Apple has introduced a new feature that makes it easy to customize Liquid Glass to your liking. Now, users will be able to clear or tint the look of Liquid Glass with a new setting included in the latest beta update of its mobile and desktop operating systems.
The addition indicates that Apple is listening closely to user feedback in these early days of the iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26 public launches. Apples prefer to go through more significant changes, but it will often offer a fallback option for those who find it difficult to adjust.
That’s what happened in 2021 when Apple moved the Safari address to the bottom of the screen After some user backlash for the then-controversial decision, the iPhone maker added an option to move the bar back to the top of the screen. (Apple, we’ll admit, was right to move; the bar’s position is better when it’s within easy reach of your thumbs.)
Now, Apple is taking a similar approach with Liquid Glass.
The new user interface that ships with iOS 26 and other Apple operating systems is the company’s biggest design overhaul since it reverted from skeuomorphic to flat design in 2013.
Some have said that the liquid glass design makes parts of the interface difficult to read, including notifications or navigation controls in apps like Apple Music and others. Others said they liked Liquid Glass’ attention to detail and its new look, which felt like a more modern update to an interface that had grown stale over the years.
Liquid Glass
In another potentially divisive reaction, Apple is now returning some control over the look of Liquid Glass to users.
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New feature, identified by first 9 to 5 MaciOS 26.1 has arrived in beta 4 and accompanying updates for tablets and desktop computers
Reached for comment, Apple told TechCrunch that, during this summer’s beta period, it heard from some users who wanted an option to set a more opaque look for Liquid Glass. This new setting that allows users to personalize Liquid Glass is available in iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1 and macOS 26.1.
To access the feature, beta users can go to the “Display & Brightness” menu under Settings to find the added Liquid Glass menu option. On Mac, it’s under “Appearance” in System Settings The control lets you select between two options, clear and colored. The latter increases the opacity of interface elements, making them easier to see.
While some users suggested a slider that would allow them to control the opacity more precisely, Apple opted for a toggle where it specifies two levels of color that users can choose from. This makes it easy for third-party developers to test how their apps look under different settings.
Apple told TechCrunch that any developers who have already applied Liquid Glass to their apps will automatically have the user preference applied. Developers are now able to test it in the 26.1 developer beta.
After selecting their preferred option, users will now see changes to playback controls, notifications on the lock screen, and user interface elements such as apps from Apple and third-party developers.
While the beta feature arrived for developers today, the public beta should arrive in the next few days before the larger public release.
