Apple is releasing another Liquid Glass transparency reduction tool with the release of iOS 26.2. With the update, users will be able to control the transparency of the clock on the lock screen. This release follows an update that introduced a slider to control the transparency of Liquid Glass elements in the operating system in response to user complaints that the changes made their iPhone or other Apple device too difficult to read.
Introduced in iOS 26, Apple's new device design language makes various interface elements, such as buttons, sliders, and notifications, semi-transparent. The elements also refract light, giving them the optical properties of glass.
Aimed at modernizing Apple's operating systems and potentially preparing for a world where the operating system is ported to AI smart glasses, Liquid Glass has been met with mixed reviews. Some found that the transparency made the device difficult to use as it became difficult to read key elements such as notifications and files artist name in Apple Music. In response to user complaints, Apple released a Liquid Glass tool in iOS 26.1, which allowed users to restore a more “frosty” appearance of the interface if necessary.
With the clock's “glassiness” slider, Apple is again rolling back the transparency of the Liquid Glass update, but in the form of another user-controlled customization feature, rather than a global change.
These tweaks are noteworthy because they send a signal that maybe Apple isn't 100% behind the design changes because it's perfect.
It is also worth paying attention to the moment of introducing changes. Earlier this month, Apple confirmed that Alan Dye, the chief design officer responsible for the Liquid Glass makeover, was leaving the company and joining Meta. While it didn't appear that Dye was forced out, Apple replaced him with longtime Apple designer Stephen Lemay.
Unlike Dye, Lemay's background was in interface and interaction design – one could argue that this is a necessary skill set for repairing Liquid Glass.
iOS 26.2 brought other new features beyond the latest Liquid Glass patch.
As in the beta, users can now create AirDrop codes to share with people who are not in their contacts, which allows them to become “known” AirDrop contacts for a period of 30 days. This feature may make sense at work or in other situations when you need to share files or photos with someone who is not in your contacts.
Also in iOS 26.2, Reminders supports alarms; Apple News gains a Following tab in the bottom navigation bar along with other navigation changes; Apple Music adds offline lyrics; and the Podcasts app adds AI-generated podcast episode chapters, a podcast mention feature to link to other shows, and other changes.
Apple Watch owners will now also receive a Sleep Score based on how well they slept and whether they met their sleep goals.
Apple on Friday also released several major security updates to its flagship products, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TV and Apple Watches, to patch vulnerabilities exploited in an active hacking campaign.
