Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- According to Tech Advisor, Apple’s iOS 27 update will enable users to modify or deactivate the contentious ‘Liquid Glass’ interface effects in response to varied user feedback.
- The semi-transparent design element, while appealing to some, has led to readability challenges with notifications and interface components for numerous iPhone users.
- iOS 27 is set to launch in September for iPhone 11 and newer models, providing customization options through Display & Brightness settings and accessibility features.
Apple’s 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) began last night with its keynote address. Among the significant announcements were new online protections for children, assurances that Siri AI will soon be able to perform many tasks similar to Gemini (albeit on a limited number of models and not in the EU), and the surprising decision to exclude several Apple Watch models from the WatchOS update list. Quite the surprise!
Interestingly, Apple chose to highlight design news at the event, even though it wasn’t entirely new information.
During the keynote, Apple acknowledged that Liquid Glass, the brand’s most significant software interface redesign since iOS 7 in 2013, has not been universally well-received. To address this, iOS 27 will include features that let users adjust the design to suit their preferences.
Apple’s Director of Human Interface, Shubham Kedia, stated: “Like with all major design updates, there’s a natural process where we take a bold leap forward and then we continue to iterate.”
While that explanation is somewhat plausible, Kedia further remarked: “Now we’re making some additional refinements, starting with updating the foundations of how Liquid Glass is built.”
This statement raises questions. “Additional refinements” and “updating the foundations” are not exactly synonymous. The former implies minor tweaks, while the latter suggests a fundamental overhaul, which is essentially what Apple is undertaking.
Liquid Glass, as the name implies, gives screens and icons a glassy appearance, along with a semi-transparent, floating effect for interactive elements. However, some users report that it makes the display blurry or notifications difficult to read.
Consequently, Apple is introducing a slider and additional settings in iOS 27 that will allow users to enhance Liquid Glass effects—or more likely, reduce them significantly or disable them entirely.
This approach is more about giving users the option to disregard the Liquid Glass feature altogether, rather than refining the design.
iOS 27 is scheduled for release this September for eligible iPhones (iPhone 11 and newer, including the iPhone SE second and third generations), coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 18 series. The update is currently in the developer beta phase.
How to turn off Liquid Glass in the meantime
While it’s not yet possible to fully disable Liquid Glass effects, there are a couple of ways to reduce the glassy appearance.
Here’s what you can do:
Change your accessibility settings
Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size, and then enable Reduce Transparency.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Be aware that this adjustment will affect other display aspects, so it may not be the ideal solution for everyone.
Change your display settings
There’s an alternative method:
Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass. Switch from Clear to Tinted.
This should at least improve the readability of notifications.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
iOS 27 will debut alongside the new iPhone 18 series this September. Stay tuned for more details on the upcoming iPhone 18 models.
