iOS 26 includes a system-wide redesign with transparent elements called Liquid Glass, which some folks love and other despise. However, you can enable a transparent effect for your iPhone app icons. Let’s look at how to do this.
Enable Clear App Icons
- Long-press an empty area on your Home Screen until the apps begin to jiggle.
- Tap Edit at the top-left of your screen.
- Select Customize from the drop-down menu.
- Tap Clear in the menu at the bottom of your screen to apply the see-through, glassy icon design.
- Tap anywhere outside the menu to save your changes.
Adjust Glass Clarity & Brightness
If the Clear icons darken your wallpaper too much or look too blurry, you can adjust the lensing intensity:
- Brightness: In the same Customize menu, tap the Sun icon at the top-left to disable dimming and brighten your underlying wallpaper.
- Reduce Blur: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle Reduce TransparencyON to disable the see-through liquid glass lensing effect completely.
- Increase Legibility: In that same Accessibility menu, turn Increase Contrast ON to give your apps a more solid background and separate the icons from your wallpaper
