fi-inspired sheen. While some users have embraced the sleek and futuristic design, others find it intrusive, eye-straining, or just outright distracting.

So, if you’ve updated to iOS 26 and find yourself wincing instead of wowing every time the Liquid Glass interface sweeps across your screen, don’t worry. You’re not alone, and—thankfully—you don’t have to stick with it. Apple has rolled out customization options and workarounds that can help make the display more comfortable for you. Let’s explore what Liquid Glass is, why some users might find it challenging, and most importantly, how to tweak your settings to improve the experience.

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What Is Liquid Glass?

Liquid Glass is Apple’s latest design framework for the iOS user interface. As the name suggests, the design mimics the appearance of liquid and glass, combining glossy transparency with realistic reflections. Elements like background gradients, app icons, and notification banners shimmer and morph depending on light and motion.

Here’s what makes Liquid Glass notable:

• Dynamic motion: The interface reacts fluidly to your interactions and tilts, offering a sense of depth.

• Enhanced transparency: Similar to frosted glass, layers in the design reveal blurred elements behind them, enhancing a sense of space.

• Vivid color adaption: The palette shifts depending on your wallpaper and surroundings, creating a tailored visual experience.

While undeniably innovative, this design isn’t perfect for everyone. For some users, increased visual motion or glare from the reflective elements can lead to discomfort or even headaches. Additionally, the color-adaptive transparency can make certain backgrounds feel too “busy,” impairing readability.

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Why Some Users Are Struggling with Liquid Glass

Not all users experience the new visual features the same way. Here are the most common concerns with Liquid Glass:

• Eye strain: The glossy, reflective design can strain your eyes, especially with extended use or bright lighting conditions.

• Motion sensitivity: Dynamic features like moving reflections and layered animations may feel overwhelming, particularly for users with motion sensitivity issues.

• Reduced readability: Lightweight, translucent elements might make text or app visuals harder to distinguish.

• Distracting aesthetics: To some, the design seems more like eye candy than a functional improvement, especially on smaller screens.

For users who prioritize simplicity and clarity over visual pizzazz, Liquid Glass can be a frustrating update. Fortunately, Apple has provided options to ease the impact or disable certain features entirely.

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How to Make Liquid Glass Easier on the Eyes

Now, let’s get into the practical side of things. Here are several steps you can take to enhance usability while staying within the iOS 26 ecosystem.

#### 1. Reduce Motion Effects

For visually sensitive users, Liquid Glass’s constant movement can be draining. To reduce this:

• Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion.

• Enable Reduce Motion.

This will limit animations and parallax effects, making navigation smoother and more stable.

#### 2. Adjust Transparency

Transparent or semi-transparent UI elements play a big role in Liquid Glass’s design. But if these make your screen too busy, you can dial them back:

• Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.

• Toggle on Reduce Transparency.

This will replace Liquid Glass effects with more solid, opaque visuals, reverting your interface to a simpler and more classic look.

#### 3. Modify Color Settings

iOS 26 uses dynamic colors to adapt the interface to its environment, but some users may find the constant changes overwhelming. To opt for a more subdued palette:

• Open Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.

• Turn on Color Filters and experiment with the options to find one that works for you. Grayscale, for example, eliminates color distractions entirely.

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#### 4. Enable Dark Mode

For users who feel that the vibrancy of Liquid Glass is too harsh, reverting to Dark Mode can be a game-changer:

• Go to Settings > Display & Brightness.

• Select Dark to reduce glare and switch to a darker color scheme that softens the Liquid Glass effects.

Alternatively, enable Auto Dark Mode to activate it during evening hours or low-light conditions automatically.

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#### 5. Use a Milder Wallpaper

Liquid Glass adapts its color tone and reflectivity based on your wallpaper. By switching to a minimalist or darker background, you can naturally tone down its intensity.

• Navigate to Settings > Wallpaper > Choose a New Wallpaper.

• Opt for a simple or solid color wallpaper to reduce visual noise.

Additionally, disabling the dynamic wallpaper option can help minimize motion effects across the interface.

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#### 6. Scale Down the Display

If you’re squinting at tiny, semi-transparent UI components, it may help to adjust the display settings:

• Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Display Zoom.

• Change from Standard to Zoomed for larger, more accessible elements.

This is especially helpful on smaller screens or for users who feel eye strain due to finer details in Liquid Glass.

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How to Disable Liquid Glass Entirely

While there isn’t a single toggle to “turn Liquid Glass off,” combining the above adjustments can effectively minimize its impact. If you stick with Reduce Motion, Reduce Transparency, and a simplified wallpaper, you’ll achieve an interface that feels closer to pre-iOS 26 versions.

However, if you’re looking for a more drastic solution, you could consider rolling back to iOS 25 (while it remains digitally signed) until you’re more comfortable with Apple’s next update cycle. Be cautious, though—downgrading can result in potential software incompatibilities.

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Is Liquid Glass the Future of iOS?

While Liquid Glass has its critics, it represents Apple’s commitment to pushing design innovation in personal devices. It’s clear that the tech giant is embracing dynamic, nature-inspired aesthetics to stand apart in an increasingly competitive market. However, as with any new design trend, Apple will likely refine Liquid Glass visuals in future updates to address user feedback.

For those who prefer functionality over form, Apple’s extensive accessibility options make it possible to personalize Liquid Glass—or even bypass many of its features—with just a little effort.

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Key Takeaways

• Liquid Glass in iOS 26 offers a visually stunning, futuristic UI but may not suit everyone’s preferences.

• Users who experience discomfort can leverage iOS’s customization features, such as Reduce Motion, Reduce Transparency, and Dark Mode, to make the interface more user-friendly.

• Subtle changes, like using a simpler wallpaper or scaling up display settings, can significantly enhance usability.

• There is no single toggle to disable Liquid Glass entirely, but combining adjustments can create a more manageable experience while still benefiting from iOS 26’s functionality.

Apple’s vision for Liquid Glass is undeniably bold, but it’s not without its learning curve. With these tips, you can make the most of the new design—or at least make it easier on your eyes—until Apple’s next iteration finds the right balance between form and function. Happy tweaking!