Apple will let users restore the Liquid Glass look with a new “tinted” option

Apple has rolled out a new feature that makes it easier to customize Liquid Glass to your liking. Users will now be able to set the appearance of Liquid Glass to Clear or Tinted, using a new setting included in the latest beta update for its mobile and desktop operating systems.

The addition indicates that Apple is listening carefully to user feedback in these first days of public launch of iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26. Apple likes to impose bigger changes, but it often offers a fallback option to those who have difficulty adapting.

This was the case when Apple moved Safari’s address to the bottom of the screen in 2021. After some user backlash to the then-controversial decision, the iPhone maker added an option to move the bar back to the top of the screen. (Apple, we admit, was right to make the move; the location of the bar is better when it’s more easily within reach of your thumbs.)

Apple is now taking a similar approach with Liquid Glass.

The new user interface that comes with iOS 26 and other Apple operating systems is the company’s biggest design overhaul since moving from skeuomorphic to flat design in 2013. As with most changes of this scale and importance, not everyone was on board.

Some said Liquid Glass’s design made various parts of the interface harder to read, including notifications or navigation controls in apps like Apple Music and others. Others said they liked Liquid Glass’s attention to detail and its new look, which felt like a more modern update to an interface that had become outdated over the years.

With another potential divisive response on its hands, Apple is now ceding users some control over the appearance of Liquid Glass.

The new feature, first spotted by 9to5Mac, arrived in iOS 26.1 beta 4 and accompanying updates for tablets and desktops.

Reached for comment, Apple told TechCrunch that during this summer’s beta period, some users told it they wanted the option to set a more opaque look for Liquid Glass. This new setting that allows users to customize Liquid Glass is available in iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS 26.1.

To access the feature, beta users can visit the “Display & Brightness” menu under Settings to find the Liquid Glass menu option added. On Mac, it’s under “Appearance” in System Settings. The control allows you to choose between two options, Clear and Tinted. The latter increases the opacity of interface elements, making them easier to see.

Although some users have advocated for a slider that lets them control the opacity more precisely, Apple opted for a toggle that specifies the two tint levels users can choose from.

Apple told TechCrunch that any developers who have already implemented Liquid Glass in their apps will automatically see the user preferences applied. Developers can now test this in Developer Beta 26.1.

After selecting their preferred option, users will see changes to UI elements, such as Now Playing controls, lock screen notifications, as well as Apple apps and those from third-party developers.

While the beta feature is arriving today for developers, the public beta is expected to arrive in the coming days ahead of the wider public release.