iOS 26 Customizations – New Features & iPhone 17 Tips

What’s New in iOS 26 & Why You’ll Want to Customize

Apple isn’t just refreshing its interface, it’s giving users tools to express personality, improve accessibility, and enhance day-to-day usability. Whether you’re chasing a sleek futuristic aesthetic or need adjustments for better readability and reduced eye strain, iOS 26 customization delivers.

Liquid Glass Design: What It Is & How It Changes the UI

Liquid Glass is Apple’s new transparent, fluid-inspired design language that powers nearly every screen in iOS 26. With layered depth, light refractions, and adaptive transparency, it creates a dynamic look that shifts as you interact.

Liquid Glass isn’t just about visuals — it makes your iPhone’s interface feel alive, immersive, and more intuitive.

• Adaptive transparency: Elements blend seamlessly with your wallpaper while keeping text readable.
  
• Refined animations: Subtle transitions make navigating smoother and more natural.
  
• Personal control: You can reduce transparency or adjust contrast if you prefer clarity over aesthetics.
  

👉 If you’ve ever felt iOS was “too static,” this design finally injects motion and personality without clutter.

Adaptive Lock Screen & Spatial Scenes: Dynamic Time, 3D Effects

The lock screen has been completely reimagined with adaptive time placement and spatial scenes that add a new dimension to how your iPhone greets you.

The lock screen now becomes a personalized, glanceable hub instead of just a clock and wallpaper.

• Dynamic time positioning: The time shifts intelligently to avoid covering faces, subjects, or important photo elements.
  
• 3D spatial scenes: Depth effects create an immersive layered look, making photos feel alive.
  
• Interactive widgets: Combine glanceable info with a design that adapts to your wallpaper.
  

👉 For iPhone 17 users, the A18 chip enhances these effects, giving you buttery-smooth visuals without draining battery.

App Icon Styles: Clear, Tinted, Light/Dark, Matching MagSafe Cases

Apple is finally delivering one of the most requested features: customizable app icons directly in iOS 26. No third-party hacks, no shortcuts — just system-wide icon styling options.

You can match your iPhone’s home screen aesthetic to your mood, outfit, or even your MagSafe case.

• Clear icons: A minimal, glass-like look that blends with Liquid Glass UI.
  
• Tinted icons: Subtle color overlays for uniformity.
  
• Light & dark sets: Perfectly aligned with system themes for day and night use.
  
• MagSafe case matching: Change your iPhone’s case and the icons can automatically adapt to complement it.
  

👉 This feature transforms the entire vibe of your home screen in just a few taps, making personalization effortless and fun.

Customize iOS 26: Step-by-Step Personalization Guide

Clear, action-first instructions so you can apply iOS 26 customizations now — no fluff, just results. Each mini-guide below gives one user benefit, followed by practical numbered steps, quick tips, and a short troubleshooting note.

Personalizing Widgets & Layouts on Lock & Home Screen

Put the information you need most — calendar, travel, health, music — exactly where you glance first, so you spend less time opening apps and more time doing things.

Quick steps (lock screen + home screen):

1. Open Lock Screen edit: Wake your iPhone, long-press the Lock Screen, then tap Customize or the + to create a new Lock Screen. This is where you’ll add spatial wallpapers and widget slots.
   
2. Add Lock Screen widgets: Tap the widget area below the clock, choose the widgets you want (calendar, weather, transit, etc.), and tap Done. Keep widgets to 2–3 for fastest glanceability.
   
3. Arrange Home Screen widgets: From the Home Screen, long-press an empty area until apps jiggle → tap + → pick a widget and size → drag it where you want. Use larger widgets for information-dense apps (calendar, maps).
   
4. Create smart stacks: In the widget gallery, stack compatible widgets (or drag one on top of another). Enable smart rotation so the stack shows the most relevant widget automatically. Benefit: one area shows multiple data types without clutter.
   
5. Link Lock Screens to Focus modes: Create multiple Lock Screens (e.g., Work, Sleep) and link each to a Focus — your widgets and layout update automatically when the Focus changes. Benefit: context-aware layouts that match your day.
   

