Apple’s iOS 26 update introduced a redesigned interface called Liquid Glass. It adds translucency, reflections, and motion to icons and other interface elements. As you tilt your phone, the shine moves and reshapes itself. Apple positioned this as a way to create depth throughout the system.
Many users argue that this shine feels distracting. They say icons now look overly reflective and artificial. The constant motion draws attention away from what they are trying to do. People using darker wallpapers report that the effect becomes even more obvious and hard to ignore.
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Another common concern is the lack of a direct toggle. While you can reduce transparency or add tint, you cannot fully turn the shine off. For users who want a simple and calm interface, this becomes a major drawback.
User Reactions and Accessibility Concerns
The community response ranges from mild acceptance to strong criticism. Some users barely notice the shine. Others find it visually appealing for a moment before tuning it out. This divide shows how differently people respond to motion-based effects.
A significant portion of users report eye strain, dizziness, or trouble focusing. They say the shimmer interferes with readability and makes everyday interactions feel uncomfortable. People sensitive to movement and glare feel the effect most sharply.
Apple’s current accessibility tools help to some extent. Settings like Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast create stronger backgrounds behind text and icons. Even so, these options do not fully remove the shine. The motion remains, which leaves some users searching for a better fix.
What You Can Do Now
If the shine bothers you, start by adjusting Liquid Glass under Display and Brightness. Switching to a “tinted” option adds a more solid background and reduces the visible glare. These changes make the interface easier to read and soften the moving highlights.
You can also enable Reduce Transparency under Accessibility. This increases legibility by strengthening backgrounds and decreasing visual noise. It does not remove the shine completely, but it helps create a more stable view.
Many users want Apple to add a full toggle in a future update. Until that happens, these settings provide the closest workaround available. For now, the interface depends on adjustments rather than true control over the effect.
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