iOS 26.1 lets you turn down liquid glass’ transparency

Apple has rolled out its latest iOS update, version 26.1, starting Monday for eligible devices. While the update does not introduce groundbreaking features, it offers a sought-after enhancement: users can now adjust the transparency of the translucent liquid glass design. Previously, those who were dissatisfied with the look of iOS 26 had limited options, primarily reducing the transparency through accessibility settings, which effectively disabled the liquid glass effect. With the introduction of iOS 26.1, users can navigate to Settings > Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass to choose between the original 'Clear' appearance or a more opaque 'Tinted' alternative. This new menu also provides a preview of each option, allowing users to select their preferred level of opacity. The liquid glass design marked Apple's most significant aesthetic change since the shift to a flat design back in 2013. Reactions to the update have been mixed, with some users praising its modern look, while others feel the transparency complicates readability for notifications and navigation controls within apps. In addition to the transparency options, iOS 26.1 enhances user experience with new gesture controls for the home screen. Users can now swipe left on the lock screen to open the camera app, which can be customized in Settings > Camera > Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera. Furthermore, the update allows for local audio and video capture during video calls, a feature initially announced for iPadOS at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. The update also expands language support for Apple Intelligence, adding eight new languages, including Traditional Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Portuguese (Portugal), Vietnamese, and Turkish. Additionally, live translation support is now available for five new languages, including Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Italian, Japanese, and Korean. iOS 26.1 includes various quality-of-life improvements, such as new gestures for switching songs in Apple Music, a slider for stopping alarms to prevent accidental shutdowns, and an option for automatic security updates. To install the update, users can head to Settings > General > Software Update.