Apps & Consumer
Apple updates Liquid Glass design with new user controls
Apple is updating its Liquid Glass design with new customization settings, a move that may address user readability concerns following the feature's initial launch.
At Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday, the technology company announced that it is updating the foundations of its Liquid Glass design language. The company stated that it is updating the foundations of how Liquid Glass is built to ensure exceptional readability. Apple will apparently accomplish these readability improvements by diffusing complex content behind panels to create more depth and separation. The design language, which was originally introduced at last year’s event, drew mixed reactions from users, some of whom found the transparent, glassy interface difficult to read. The upcoming changes may benefit users who disliked the initial Liquid Glass design.
To address these readability concerns and accommodate different user tastes, Apple is introducing a new slider and dedicated settings that allow users to adjust the tinting levels of the interface. “Since everyone’s preference varies, we’re adding a new slider and settings to adjust Liquid Glass, so you can set it anywhere from ultra clear to fully tinted,” the company announced during its presentation. This customization feature is designed to give users direct control over the visual transparency of the operating system’s panels, allowing them to choose their preferred level of clarity.
Beyond the core interface adjustments, Apple is also redesigning app icons on both iOS and MacOS to create a more cohesive and refined appearance across its operating systems. Developers will be able to utilize these Liquid Glass customizations within their own applications at launch, allowing third-party software to align with the updated system aesthetics immediately.
Apple framed these adjustments as a standard part of its design evolution. The company noted that major design updates typically follow a natural process where the team takes a bold leap forward and then continues to iterate based on real-world usage. Apple emphasized that its design team appreciates user feedback and considered it deeply as it refined the Liquid Glass interface over the past year.
Why it matters
Apple is refining its Liquid Glass design, which was introduced last year, to improve readability and offer user-controlled customization settings following direct user feedback. The update demonstrates how the company balances bold aesthetic shifts with functional usability adjustments based on developer and consumer responses.