Apple has officially released iOS 26.1, the first major update to its latest mobile operating system. The update refines the “Liquid Glass” design introduced earlier this year, while improving app performance, expanding Apple Intelligence features, and strengthening privacy and child safety tools.
Liquid Glass gets a user-controlled upgrade
The most visible change in iOS 26.1 is the new Liquid Glass Control, a setting that allows users to adjust the transparency and color tint of the iPhone’s UI. Many users had complained that the ultra-glassy look of iOS 26 affected readability. Apple’s new control, available under Settings → Display & Brightness → Liquid Glass, now lets users choose between “Clear” and “Tinted” modes — striking a better balance between style and clarity.
Smarter, safer, and more connected
The update also brings improvements to Apple Intelligence, Apple’s on-device AI suite. Siri and system-wide suggestions now respond faster and adapt better to context, particularly in Messages, Notes, and Calendar.
For AirPods users, iOS 26.1 introduces expanded Live Translation, adding new languages and improving real-time speech detection accuracy – a feature especially useful for travelers and multilingual users.
Apple has also strengthened its child safety framework, improving detection of sensitive content and adding clearer parental controls in Screen Time and Messages.
App and performance updates
The Music app gets a refreshed mini-player with smoother gesture control, while Fitness now provides more accurate tracking for high-intensity workouts. The Camera app sees minor UI tweaks and faster portrait processing. Across the system, Apple has addressed several bugs and rolled out important security patches.
Who can install iOS 26.1
The update is available for all iPhones compatible with iOS 26 — starting from the iPhone 11 series and newer.
How to install
To install, users should:
- Back up their device using iCloud or Finder.
- Connect to Wi-Fi and ensure at least 50% battery.
- Go to Settings → General → Software Update and tap Download and Install.
iOS 26.1 may not bring sweeping new features, but it’s an important quality-of-life update -addressing user feedback, improving AI responsiveness, and making Apple’s ambitious Liquid Glass design more practical. For most users, it’s a must-install update offering smoother, smarter, and more balanced performance.
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