Pro tips:

• Use a compact widget for glance items (battery, calendar) and reserve larger widgets for active tasks (media controls).
  
• Keep high-contrast widgets near readable areas if you use the Liquid Glass UI to avoid legibility issues.
  

Troubleshoot: Widgets not updating? Toggle the app’s background refresh in Settings or remove and re-add the widget (often fixes stale data).

Using Visual Intelligence & Live Translation for Smarter Use

Turn your iPhone into an instant assistant — translate calls and messages in real time, extract and act on text from photos or on-screen content, and save steps in daily tasks.

Visual Intelligence — step by step:

1. Quick access: From Control Center, tap the Visual Intelligence control, or press-and-hold the Camera Control or Action button to trigger a visual search. Aim the camera at text, a poster, or an object you want to act on.
   
2. Take action on recognized content: When Visual Intelligence highlights text or an object, pick the suggested action (copy text, create calendar event from a poster, look up an item, or ask for more info). Benefit: reduce copy-paste and manual lookup steps.
   
3. Use screenshots: Capture a screenshot and open Visual Intelligence to analyze on-screen content (e.g., extract a phone number or identify a landmark). Benefit: analyze content inside any app quickly.
   

Live Translation — step by step:

1. Phone / FaceTime calls: During a call, tap More → Live Translation, select your languages, then Start Translation. Spoken translations are delivered in real time.
   
2. With AirPods: Start Live Translation via the Translate app, Siri (“Siri, start Live Translation”), or the new AirPods gesture; translations can route directly to your AirPods for private conversations. Benefit: seamless multi-language conversation without apps.
   
3. Messages translation: Inside Messages, enable automatic translation for a conversation (tap the contact name and toggle automatic translate) so incoming messages are translated on the fly. Benefit: fewer taps, faster understanding.
   

Pro tips:

• Download language packs ahead of travel to avoid delays on first use.
  
• Use Live Translation with AirPods in noisy places — ANC plus translation routing improves clarity.
  

Troubleshoot: If Visual Intelligence or Live Translation doesn’t appear, confirm your device supports Apple Intelligence features and that you’re on the latest iOS 26 update; some features are limited to newer models.

Custom Backgrounds & Genmoji / Image Playground Features

Create unique wallpapers and expressive emojis that reflect your personality — all on-device, private, and fast.

Create Spatial / dynamic Lock Screen backgrounds (step by step):

1. Make a Spatial Scene: Long-press the Lock Screen → + → choose a photo with a clear foreground and background → enable Spatial Scene (if available). The system will generate a layered, 3D effect. Benefit: your lock screen gains depth and movement with a single tap.
   
2. Set dynamic wallpapers: In Settings → Wallpaper or from Photos share sheet, choose Set as Wallpaper and enable dynamic or adaptive options (responds to light/time). Benefit: a wallpaper that feels alive and adapts to environment.
   

Create Genmoji (step by step):

1. Open a text field: Tap a text field → open the emoji keyboard → tap Genmoji at the top right of the keyboard.
   
2. Build your Genmoji: Mix up to seven elements (concepts, expressions, outfits, accessories) or generate from a photo / prompt. Save and insert directly into Messages or Notes. Benefit: instantly-personalized emojis without third-party apps.
   

Use Image Playground (step by step):

1. Open Image Playground: Launch the Image Playground app or access it from Messages/Freeform. Enter a prompt, combine concepts, or use a photo from your library.
   
2. Generate and refine: Swipe to generate variations; pick one, then export it as a wallpaper, sticker, or Genmoji element. Benefit: produce custom art assets for your home screen and conversations — fast and private.
   

Compatibility note: Image Playground and Genmoji are available on Apple Intelligence–capable devices; some creative features may be limited to newer iPhone models. Check device compatibility before relying on advanced generation.

Pro tips:

• For best Spatial Scene results, choose photos with clear separation between subject and background (people or objects with distinct foreground).
  
• Save favorite Genmoji sets and use them as custom sticker packs inside Messages.
  

Troubleshoot: If you don’t see Genmoji or Image Playground, update to the latest iOS 26 patch and confirm Apple Intelligence is enabled; some image generation may require on-device model downloads (happens on first use).

