Settings Should Be Changed Right After Updating to iOS 26

Certain default settings may not be advantageous for you. Many changes are occurring, including revamped applications, striking visual effects, and innovative AI-driven solutions.

Apple

Reduce the liquid glass effect

Undoubtedly, a prominent alteration in iOS 26 is the introduction of the Liquid Glass design, which is evident across the system, including the Control Center, default applications, and the Lock Screen. Although Apple has reduced certain transparency effects to enhance readability, the design may nevertheless render text and content less visible in specific circumstances.

If the new Liquid Glass aesthetic does not appeal to you, you can mitigate it by utilizing the Reduce Transparency feature. Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and activate Reduce Transparency. This maintains a streamlined style while enhancing the visibility of text and controls at a glance.

iOS 26 contains numerous innovative features; yet, some may impede routine usage. By implementing a few little adjustments, you can optimize your experience and configure your iPhone to function precisely as desired.

Disable message filtering

The Messages application in iOS 26 now has a feature named Screen Unknown Senders. It autonomously categorizes messages from unidentified senders into a distinct list, so maintaining the organization of your primary Messages stream. It also mutes notifications for these communications to prevent disturbance.

This appears promising; nevertheless, in my experience, this filter tends to operate rather aggressively. Delivery updates, verification codes, and other urgent messages frequently become obscured under the Unknown Senders tab. To view these messages, you must select the filter icon and choose Unknown Senders, which requires more effort.

To avoid the possibility of overlooking time-sensitive information, it is advisable to disengage the filter. To accomplish this, navigate to Settings > Apps > Messages and turn off Screen Unknown Senders. The Filter Spam option can remain activated, ensuring that evident garbage messages are excluded from your primary feed, while essential texts are consolidated in one location.

Activate Adaptive Power mode

The longevity of battery life remains a prevalent discussion with each new iOS iteration, and iOS 26 unveils Adaptive Power Mode. In contrast to Low Power Mode, it does not deactivate essential features. Instead, it employs on-device intelligence to analyze your usage habits and anticipate when additional battery power will be required.

It does not limit your iPhone's performance during gaming, filmmaking, or other resource-intensive activities. Instead, it implements nuanced modifications, such as slightly reducing screen brightness, restricting background activity, and modifying performance exclusively when intensive tasks are not in progress. The outcome is an extended battery lifespan without compromising the iPhone's use.

The Adaptive Power mode is pre-activated on the latest iPhone 17 models; however, for previous versions, it must be activated by navigating to Settings > Battery > Power Mode.

Hide large screenshot previews

The Visual Intelligence feature of iOS 26 is impressive. It enables you to capture a screenshot and promptly inquire about it with ChatGPT or conduct a reverse image search. This feature is beneficial for locating a product you observe; however, it also results in a substantial preview appearing each time you take a screenshot, regardless of whether you intended to look for it.

This is a challenge when attempting to capture many screenshots, as it necessitates closing the preview after each capture. To resolve the issue and display only a small thumbnail in the bottom-left corner, navigate to Settings > General > Screen Capture and  turn off Full-Screen Previews.

Restore the traditional layouts of Safari and Phone

In iOS 26, Apple restructured Safari, establishing a new "Compact" view as the default setting. This conceals aspects such as Bookmarks, Tabs, and the Share shortcut to establish a more streamlined, contemporary appearance. If you favor the conventional layout to which you are accustomed, you may restore it. Navigate to Settings > Apps > Safari and choose Bottom in the Tabs section. This reinstates the conventional arrangement of essential controls.

The Phone app features a new interface that is visually appealing but conceals certain key aspects, such as Missed Calls and Voicemails, under a filter menu. That may be acceptable if you infrequently consult them, but if, like me, you depend on those areas daily, the previous view is more efficient. To restore it, merely press the filter icon in the Phone application and choose Classic.