One of the flashiest parts of iOS 26 is the new Liquid Glass design. It gives widgets, backgrounds, and even app icons a translucent look that reacts to your wallpaper. But not everyone loves the default appearance. Some users want apps to stand out less, almost blending with the background for a cleaner Home Screen. That’s where making apps “clear” comes in.
Here’s how to do it.
Table of contents
Step 1: Update to iOS 26
First, make sure you’re actually running iOS 26. Head to Settings → General → Software Update. If you run into trouble, check our guide: can’t update to iOS 26? Here’s how to fix it.
Step 2: Choose a Liquid Glass wallpaper
Clear app effects depend on your wallpaper. iOS 26 lets you set Liquid Glass wallpapers that create a translucent glow around icons. To pick one:
- Long press on the Lock Screen and tap Customize.
- Swipe to a Liquid Glass option: Clear or Tinted.
- Adjust the color blend to your liking.
For ideas, see our best iOS 26 wallpapers roundup.
Step 3: Reduce extra animations
If the glow effect feels too heavy, you can make icons look sharper and “clearer” by dialing back animations:
- Head to Settings → Accessibility → Motion.
- Turn on Reduce Motion.
For more, follow our guide: make iOS 26 less animated.
Step 4: Fine-tune with widgets
Widgets in iOS 26 also use the Liquid Glass effect. Mixing widgets with translucent app icons creates a consistent Home Screen look. Try pairing a clear app layout with minimal widgets for the cleanest effect.
We’ve got a full walkthrough on customizing app icons in iOS 26.
The takeaway
Making apps clear in iOS 26 is all about using Liquid Glass wallpapers, enabling translucent app icons, and reducing heavy animations. Done right, it gives your iPhone a modern, almost invisible Home Screen style. Done wrong, it can feel distracting — so experiment until you find what works for you.
If you want more ways to tweak your iPhone’s look and feel, check out how to remove Liquid Glass from your iPhone.
