Liquid Glass problems that Apple had to resolve prior to the launch of iOS 26. They appear hazy, or somewhat more so than in iOS 18, because Apple designed them that way. This is part of the new Liquid Glass design aesthetic that Apple rolled out this year across all its devices.
iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and watchOS 26 all adopted the same glassy appearance introduced by visionOS in 2024. The application icons and menus possess a transparent quality by design. Light travels through the assorted layers, bending and interacting based on how you manipulate the device. That’s the reason some application icons seem hazy. They may consist of multiple components, each crafted from virtual glass, all responding to light in accordance with Apple’s Liquid Glass guidelines. The greater the number of glass layers, the more indistinct the icon appears. The Photos app icon (above) illustrates an instance of layered glass components resulting in a blur.
If you haven’t yet experienced the various iterations of Liquid Glass that Apple trialed during the iOS 26 beta period, the iOS 26 update might initially be jarring. It’s one of the most talked-about features that you’ll need to familiarize yourself with in iOS 26 once you install the update. Adjusting to the new experience, including the blurry icons, will take some time. The good news is that the final version of iOS 26 released by Apple looks significantly improved compared to the initial iteration, including the app icons. Furthermore, there is a way to lessen the Liquid Glass transparency to enhance the appearance of the icons in iOS 26.
Chris Smith/BGR
