iOS 26 Clear Icons (2025): How to Enable, Customize & Fix Issues

With iOS 26, Apple has introduced its bold new Liquid Glass design system, giving iPhone users a fresh way to personalize their Home Screens. At the heart of this visual update is the Clear style for app icons and widgets. Clear icons remove solid colors and replace them with a translucent, layered glass effect that reacts dynamically to your wallpaper.

Whether you want a futuristic frosted look or a subtle adaptive design, Clear icons make your Home Screen feel more modern and immersive. In this guide, we’ll show you how to enable them, adjust for visibility, and fix common issues.

How to Turn On Clear Icons in iOS 26

Apple built icon customization directly into the Home Screen editor, making it easy to switch between styles.

Steps to Enable Clear Icons

1- Enter jiggle mode: Touch and hold an empty area on your Home Screen until apps start to wiggle.

2- Tap Edit: At the top of the screen, select Edit to open the customization menu.

3- Tap Customize: This opens the panel with icon and widget style options.

4- Select Clear: Icons and widgets instantly switch to the glass-like Clear style.

5- Choose a mode:

• Light → maximum transparency, blending softly with your wallpaper.
• Dark → translucent but with a darker base for stronger separation.
• Auto → adapts to your iPhone’s Light/Dark appearance setting.

5- Optional – Dim the wallpaper: Tap the sun icon in the Customize panel to lower brightness behind icons if labels become hard to read.

6- Apply: Tap outside the panel to lock in changes.

💡 Pro tip: You can also adjust icon size here. Large icons remove app labels for a minimalist look, while standard size keeps names visible.

Choosing the Best Clear Mode

Not sure which Clear option to use? It depends on your wallpaper and preference:

• Light Clear → Best for maximum glass effect and subtle shading.
• Dark Clear → Ideal for busy or bright wallpapers where text needs contrast.
• Auto Clear → Smart option if you switch between Light/Dark modes daily.

Fixing Clear Icons That Look Opaque or Grey

If your Clear icons don’t look transparent, the issue usually lies in accessibility settings or wallpaper interference. Here’s how to fix it.

Method 1: Turn Off Reduce Transparency

• Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.
• Disable Reduce Transparency.
• Return to the Home Screen—icons should now appear translucent.

Method 2: Turn Off Increase Contrast

• In the same menu, disable Increase Contrast.
• This prevents icons and labels from appearing too dark or heavy.

👉 Note: Using both Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast will strip out most translucency. If you rely on these settings, try Dark Clear + wallpaper dimming for readability instead.

Method 3: Confirm You’re Using Light Clear

• Long-press the Home Screen > Edit > Customize > Clear.
• Select Light for the most transparent style.

Method 4: Dim or Change Your Wallpaper

• Go back to the Customize panel and tap the sun icon to lower brightness behind icons.

• If readability is still an issue, choose a softer, less complex wallpaper.

Useful Extras

• Widgets match icons: When you enable Clear, widgets automatically adopt the same glass-like effect.
• Per-screen customization: Each Home Screen tied to a different Lock Screen can have its own icon style for work, personal use, or focus modes.
• iPad and Mac support: iPadOS 26 includes Clear icons via the same Customize panel. On macOS Tahoe, the setting appears under System Settings > Appearance.

Conclsuion

The Clear icon style in iOS 26 is one of Apple’s most striking visual updates in years. It adds depth, consistency, and a modern aesthetic to the iPhone Home Screen while still leaving plenty of flexibility for readability.

If you run into issues with icons looking opaque or hard to read, quick adjustments like disabling Reduce Transparency, dimming your wallpaper, or switching to Dark Clear can restore balance.

With Apple finally giving users more freedom to personalize the Home Screen, iOS 26 marks a step closer to the deep customization iPhone fans have long requested.