WEB DESK: Apple has rolled out a major visual update with iOS 26, introducing a design called Liquid Glass. This new look gives the iPhone Home Screen a layered, transparent effect. It makes app icons and other elements appear like sheets of glass, adding depth and motion that respond as you move the phone.
The default icons for Apple apps like Safari, Maps, Photos, and the App Store now use this Liquid Glass style. Many third-party apps also fit the new look, especially those with simple graphics and solid backgrounds. No update is needed for these, as they already match the new theme.
The dock and search button are now transparent and blend into your wallpaper. Folders have a frosted glass look that changes colour based on your background. When you edit the Home Screen, the buttons and other UI parts stay semi-transparent. These elements also shift slightly in lighting, adding a sense of movement and realism.
Custom modes for every style
iOS 26 gives you more control with four visual modes: Default (previously Light), Dark, Tinted, and Clear. Tinted mode changes icons to bold colours with white graphics. In Dark Mode, those colours become deeper but not fully black.
Clear mode goes further. Icons become almost see-through and reflect the colours of your wallpaper, with only white text and outlines showing. There are Light and Dark versions of Clear. The Light version looks like frosted glass, while the Dark version has a tinted finish. If you want your iPhone to look completely different, Clear mode is the most dramatic option.
Other visual updates
Widgets mostly keep their old look, but with Clear mode, they become transparent and better match your wallpaper. You can now edit your Home Screen wallpaper directly by long-pressing and choosing “Edit Wallpaper”. You can pick a photo, gradient, or solid colour, and turn image blur on or off.
Control Center also gets the Liquid Glass effect. The icons are a bit larger and rounder, with a frosted glass appearance. The layout stays the same, but it now matches the rest of the system visually.
Smaller changes, better flow
App Library icons are slightly larger, with less space between them. Folders and the search bar are now translucent. The Dynamic Island, long-press gestures, and Notification Center have minor aesthetic tweaks but no major changes.
One final upgrade: any website added to your Home Screen now opens as a standalone web app by default. You can turn this off if you prefer to open the site in Safari.
iOS 26 gives the iPhone a fresh, modern look while keeping the core experience familiar.
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