Apple addresses the blurriness of Liquid Glass with the beta 4 of iOS 26.1, which adds a simple menu to toggle between the Clear mode and the Tinted mode.
Unveiled on October 20, 2025, iOS 26.1 beta 4 targets several improvements and fixes a significant flaw in Liquid Glass. Introduced during WWDC 2025, this semi-transparent post-Flat design is appealing with its floating glass effects. However, the excessive transparency quickly becomes a hindrance: text blends in, and overlays impair readability. In response, Apple enhances iOS 26.1 by offering a clear opacity adjustment to restore visual clarity and comfort.
A Dedicated Menu for Two Styles
The beta 4 version of iOS 26.1 introduces a dedicated Liquid Glass menu in the settings, allowing users to choose between two modes.
The first option, Clear, preserves the original look. It maintains luminous transparency and optical reflections, enabling smooth content visibility beneath.
Alternatively, Tinted modifies everything. It enhances opacity and contrast, making the interface sharp with almost no translucency. Menus appear clear without any distracting blur.
Apple describes this new feature as a simple choice: “Select your preferred appearance”. The option applies system-wide, from notifications to the lock screen, including native apps.
Accessing the setting is intuitive. On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Brightness and Display, then select the Liquid Glass menu. On Mac, navigate to System Preferences > Appearance.
The change takes effect instantly with no restart required, ensuring perfect consistency.
iOS 26.1 Balances Aesthetics and Practicality of Liquid Glass
Why only two modes? Apple avoids complex sliders. Two styles suffice, and this binary approach simplifies the experience.
Liquid Glass has already seen several adjustments since its initial beta; iOS 26.1 beta 3 temporarily increased opacity, but testers found it too heavy. Beta 4 provides a definitive and swift solution to reduce blurriness without using accessibility options.
This version of iOS 26.1 accompanies Liquid Glass with other system enhancements, such as adjustments to the clock display on the lock screen.
Spatial scenes add 3D effects to wallpapers. App icons become contemporary and customizable, while animated album art enhances the music experience.
iOS 26.0.1 also fixes technical issues: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth interruptions on certain iPhones, cellular connection challenges, photo artifacts, and VoiceOver malfunctions.
Currently, beta 4 is targeted at developers. Public accounts will gain access in a few days, with the stable version following in a few weeks.
