Apple has introduced a new capability that simplifies customizing Liquid Glass to suit individual preferences. Users can now configure the Liquid Glass appearance to either Clear or Tinted, thanks to a new setting incorporated in the latest beta version of its operating systems for mobile devices and desktops.
This addition suggests that Apple is carefully considering user input during the initial phase of the public releases of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26. Apple typically introduces substantial modifications, but it often provides a backup choice for users who find it challenging to adapt.
This occurred when Apple repositioned Safari’s address bar to the screen’s bottom in 2021. Following some user disapproval of the then-contentious choice, the iPhone manufacturer included an option to restore the bar to the screen’s top. (Apple, we must admit, was justified in making the change; the bar’s location is more convenient when it’s within easier reach of your thumbs.)
Apple is now employing a similar strategy with Liquid Glass.
The new user interface included with iOS 26 and other Apple operating systems represented the company’s most significant design update since its transition from a skeuomorphic to a flat design in 2013. As is typical with changes of this magnitude and importance, not everyone has embraced it.
Some have asserted that the Liquid Glass design impairs the readability of various interface elements, including notifications and navigation controls in apps like Apple Music and others. Conversely, others have expressed admiration for Liquid Glass’s meticulousness and its fresh aesthetic, which felt like a contemporary enhancement to an interface that had become outdated over time.
Faced with another potentially contentious response, Apple is now relinquishing some control over Liquid Glass’s appearance back to the users.
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The new functionality, initially discovered by 9to5Mac, was introduced in iOS 26.1 beta 4 and the corresponding updates for tablets and desktop computers.
When contacted for comment, Apple informed TechCrunch that during the beta testing period this summer, it received feedback from some users who desired the option to establish a more opaque appearance for Liquid Glass. This new setting, which empowers users to personalize Liquid Glass, is accessible in iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS 26.1.
To utilize the feature, beta users can navigate to the “Display & Brightness” section within Settings to locate the newly added Liquid Glass menu option. On Mac, it resides under “Appearance” in System Settings. This control enables users to select between two choices: Clear and Tinted. The latter enhances the opacity of interface components, thereby improving their visibility.
Although some users had advocated for a slider that would grant them more precise control over opacity, Apple has instead chosen a toggle that specifies the two levels of tint available for users to select. This simplifies the process for third-party developers to assess the appearance of their applications under the various settings.
Apple communicated to TechCrunch that any developers who have already integrated Liquid Glass into their applications will automatically have the user’s preference implemented. Developers can currently evaluate this functionality in the 26.1 developer beta.
Upon selecting their preferred option, users will observe modifications across user interface elements, such as the Now Playing controls, Notifications on the Lock Screen, and within Apple’s applications and those from third-party developers.
While the beta feature is being released to developers today, the public beta version should be available in the coming days, preceding its broader public release.
