Apple officially released iOS 26.1 on November 3, 2025, marking the first major iteration since the debut of iOS 26. While the initial iOS 26 rollout introduced the bold “Liquid Glass” design language, version 26.1 focuses on user-driven customisations, security patches, and global intelligence expansions.
🔍 The “Liquid Glass” Evolution
The most striking visual change in iOS 26 was the translucent, glass-like UI, which initially faced mixed reviews due to readability concerns.
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New Transparency Toggle: iOS 26.1 introduces a customizable toggle under Settings > Display & Brightness, allowing users to choose between a standard Clear look or a new Tinted mode.
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Impact: The tinted mode increases element opacity, addressing visibility issues by providing higher contrast for buttons and notification panels.
🛡️ Security and Gesture Improvements
Apple has refined daily interactions to reduce accidental actions and improve background safety.
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Lock Screen Camera Toggle: Users can finally disable the “swipe-left-to-open-camera” gesture, a long-requested feature to prevent accidental pocket launches.
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Slide to Stop Alarms: Alarms now require a deliberate slide motion to dismiss, replacing the single tap that many users found too easy to accidentally hit.
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Automatic Security Patches: A new Background Security Improvements toggle under Privacy settings allows for interim security updates without requiring a full system restart.
🤖 Intelligence and Accessibility
The update broadens Apple Intelligence features and makes real-time tools more global.
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Language Expansion: Apple Intelligence now supports eight new languages, including Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Turkish, and Vietnamese.
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AirPods Live Translation: Live translation capability expands to Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Italian, Japanese, and Korean, facilitating seamless real-time conversations.
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Custom Fitness Workouts: The Fitness app now allows users to design fully bespoke workouts, choosing specific types, calories, and durations.