Performance, Security & Compatibility Consideration

Before customizing iOS 26, it’s important to know which iPhones support the full feature set, how to manage performance impacts, and what new security protections Apple has built into the update. This guide will walk you through the key points step by step.

Which iPhones Get All iOS 26 Features & Limitations (iPhone 15, 16, 17)

Step 1: Check if your device is eligible. iOS 26 runs on iPhone 15, iPhone 16, iPhone 17, and select older models, but not all features are universal.
Step 2: Know the differences:

• iPhone 17 – Full access to all iOS 26 customizations, Apple Intelligence tools, and advanced design updates.
  
• iPhone 16 – Most features available, but AI-powered tools like Genmoji or Image Playground may be limited.
  
• iPhone 15 – Compatible with iOS 26, but lacks certain Apple Intelligence features that require newer chipsets.
  Step 3: Update to iOS 26 through Settings > General > Software Update to confirm compatibility and unlock features.
  

👉 By knowing your device’s limits, you’ll avoid confusion and focus on the customizations that matter to you.

Battery & Readability: Dealing with Eye Strain, Transparency Issues

Step 1: If you notice eye strain from transparency or 3D effects, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.
Step 2: Enable Reduce Transparency or Increase Contrast to make UI elements easier to read.
Step 3: Use Dark Mode or True Tone for better readability, especially in low light.
Step 4: Manage battery by turning off Background App Refresh for apps you don’t use often.
Step 5: If animations feel heavy, enable Reduce Motion under Accessibility to improve performance.

👉 These quick adjustments keep your iPhone responsive while protecting your eyes and battery life.

Security Upgrades: Call Screening, Privacy Tools, Apple Intelligence Safeguards

Step 1: Enable Call Screening in the Phone app to block spam and suspicious numbers automatically.
Step 2: Use the new Privacy Dashboard under Settings to see which apps are accessing your camera, microphone, or location.
Step 3: Adjust permissions — remove access for apps you don’t trust.
Step 4: Explore Apple Intelligence Safeguards:

• On-device processing keeps your personal data secure.
  
• Sensitive requests are handled privately without being shared to external servers.
  Step 5: Set up App Lock for individual apps if available on your device to add another layer of security.
  

👉 These tools make iOS 26 one of the most private and secure iPhone updates yet, giving you peace of mind while you customize.

Lesser-Known iOS 26 Customization Tricks You Might Have Missed

Beyond the big design overhauls and lock screen upgrades, iOS 26 hides small but powerful customization tricks that can make your iPhone 17 (and other supported models) feel smarter and more personal. Follow these steps to unlock features many users overlook.

Customizing the Camera & Audio Input Controls

Step 1: Open the Control Center and tap the “+” button under Settings > Control Center.
Step 2: Add the new Camera Controls toggle — this lets you quickly switch between video modes, resolutions, or lenses.
Step 3: Customize Audio Input from Control Center: long-press the microphone icon to swap between built-in mic, AirPods, or external audio devices.
Step 4: Save your setup — iOS 26 remembers your last-used configuration for faster shooting or recording next time.

👉 This saves time and ensures you’re always capturing content the way you want without diving into full settings menus.

Using the Lens-Cleaning Hint & Panorama Improvements

Step 1: Open the Camera app — if the lens is dirty or smudged, iOS 26 will now flash a Lens Cleaning Hint on-screen.
Step 2: Wipe your lens with a microfiber cloth for sharper shots.
Step 3: Try the updated Panorama mode — improved edge correction and smoother stitching make wide shots more seamless.
Step 4: Tilt your phone slowly when prompted for best results; iOS 26’s motion calibration will guide you.

👉 These upgrades keep your photos crisp and professional without requiring editing apps.

Custom Snooze Times, Calendar / Preview App Tweaks

Step 1: Open the Clock app and tap Alarm. Select an alarm and choose Custom Snooze instead of the default 9 minutes.
Step 2: Set any snooze interval — shorter for quick naps, longer for mornings when you need more rest.
Step 3: In Calendar, use the new quick color-coding feature to organize events by type (work, personal, travel).
Step 4: Open the Preview app (Files/Notes integration) to annotate PDFs or images directly with a new set of customizable pens and highlights.
Step 5: Save and share your edited files instantly without needing third-party apps.

