How to Get Liquid Glass Look on iOS 26? Easy Setup Guide for iPhone

by Margaret Serenity Updated on 2025-07-10 17:08:25 / Update for iOS 18

The stunning new Liquid Glass on iOS 26 has become the hottest topic for Apple fans following WWDC 2025. With an outstanding blend of transparency, depth and blur, this new visual upgrade transforms your iPhone’s user interface into something truly futuristic. But while the aesthetics are jaw-dropping, getting the effect set up correctly can be tricky.

If you have been wondering why it’s not working on your phone or how to enable it, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know and do to enjoy the Liquid Glass on iOS 26.

Part 1: What Is Liquid Glass Interface?

Apple made headlines during WWDC Liquid Glass unveiling in June 2025, revealing a new UI architecture for iOS 26 that is more than just a design tweak; it is a major leap. The Liquid Glass look uses dynamic translucency, fluid animation, and subtle gradients to simulate a “melted glass” appearance across widgets, app backgrounds, notifications and control panels.

The Liquid Glass release date was officially announced in June 2025. On the same day, the iOS developer beta was made available for developers to test. The public beta is expected to roll out during the summer of 2025, with the official release of iOS 26, including the Liquid Glass interface, planned to coincide with the launch of iPhone 17 in September 2025.

Here are the key features of the Apple Liquid Glass interface

  • Translucent and dynamic material: Liquid Glass is a translucent material that reflects and refracts its surroundings in real-time, adapting fluidity to light and dark modes and the content beneath it.
  • Visual impact: UI elements like buttons, sliders, tab bars, and even app icons have a glass-like, frosted appearance and dynamic animations that respond to user interactions.
  • Enhanced focus on content: the interface morphs and shifts to bring greater focus to the user’s content, with elements like the Lock Screen clock resizing based on wallpaper and notifications.

Potential Issues from Upgrading

While the features are captivating, the upgrade may pose problems. Here is a table highlighting the common challenges of the Liquid Glass iPhone:

  • Issue
  • Description
  • Limited device compatibility
  • Only new iPhones (iPhone 11 and above) and devices running iOS 26 or later support Liquid Glass
  • Increased battery consumption
  • Real-time rendering and dynamic effects can drain the battery faster
  • Readability and visual clarity
  • Translucent elements can reduce text and icon clarity for some users
  • Higher GPU load and performance
  • The enhanced graphics require more processing power, potentially slowing devices
  • Larger installation size and storage
  • The update requires significant storage space, up to 15GB, for the new design assets

These issues don’t mean you cannot enjoy iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design, but they do mean your iPhone needs to be compatible and properly configured.

Part 2: How to Get Liquid Glass on iOS?

Are you wondering how to get Liquid Glass on iOS? The good news is that it is easy, but you must ensure your device is compatible and the settings are properly enabled. Here is a step-by-step guide to unlock the Apple Liquid Glass experience:

Step 1: Check Compatibility

To avoid frustration, first check if your device supports the feature. Compatible devices include newer models like the iPhone 11 and above.

Step 2: Back Up Your iPhone

Always back up your data using iCloud or iTunes to secure it before installing a major update.

Step 3: Update to iOS 26

To update to iOS 26, follow these steps:

  • Open the settings on your phone.
  • Navigate to General > Software Update.
  • If iOS 26 is available, tap download and install.
  • Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the update

Step 4: Enter Home Screen Edit Mode

Start by pressing and holding any empty space on your iPhone’s home screen. Wait a moment until the screen enters edit mode. You will see an “Edit” button pop up in the top left corner.

Step 5: Tap Customize and Choose Style

Once in edit mode, tap the customize button. From there, select Clear as your preferred interface style.

Step 6: Pick Between Light or Dark Transparency

You will be presented with a few style options:

  • Clear Dark gives a sleek, transparent look with dark tones and faintly colored app icons.
  • Clear Light creates a bright, glassy feel. Select Auto if you’d like your iPhone to shift between the two based on the time of day.

Step 7: Apply Glass Effects to Widgets

To extend transparency to your lock screen widgets, go to Settings > Wallpaper> Customize. Tap the clock widget and scroll to the bottom. Choose between Glass and Solid, and use the slider to fine-tune the transparency level.

Part 3: Does Liquid Glass Work on iPhone?

Yes, but not all iPhones will support the full feature set of Liquid Glass on iOS 26. The feature demands high GPU performance, so older models might show limited or no effects. So, which iPhones will get Liquid Glass? Below is the list of iOS 26 compatible devices that fully support Liquid Glass:

  • iPhone 11 series
  • iPhone 12 series
  • iPhone 13 series
  • iPhone 14 series
  • iPhone 15 series
  • iPhone 16 series

Will It Work on Your iPhone?

If your iPhone is compatible with iOS 26, you should be able to use Liquid Glass. However, some reasons it might not work or perform well include:

  • Older hardware lacked sufficient GPU power to support real-time rendering for glass visuals.
  • You are on a beta version where the feature is disabled.
  • Battery optimization settings limit background processes.
  • User settings like reduced transparency are enabled to improve readability.
  • Background wallpaper conflicts with transparency settings.

Bonus Tip: Change Your iOS 26 GPS Location Anywhere with PoGoskill

While you are customizing visuals, why not customize your location too? If you want to explore location-based features or games without physically moving, try PoGoskill. PoGoskill is a powerful iPhone location changer and GPS spoofer that lets you teleport your device to any place in the world instantly.

Whether you are changing location in games like Pokémon Go, faking location on iPhone, testing location-based apps or just want privacy, PoGoskill has you covered.

Here are its key features:

  • Teleport to any global location in 1 click
  • Simulate real movement and route
  • Compatible with the latest iOS versions
  • No jailbreak required

Follow these steps to use PoGoskill :

Free Download
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  • Step 1Go to the PoGoskill official website and start downloading.

    launch pogoskill
  • Step 2Connect your iPhone using USB

    connect your phone and pc via usb
  • Step 3Choose a location and click on “Start to Modify.”

    choose location on the map

Conclusion

The futuristic Liquid Glass on iOS 26 brings a bold new aesthetic, but only if you know how to unlock it properly. With the steps in this guide, you can enjoy the full visual experience without the performance drag. And if you want to customize your iOS experience further, don’t forget to try PoGoskill to control your virtual location with ease.

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Margaret Serenity

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With a decade of software industry experience, Margaret Serenity is PoGoskill's leading editor for resolving iPhone and Android issues. Her online guides have assisted millions of users globally.