If you own an iPhone 11 or newer, Apple has effectively made the decision for you – you’re updating to iOS 26 whether you love it or not. Apple has stopped offering security updates for iOS 18 on most supported devices, meaning iOS 26.2 is now the only way to get critical protections against active threats. This isn’t Apple’s usual “update when you’re ready” approach. If you want security fixes, you’re being forced onto the latest operating system.
I know that’s frustrating. iOS 26’s new Liquid Glass design isn’t winning everyone over, and if you’ve been burned by buggy updates in the past, hesitation is understandable. But this time, putting off the update isn’t just about aesthetics or comfort – it’s about leaving known security holes unpatched. Apple is clearly signaling that the most important fixes are now reserved for iOS 26, not older versions.
Once you accept that reality, the good news is that you can make iOS 26 feel a lot more familiar – and usable – with a few quick changes. After updating, these are the first things I recommend doing to tame Liquid Glass, restore some old behaviors, and take advantage of features that actually make your iPhone smarter, not harder to use.
1. Tone down Liquid Glass
When Apple released iOS 26, it was met with mixed reactions. The hallmark feature, the new Liquid Glass user interface, which gives most interface elements a transparent, glass-like feel, isn’t the most legible, and many want to revert it to a more familiar look. Fortunately, you can tone down Liquid Glass in iOS by going to Settings > Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass. From there, you can change liquid glass from clear to tinted, which will result in much better legibility across the system if that’s what you prefer.
2. Restore the Phone app to the way it was before
In iOS 26, the phone app has been condensed and made more graphical. If you’re anything like me, you probably just want the phone app to look the way it did before. To do this, go into the phone app, go to “Recents,” then click the three-dot menu in the upper right corner, and choose “Classic.”
3. Try out Visual Intelligence for Screenshots
This one is very cool. When you take a screenshot of something in iOS 26, you now have an “ask” button in the bottom right corner. You can literally ask ChatGPT a question about whatever is on your screen. Want to know if a restaurant you’re looking at has a bar? Ask! Want to summarize a long article and find out the main points? Ask! Want to know what kind of dog is in a picture someone sent you? Ask! To take a screenshot, just hold down the power and volume up buttons, and in iOS 26, you’ll have the new “ask” button.
[Image credit: screenshots via Brandon Miniman/Techlicious, phone mockup via Canva]