👉 These small tweaks add up to a faster, more personalized iPhone experience that saves you time daily.

How to Fix Common Issues After Updating

Even the best iOS updates can cause hiccups. If you’ve just upgraded to iOS 26 and notice problems with Face ID, battery drain, overheating, or UI readability, follow these quick fixes to restore smooth performance.

Resolving Face ID / Feature Breaks

Step 1: Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and reset Face ID if recognition is inconsistent.
Step 2: Re-enroll your face by scanning in good lighting and at different angles for better accuracy.
Step 3: Check for app updates in the App Store — some third-party apps may break after an iOS update.
Step 4: Restart your iPhone to clear temporary glitches.
Step 5: If problems continue, run a full reset of Face ID or wait for Apple’s next patch update.

👉 These steps usually fix Face ID breaks without needing service.

Mitigating Battery Drain & Thermal Performance Post-Update

Step 1: After an update, allow 24–48 hours for iOS 26 to finish background indexing.
Step 2: Go to Settings > Battery and review which apps are consuming the most power.
Step 3: Disable Background App Refresh for apps you don’t use daily.
Step 4: Turn off Location Services for apps that don’t need constant tracking.
Step 5: If your iPhone overheats, remove the case temporarily and avoid charging while gaming or video streaming.

👉 With these adjustments, battery life and performance usually stabilize within a couple of days.

Adjusting UI for Accessibility (Reduce Transparency, Contrast, Motion, etc.)

Step 1: Open Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.
Step 2: Enable Reduce Transparency to minimize blurry or layered effects.
Step 3: Toggle Increase Contrast for sharper separation between UI elements.
Step 4: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and switch on Reduce Motion to cut down on heavy animations.
Step 5: Use Bold Text or Larger Text options for improved readability if you struggle with eye strain.

👉 These tweaks not only fix readability issues but also improve comfort during long iPhone sessions.

FAQs & Quick Answers iOS 26

Q: How to customize iOS 26 lock screen?

A: Long-press the Lock Screen > tap Customize > add widgets, choose wallpapers, and apply new Spatial Scenes for 3D effects.

Q: What is Liquid Glass in iOS 26?

Liquid Glass is the new dynamic UI design that creates a smooth, translucent, glass-like appearance across iOS.

Q: How to enable Liquid Glass design?

Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > enable Liquid Glass Effects under Appearance.

Q: How to change iOS 26 Liquid Glass design?

Adjust transparency, tint, and depth under Display settings, or switch between Light/Dark variations for a new look.

Q: How do I change app icon style in iOS 26?

Hold the Home Screen > tap Customize > select App Icon Style (Clear, Tinted, Light/Dark, or MagSafe-matching).

Q: What are the iPhone 17 iOS 26 new features?

iPhone 17 with iOS 26 gets full Apple Intelligence tools, Liquid Glass UI, Spatial Scenes, advanced camera modes, and Genmoji/Image Playground.

Q: What are the battery life tips for iOS 26?

Turn off Background App Refresh, use Dark Mode, manage Location Services, and enable Low Power Mode when needed.

Q: Visual Intelligence – how to use in iOS 26?

Open the Camera or Photos app > point at text/object > tap the highlight to copy, call, translate, or search instantly.

Q: Does iOS 26 support live translation in Messages?

Yes, iOS 26 supports real-time translation in Messages and calls using Apple Intelligence.

Q: How to reduce transparency / eye strain in iOS 26?

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > enable Reduce Transparency or Increase Contrast.

Q: Which iPhones are compatible with all iOS 26 features?

iPhone 17 supports all features. iPhone 16 has most features, while iPhone 15 is limited in Apple Intelligence tools.

Q: How to use spatial scenes on lock screen in iOS 26?

Long-press Lock Screen > Customize > select Spatial Scenes and pick a 3D motion effect.

Q: How to use call screening in iOS 26?

Open Settings > Phone > Call Screening and turn it on to automatically filter spam and unknown callers.

Q: How to use call recording in iOS 26?

Go to Phone app > Settings > Call Recording and toggle on. You’ll see a recording button during active calls.