Apple rolls out iOS 26.2 with adjustable Liquid Glass on lock screen

Apple on Friday released iOS 26.2, a mid-cycle update that adds a slider to reduce the translucent Liquid Glass effect on the lock-screen clock, addressing long-standing user concerns about readability. The update arrives about three months after Liquid Glass was first rolled out with iOS 26. iOS 26 was announced June 9 at the Worldwide Developers Conference and released September 15.

The update's most visible change is a lock-screen customization slider that lets users adjust the clock’s appearance from nearly transparent to a frosted look. A 'Solid' option makes the time fully opaque. Apple says the change gives users more control over UI readability while preserving the dynamic feel of Liquid Glass. In addition to the clock controls, iOS 26.2 includes bug fixes and security improvements that Apple said benefit various devices. The rollout also notes updates for Reminders alarms, offline lyrics for Apple Music, and in-game score banners for Games, as well as AI-generated chapters for podcasts and an extra layer of verification when using AirDrop.

The Liquid Glass design was unveiled at WWDC 2025 on June 9 and rolled out with iOS 26 in September. It replaced Apple's standard flat icons with translucent, refractive visuals meant to reflect surroundings, with icons, buttons, and text rendered with higher transparency and background distortion. The reception was mixed, with critics describing the effect as hard to read and visually tiring. Social posts on X captured the divided sentiment, with comments noting that readability still matters and others joking that the icons looked as if they were skewed or dizzy. Apple executives previously described Liquid Glass as gorgeous, attracting praise from some fans while drawing sharp criticism from many users who preferred a more traditional, legible UI.

Apple also noted updates to other devices: Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and the Apple Vision Pro. iOS 26.2 is available on a wide range of iPhone models, including iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, 16e, iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, iPhone 14, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, iPhone 13 family, iPhone 12 family, iPhone 11 family, and both iPhone SE variants (2020 and 2022). To install, users can open Settings, go to General, and select Software Update. If automatic updates are enabled, the update may install overnight while the device is charging and connected to Wi-Fi. If not, users can tap Install Now or Download and Install on the Software Update page and follow the prompts after entering their passcode.

The iOS 26.2 release reinforces Apple’s pattern of deploying major software updates to accompany new device introductions in the autumn, then rolling out incremental improvements throughout the year. The company described iOS 26.2 as including bug fixes and security updates for the iPhone, and noted that the update extends to other devices in its ecosystem. The move toward giving users more control over visual design indicates Apple’s willingness to adjust UI elements in response to user feedback while maintaining a broad feature set that supports new apps and services across its platforms.