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iOS 26.1 Adds Adjustable ‘Liquid Glass’ on iPhone; iOS 26.2 Tests Enhanced Safety Alerts, and iPadOS 26 Brings Big iPad Upgrades (Nov 9, 2025)

November 9, 2025
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iOS 26.1 Adds Adjustable ‘Liquid Glass’ on iPhone; iOS 26.2 Tests Enhanced Safety Alerts, and iPadOS 26 Brings Big iPad Upgrades (Nov 9, 2025)

Apple’s latest software cycle is producing a trio of meaningful changes across iPhone and iPad. A new Liquid Glass control in iOS 26.1 lets you tone down the ultra‑transparent look; the iOS 26.2 beta introduces Enhanced Safety Alerts with earthquake and imminent‑threat options plus a new alert tone; and iPadOS 26 adds a flexible windowing system, a super‑charged Dock, and an app menu bar that makes pro workflows feel at home on iPad. Here’s what’s new today and how to use it. [1]

Key takeaways

  • Liquid Glass control (iOS 26.1): A new setting lets you choose Clear or Tinted system glass to boost legibility without disabling transparency system‑wide. Find it in Settings → Display & Brightness → Liquid Glass. [2]
  • Optional privacy tweak: iOS 26.1 also adds a switch to disable the Lock Screen swipe‑to‑camera gesture if you want to prevent accidental or unauthorized launches. [3]
  • Enhanced Safety Alerts (iOS 26.2 beta): New controls under Settings → Notifications → Enhanced Safety Alerts for earthquakes and imminent threats, with improved, location‑assisted delivery and a distinctive alert tone. Availability varies by region. [4]
  • iOS 26.2 extras: Upgrades include urgent reminder alarms, offline Apple Music lyrics, a Lock Screen clock transparency slider for Liquid Glass, EU‑specific changes (AirPods Live Translation enabled; iPhone‑Watch Wi‑Fi sync removed). [5]
  • iPadOS 26 highlights: A new windowing system, a more capable Dock (always‑on, more apps, Files folders), and an app menu bar greatly improve multitasking on iPad. [6]

What’s new today (Nov 9, 2025)

Liquid Glass gets a practical toggle in iOS 26.1. If you loved the fresh look of iOS 26 but found some panels a little too see‑through, Apple now lets you pick between Clear (the original look) and Tinted (a more opaque treatment). This change lands as part of iOS 26.1, released earlier this week, and it aims to improve readability without forcing users into accessibility overrides. [7]

Safety takes center stage in the iOS 26.2 beta. A new Enhanced Safety Alerts section centralizes critical alerts—such as earthquakes and imminent threats—and adds a distinctive alert tone. Apple is also testing improved alert delivery that uses your location to boost reliability. As with all safety features, rollout depends on region and local feeds. [8]

iPadOS 26 continues the productivity push. On iPad, Apple’s new windowing system lets you freely size and place apps—and on a 13‑inch iPad Pro you can keep up to 12 apps on screen. Pair that with a more capable Dock (always visible, more app slots, and even Files folders) and an app menu bar that surfaces deeper controls, and the iPad feels tangibly more “desktop‑ready.” [9]

How to adjust Liquid Glass on your iPhone (iOS 26.1)

  1. Update to iOS 26.1 (Settings → General → Software Update). Apple lists iOS 26.1 as released on November 3, 2025. [10]
  2. Go to Settings → Display & Brightness → Liquid Glass.
  3. Choose Clear (maximum transparency) or Tinted (higher opacity for better contrast). You’ll see the look update immediately across system panels, widgets, and notifications. [11]

Pro tip: If you need the strongest text/background separation—for example in bright outdoor use—you can still use Accessibility options like Increase Contrast or Reduce Transparency; the new Tinted style simply gives a nicer middle ground. [12]

