Hi If the new Liquid Glass visual effect in iOS 26 feels distracting or you want to squeeze a bit more performance and battery life from your iPhone, this short guide shows exactly how to disable it. No jailbreaks or third-party apps required — just a quick settings tweak.
What is the Liquid Glass effect?
Liquid Glass is Apple’s translucent, blurred visual style that adds depth to system backgrounds and UI elements. It looks slick, but on some devices or for some users it can be visually noisy, make text harder to read, or slightly impact performance and battery life.
Why You Might Want to Disable Liquid Glass
While Liquid Glass looks futuristic, it is not for everyone. Many users choose to turn it off. There are several good reasons to do this.
Distraction: The constant movement on the screen can be distracting. It might pull your focus away from important tasks. Some people prefer a still and stable visual experience.
Battery Life: Dynamic visual effects require more processing power. This can lead to increased battery drain. Turning off Liquid Glass might help your iPhone’s battery last longer. This is especially true for older iPhone models.
Performance: More animations can sometimes slow down your phone. This is particularly noticeable on older devices. Disabling Liquid Glass can free up system resources. This might make your iPhone feel faster and more responsive.
Cleaner Look: Many users prefer a minimalist interface. They want a simpler and less busy screen. Turning off Liquid Glass creates a cleaner, more traditional iOS look. It removes the added animations.
Accessibility: For some users, moving visuals can be a challenge. It might affect focus or cause discomfort. Disabling these effects can improve the user experience for everyone.
Think about your daily phone use. If you need maximum battery life, disabling Liquid Glass is a smart choice. If you want the fastest performance, removing extra animations helps. If you simply prefer a calm and static display, turning off Liquid Glass will achieve that.
Step-by-Step Guide to Turn Off Liquid Glass
Disabling the Liquid Glass effect in iOS 26 is a straightforward process. You only need to adjust one setting. Follow these simple steps to remove the animation from your iPhone.
1. Open Settings
First, you need to open the Settings app on your iPhone. The Settings app icon looks like a set of gray gears. You can find it on your home screen. You can also search for it using Spotlight Search. Simply swipe down on your home screen and type “Settings” into the search bar.
2.Navigate to Accessibility
Once you are in the Settings app, scroll down. Look for the option labeled “Accessibility.” Tap on it. Accessibility settings help tailor your iPhone for different needs. Many visual and interactive options are found here.
3.Choose Display & Text Size
Inside the Accessibility menu, you will see many options. Scroll down again. Find the option called “Display & Text Size.” Tap on this option. This section controls how text and visuals appear on your screen. It allows for many customizations.
3.Find and Enable “Reduce Transparency”
Within the Display & Text Size menu, you will see a list of settings. Scroll through these options. Look for a setting called “Reduce Transparency.” This is the key setting to disable Liquid Glass.
By default, “Reduce Transparency” is likely turned off. You need to enable this option. Tap the switch next to “Reduce Transparency.” The switch will turn green when it is enabled.
When you enable “Reduce Transparency,” your iPhone will change immediately. It will replace transparent and translucent elements with solid colors. This also effectively removes the Liquid Glass effect. The system will stop displaying the shimmering animations. This makes the interface more opaque and simpler. You will notice the change on your home screen. Notifications and other visual elements will also appear differently.
What Happens When You Turn Off Liquid Glass?
Turning off Liquid Glass through the “Reduce Transparency” setting changes your iPhone’s look. The most obvious change is the removal of the shimmering effect. Your screen will appear more static.
Here are some specific changes you might notice:
Backgrounds Become Solid: Areas that previously showed transparency will become more solid. This means less see-through elements. For example, your dock might go from translucent to a more solid color.
Reduced Animations: While Liquid Glass is the main effect turned off, other subtle transparency effects might also lessen. This leads to a generally more subdued animation experience across iOS.
Improved Clarity: Some users find the solid backgrounds easier to read. Text on top of solid colors can be clearer than text over translucent areas.
Potential Performance Boost: With fewer complex animations running, your iPhone’s processor has less work to do. This can lead to smoother scrolling and faster app loading. It especially helps on older iPhone models.
Better Battery Life: Less visual processing directly translates to less power consumption. Your iPhone’s battery may last longer between charges. This is a significant benefit for users who are always on the go.
The change is not permanent. You can always go back into the same settings. If you want the Liquid Glass effect again, simply disable “Reduce Transparency.” The effect will return.
Further Customization Tips for iOS 26
Beyond Liquid Glass, iOS 26 offers many ways to customize your iPhone. You can tailor your device to better suit your preferences. Exploring these settings can improve your daily experience.
Reduce Motion
Another useful setting found in Accessibility is “Reduce Motion.” This option minimizes the motion of the user interface. It can change how apps open and close. Instead of a zoom effect, they might fade in and out. This is helpful for users sensitive to screen movement. It can also slightly improve performance and battery life. Find it in Settings > Accessibility > Motion.
Adjust Text Size and Boldness
For better readability, you can adjust the text on your iPhone. In Display & Text Size, you can choose “Larger Text.” This lets you make font sizes bigger. You can also toggle “Bold Text” for stronger, easier-to-read lettering. These simple changes make a big difference for your eyes.
Dark Mode
Dark Mode changes your entire iPhone interface to a dark color scheme. It is easier on the eyes, especially in low light. It can also save battery life on iPhones with OLED screens. You can turn on Dark Mode in Settings > Display & Brightness. You can also set it to turn on automatically at night.
Customizing Home Screen and Lock Screen
iOS 26 gives you more control over your home screen and lock screen. You can choose different wallpapers. You can also add widgets for quick information. Widgets let you see weather, calendar events, or news at a glance. Long-press on your home screen or lock screen to enter editing mode. Then you can personalize your layout.
Conclusion
Turning off the Liquid Glass effect in iOS 26 is a small but impactful change. It gives you more control over your iPhone’s visual style. Whether you seek better performance, longer battery life, or a cleaner look, this setting helps. It is a good example of how customizing your device can improve your daily use.
Remember that your iPhone is a personal tool. Adjusting its settings to match your needs makes it even better. Explore the Accessibility and Display settings. You might find other ways to make your iPhone work best for you. For more tips and guides on iOS, visit Nirbytes. Keep your iPhone running smoothly and looking exactly how you like it.
