One of the biggest changes to come to iOS 26 is the visual overhaul of the Home Screen, Control Centre, and Lock Screen. While this has been around on Android and Windows devices for years and years, Apple has finally introduced a new style called Liquid Glass, which completely changes the way icons and widgets look. This new effect gives them a translucent appearance, letting the wallpaper show through while creating a modern, eye-catching aesthetic. Thankfully, Apple anticipated this and kept the personalisation options first introduced in iOS 18, while also expanding them. With iOS 26, you can fine-tune transparency levels, add custom tints or colours to app icons, and even enlarge the icons themselves. Below is a detailed walkthrough of how to use these features to make your iPhone truly yours.

Takeaways:

  1. In iOS 26, you can adjust the transparency of app icons and widgets using light, dark, or translucent modes.
  2. You can apply a custom colour tint with control over saturation and intensity, while also darkening the background for better contrast.
  3. You can enlarge app icons, though this option removes the text labels that show each app’s name.
  4. Learn how to use Liquid Glass on iOS 26 on your iPhone

How to Customise the Transparency, Colour, and Size of App Icons in iOS 26 for iPhone

The Liquid Glass redesign makes icons translucent, which can be beautiful but impractical depending on the wallpaper you use. Apple has kept the customisation modes from iOS 18 and added a new translucent option. If you're looking for wallpapers, check out Wallhaven.

  • Long-press on an empty area of the Home Screen until the icons begin to jiggle.
  • Tap “Edit” in the upper left corner and select “Customise.”
  • Choose one of the options shown at the bottom:
    • Default: Uses the standard iOS 26 style.
    • Dark: Highlights icons and text against light wallpapers, with variants for Always or Automatic (time-based).
    • Translucent: Emphasises transparency, available in Light, Dark, or Automatic versions.
    • Tinted: Allows colour customisation, explained further below.
  • If needed, adjust brightness with the sun icon to darken edges and make app names easier to read.
  • Tap outside the edit panel to apply changes instantly.

How to Customise Icon Colours and Wallpaper Contrast in iOS 26

Beyond transparency, you can give your icons a colored tint. This feature was introduced in iOS 18, but now appears in Liquid Glass with more intuitive controls. To apply a tint, do the following.

  • Open the Customise menu by long pressing on the Home Screen and tapping “Edit.”
  • Select “Tinted.”
  • Use the sliders at the bottom to choose a colour and set saturation levels. You can also use the eyedropper tool to pick a colour directly from your wallpaper.
  • Decide whether you prefer Light, Dark, or Automatic mode to change according to the time of day.
  • Optionally, adjust brightness with the sun icon to increase contrast and improve text legibility under the icons.

How to Change Icon Size in iOS 26

Another option introduced in iOS 18 and retained in iOS 26 is resizing app icons. Larger icons are easier to see, but remove app labels, creating a cleaner look. To enable this, do the following.

  • Open Edit > Customise from the Home Screen.
  • Tap the button in the upper-right corner of the panel. Icons will expand and labels will disappear.
  • Tap the button again to return to the default size with app names visible.