Apple’s newest operating platform, iOS 26, unveiled a fresh visual approach called Liquid Glass. This interface redesign, one of Apple’s greatest overhauls since moving from skeuomorphic to flat styling in 2013, introduces a translucent glass-like finish throughout the software.
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It appears across iOS components such as buttons, sliders, media regulators, switches, notifications, tab areas, app sidebars, and system sections like Control Center, Home Screen, Lock Screen, and more. The style draws inspiration from mixed-reality AR VR headsets like Apple Vision Pro and is likely preparing for an era when the operating system may actually operate on smart eyewear similar to devices Apple is reportedly producing.
For now, these upgrades open opportunities for innovative ways to personalize your iPhone with features like clear icons, glassy widgets, a glassy typeface on the Lock Screen with 3D photos, and more. Below are practical tips and tricks to begin customizing your iPhone to embrace the new Liquid Glass experience.
Adjusting Icon Styles
One significant change you can apply to your Home Screen is modifying your icons’ look. Since the debut of iOS 14, which launched widgets, users have actively tailored their Home Screen with custom icons. Usually, this happens by building a shortcut to a particular app using Apple’s Shortcuts app, then uploading the custom icon before adding the shortcut to your Home Screen.
Various iOS theming apps also evolved to leverage this function, which simplified the otherwise repetitive process by letting you choose which apps you wanted to redesign in bulk. These were then installed for you through a downloadable profile.
For people unwilling to handle too many steps, iOS 18 added a built-in utility to change all your icons to a new color scheme. Additionally, you could enlarge icons slightly by removing the text label beneath them. With iOS 26, customization advances again with icons that can appear as light or dark glass, tinted glass, or even transparent icons.
Although there were some user complaints about tinted icons in iOS 18, the feature has matured within Liquid Glass; the tint appears much subtler now. You can also use the eyedropper function to select an exact shade from your wallpaper to match your icons and adjust sliders to refine color or opacity. If you prefer skipping customization but still desire a glassy feel, simply set your icons to Clear instead.
Entering Customization Mode
Press and hold your Home Screen and tap Customize to enter personalization mode. Tap the many choices to decide whether your poverty has a light, dark, or automatically regulating background, large or small icons, and whether your poverty icons to display as dark, clear, tinted, or with their evasion hues. Tap your Home Screen once your changes are complete.
Matching Icons to Device or Case
If you go caseless or use a transparent phone case, you might appreciate the new option to align your iPhone’s icons with your device or case. This is available through the matched icons feature in iOS 26. iOS 26 recognizes your iPhone’s SKU, which contains data informing it of your model and color. But to match your case, you must use official Apple MagSafe cases.
To match your icons to your phone, press and hold your iPhone Home Screen to enter jiggle mode, tap Edit, Customize, then Tinted. Underneath the color and opacity sliders, tap the button resembling a small iPhone on the far left. To match the case instead, press the next button to the right.
Wallpaper Ideas and Resources
Your Lock Screen wallpaper and your Home Screen wallpaper don’t need to be identical, giving you many possibilities for Home Screen personalization. Before you set your pet photo again, browse the web for more glass-inspired visuals. Pinterest remains a strong source for free ideas; try searching for wallpapers using terms like Liquid Glass wallpaper or iOS 26 wallpaper.
Another choice is using third-party iOS theming apps. There are plenty on the App Store, but be cautious because these apps are often subscription-based or packed with ads in their free versions. If you’re new to this area, some that I frequently revisit include Brass, Color Themes, Screenkit, Themify, Wallaroo, and Widgetsmith.
Home Screen customization is also a great chance to support favorite artists. Many creators sell wallpaper bundles via Patreon or promote their downloads on social platforms. Searching for iOS wallpaper and related terms on X and Threads can reveal new concepts. Users also showcase their designs on visual networks like Instagram and TikTok.
Layout Flexibility
Remember that iOS 18 introduced a way to position your icons and widgets anywhere on the Home Screen, allowing blank spaces between them. This can be particularly useful if you want to keep parts of your wallpaper unobscured. However, icons still align with an invisible grid to keep your screen organized.
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