Apple today introduced a groundbreaking new software design that redefines the visual and tactile experience across its devices. Unveiled under the name Liquid Glass, the design is a translucent, adaptive material that brings new expressiveness and delight to iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 261 — marking the first time a unified design language spans all Apple platforms.
Crafted to feel both fresh and instantly familiar, Liquid Glass dynamically reflects and refracts surroundings, bringing life and movement to interface elements like app icons, widgets, and controls. “This is our broadest software design update ever,” said Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of Human Interface Design. “Liquid Glass combines the optical elegance of glass with a level of fluidity only Apple can achieve.”
This visually rich material extends from the smallest UI components to the largest system areas — including the Lock Screen, Control Center, and Home Screen. When interacting with updated apps like Safari, FaceTime, and Apple Music, users will see controls and navigation elements morph and respond to their gestures, creating a deeply immersive experience that prioritizes content while enhancing usability.
Apple’s design overhaul also brings major updates to app interfaces across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Tab bars shrink and expand seamlessly during scrolling, while new sidebars on iPadOS and macOS refract and reflect ambient colors for greater context. Every interaction, from flipping switches to browsing media, is now elevated with Liquid Glass’s signature fluidity.
Developers, too, are invited to join this design evolution. Updated APIs for SwiftUI, UIKit, and AppKit make it easier than ever to build with Liquid Glass elements, while new tools like Icon Composer allow for the creation of dynamic icons that shine across all appearances. With this launch, Apple sets a bold new standard in software design — one where elegance meets interaction.
