Apple May Add a Systemwide Liquid Glass Opacity Slider in iOS 27

Apple appears committed to its new Liquid Glass design language, even after major changes within its human interface design team. Instead of moving away from the glossy, translucent look introduced in iOS 26, the company is now reportedly working on giving users more control over it.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is developing a systemwide opacity slider for iOS 27. This feature would allow users to adjust how strong or subtle the glass-like effect appears across the entire interface.

Why Apple Introduced Liquid Glass

The Liquid Glass design was first introduced during WWDC 2025 as a bold visual shift across iOS and macOS. It brought a layered, translucent aesthetic that reflects light and depth, similar to what Apple has been building with visionOS.

Interestingly, the redesign also served another purpose. Reports suggest Apple used the dramatic new interface to shift attention away from its relatively modest AI announcements at the time. The visual overhaul became the main talking point, drawing focus toward design instead of missing expectations around artificial intelligence.

Leadership Changes Didn’t Change the Direction

There was speculation late last year that Apple might abandon Liquid Glass after longtime design leader Alan Dye left the company for Meta, taking several designers with him.

However, those concerns now appear overstated. Apple’s new interface leadership, including Steve Lemay and key contributors like Chan Karunamuni, were already deeply involved in creating the Liquid Glass system.

Because the design is also closely tied to visionOS and Apple’s broader ecosystem strategy, a sudden reversal would be unlikely. Internal builds of iOS 27 and macOS 27 reportedly show no signs of Apple moving away from the current design language.

A Response to User Feedback

While Apple is sticking with Liquid Glass, it is clearly listening to feedback.

One of the most common complaints has been readability, especially when text overlaps with bright or complex backgrounds. Some users have found the transparency effects visually appealing but not always practical.

Apple has already started addressing this in iOS 26 updates by introducing settings that reduce the intensity of the effect in certain areas, like the Lock Screen clock.

The new systemwide opacity slider would take this further by allowing users to adjust the effect across the entire operating system, including app folders, navigation bars, and the Home Screen.

Technical Challenges Still Being Solved

Building a systemwide control for transparency is more complex than it sounds.

According to reports, Apple engineers have run into technical challenges when trying to apply a consistent opacity adjustment across all UI elements. Different parts of the system handle visual layers differently, making a universal slider difficult to implement smoothly.

If Apple can overcome these issues, the feature could debut with iOS 27 later this fall.

What Else Apple Is Working On

The design team is also focused on several other major projects.

Apple is continuing development of a chatbot-style Siri redesign, which is expected to bring more advanced conversational capabilities. The team is also working on software for upcoming smart home hardware and adapting macOS for future touch-screen MacBook models.

A More Flexible Future for Apple’s Design

Rather than abandoning Liquid Glass, Apple seems to be evolving it.

The addition of a systemwide opacity slider would give users more control, allowing them to choose between a bold, visually rich interface or a cleaner, more readable experience.

If implemented well, this approach could strike a balance between Apple’s design vision and everyday usability—something that will be increasingly important as its software continues to expand across more devices and form factors.