Bonus privacy tweak: To curb accidental shots from the Lock Screen, disable the camera swipe under Settings → Camera → Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera. [13]

iOS 26.2 beta: Enhanced Safety Alerts, plus quality‑of‑life upgrades

  • Enhanced Safety Alerts: New toggles for Earthquake and Imminent Threat alerts live under Settings → Notifications. Apple is also testing improved delivery (uses location for reliability) and a unique alert tone designed to cut through noise. Rollout and available alert types will vary by country. [14]
  • Reminders with alarms: Mark a task Urgent to attach an actual alarm—great for due‑by‑today items. [15]
  • Apple Music offline lyrics: Full lyrics (including translations and time‑synced highlights) are now available offline. [16]
  • Liquid Glass finesse: On the Lock Screen, a new clock transparency slider adds finer control beyond the system‑wide Clear/Tinted choice. [17]
  • EU‑specific changes:AirPods Live Translation expands to EU users; to comply with the Digital Markets Act, Apple is removing automatic Wi‑Fi network syncing between iPhone and Apple Watch in the EU. [18]

Reminder: iOS 26.2 is in beta; features and UI labels can change before public release. [19]

iPadOS 26: three upgrades that change how you work

  • New windowing system: Arrange and resize windows freely; on 13‑inch iPad Pro you can display up to 12 apps at once. Windows remember size and placement, so your layout sticks. [20]
  • Dock upgrades: Keep the Dock always on‑screen, store way more apps, and even pin Files app folders for quick drag‑and‑drop. Switching apps feels faster and more Mac‑like. [21]
  • Menu bar for apps: A context‑aware menu bar gives pro apps a consistent place to expose advanced commands and shortcuts, reducing hidden gestures and hunting through toolbars. [22]

Should you update today?

  • Yes for iOS 26.1: It’s a public release with security fixes and the new Liquid Glass control; install it via Settings → General → Software Update. [23]
  • Try the iOS 26.2 public beta only if you’re comfortable with pre‑release bugs: You’ll get Enhanced Safety Alerts early, plus quality‑of‑life additions, but expect rough edges. [24]

FAQ

Where is the Liquid Glass setting on iPhone?
Settings → Display & Brightness → Liquid Glass, then pick Clear or Tinted. [25]

Why can’t I turn Liquid Glass off entirely?
Apple’s design direction is to keep the new material system in place; if you need maximum separation, use Accessibility options like Reduce Transparency or Increase Contrast, or pick Tinted for a balanced look. [26]

What alerts are included in Enhanced Safety Alerts?
Controls for earthquakes and imminent threats, plus an improved alert delivery option. Availability varies by region and local authorities’ participation. [27]

What else is new in iOS 26.2?
Urgent reminder alarms, offline Apple Music lyrics, a Lock Screen clock transparency slider, EU additions and removals, and more. [28]

Sources & further reading

  • A step‑by‑step guide to the new Liquid Glass control in iOS 26.1 (updated Nov 9, 2025). [29]
  • Everything new in the iOS 26.2 beta, including Enhanced Safety Alerts and app updates. [30]
  • The iPadOS 26 features we’re already loving: windowing, Dock upgrades, and the menu bar. [31]
How To Update Your iPad #ipad#ios
Watch this video on YouTube.

References

1. www.livemint.com, 2. www.livemint.com, 3. www.theverge.com, 4. www.macrumors.com, 5. 9to5mac.com, 6. 9to5mac.com, 7. www.livemint.com, 8. 9to5mac.com, 9. 9to5mac.com, 10. support.apple.com, 11. www.livemint.com, 12. www.livemint.com, 13. www.theverge.com, 14. www.macrumors.com, 15. www.macrumors.com, 16. 9to5mac.com, 17. 9to5mac.com, 18. 9to5mac.com, 19. www.macrumors.com, 20. 9to5mac.com, 21. 9to5mac.com, 22. 9to5mac.com, 23. support.apple.com, 24. www.macrumors.com, 25. www.livemint.com, 26. www.livemint.com, 27. www.macrumors.com, 28. 9to5mac.com, 29. www.livemint.com, 30. www.macrumors.com, 31. 9to5mac.com

Mateusz Brzeziński

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