Simply over a month after the official launch of iOS 26 to the general public, Apple is now rolling out iOS 26.1, the primary main replace to Apple’s new iPhone OS. Whereas the 26.1 replace isn’t an enormous one, it does convey some vital new settings and interface tweaks.
From an possibility to regulate the depth of Liquid Glass to new gestures on the Lock Display screen and the Music app, learn on as we dig into all the pieces new in iOS 26.1 and why it is best to rush to replace your iPhone or iPad proper now.
Make Liquid Glass extra frosted
One of many predominant highlights of iOS 26 is the brand new Liquid Glass interface. Nevertheless, Apple’s try to make its working system look brisker and extra trendy has resulted in as many complaints as compliments.
After many makes an attempt to fine-tune Liquid Glass, Apple determined to give customers management over the interface. That’s as a result of iOS 26.1 provides a brand new toggle to radically regulate the looks of Liquid Glass. Now you may select between “Clear” mode to stay with Liquid Glass’s transparency or “Tinted” mode for larger opacity and higher distinction.
Now you can choose out of Liquid Glass.
Foundry
To do that, go to Settings > Show & Brightness > Liquid Glass and select the best choice for you.
If you happen to’re a part of the group of customers who have been sad with Liquid Glass in iOS 26.1, you’ll definitely respect the brand new “Tinted” mode. After all, in case you like Liquid Glass, you don’t have to do something about it – and you’ll relaxation simple with out worrying about Apple backtracking on Liquid Glass now that there’s an possibility.
Don’t sleep by way of alarms anymore
iOS 26 introduced one other small however impactful change to the lives of iPhone customers: the alarm interface. Some customers didn’t like how Apple made the cease alarm button a lot bigger in iOS 26 and positioned it slightly below the Snooze button, which is identical dimension however a special coloration.
Because of this, quite a lot of customers have claimed that they’re oversleeping as a result of they turned off the alarm as an alternative of hitting the snooze proper after waking up.
Alarms are a lot tougher to show off in iOS 26.1.
Foundry
To repair this, iOS 26.1 as soon as once more tweaks the alarm interface. Now, Apple has added a “Slide to Cease” function, which requires customers to slip their finger from left to proper to show off alarms utterly. However in case you suppose that’s too sophisticated and need the outdated Cease button again, right here’s what you are able to do.
As soon as you put in iOS 26, go to Settings > Accessibility > Contact and allow the “Want Single-Contact Actions” toggle. It will convey again the button to cease the alarm as an alternative of the brand new swipe gesture.
Cease by chance launching the digital camera
Whereas iOS already provides an possibility for customers to take away the Digital camera button from the Lock Display screen, the app can also be accessible by swiping from proper to left. If, for some cause, you wish to utterly take away entry to the Digital camera app from the Lock Display screen, now you can achieve this.
By going to Settings > Digital camera and turning off the “Lock Display screen Swipe to Open Digital camera” toggle, the Digital camera app will not be accessible by swiping your finger on the Lock Display screen. After all, you may nonetheless entry the app in different methods, akin to by urgent the Digital camera Management on iPhone 16 or later. However that will also be turned off.
Though swiping to open the Digital camera app is supposed to be a helpful shortcut, some customers complain about unintentional launches when the iPhone is of their pocket, leading to extreme battery drain. If that’s the case, iOS 26.1 is the replace for you.
Swipe to alter tracks
iOS 26.1 additionally makes it simpler to skip songs within the Apple Music app. As an alternative of getting to open the full-screen participant or press any buttons, all you have to do now’s swipe your finger on the mini participant to skip to the subsequent track or return to the earlier one.
Give it a strive after you replace: play an album or playlist, then decrease the participant and take a look at the swipe gestures. Though it’s not a life-changing function, it’s definitely slicker than tapping the skip button.
Apple Music has a brand new skip gesture in iOS 26.1.
Foundry
Use Apple Intelligence in additional languages
Launched final 12 months, Apple Intelligence is what Apple calls its set of AI-based options. This contains issues like Writing Instruments for reviewing textual content, Genmoji for creating your individual emojis, and Visible Intelligence for trying to find issues along with your iPhone digital camera.
Apple Intelligence has been obtainable within the following languages: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Chinese language (Simplified), Japanese, and Korean. With iOS 26.1, Apple is increasing help for Apple Intelligence to extra languages. These embrace: Chinese language (Conventional), Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Portuguese (Portugal), Vietnamese, and Turkish.
If you happen to converse one in every of these languages and have a suitable system (iPhone 15 Professional or later), go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri after updating to iOS 26.1 and ensure to allow the Apple Intelligence toggle.
Shortly patch safety holes
As we beforehand reported right here at Macworld, iOS 26.1 revamped a function previously often called “Fast Safety Responses.” Now known as “Safety Enhancements,” the function can robotically and silently set up safety patches in your iPhone or iPad with out requiring you to obtain a brand new model of iOS.
If you wish to be sure your system is at all times safe with the newest patches, go to Settings > Privateness & Safety > Background Safety Enhancements and allow the Mechanically Set up possibility.
Safety updates will likely be a lot much less painful after the iOS 26.1 replace is put in.
Foundry
This may occasionally sound like a small factor, however many customers overlook to put in iOS updates. That’s why having the choice to put in safety patches robotically with none motion is definitely large.
Get Slide Over again on iPad
Excellent news for iPad customers. iPadOS 26.1 brings again Slide Over, one of many iPad’s multitasking options that lets customers preserve an app at all times seen on the display, overlaying different apps.
Though iPadOS 26 has improved multitasking and window administration in some ways, the removing of Slide Over has left some iPad customers upset. Fortunately, Apple listened to the suggestions and introduced the function again.
This time, customers will discover Slide Over by tapping and holding the inexperienced resize button within the upper-left nook of any app window.
Slide Over disappeared in iOS 26, but it surely’s again in iOS 26.1.
Foundry
Replace now
For many who have already up to date to iOS 26, the replace to model 26.1 makes the system much more dependable and safe, and provides some additional options. And in case you’re nonetheless working iOS 18 for some cause, now may be the suitable time to replace to iOS 26 and reap the benefits of all the pieces new in iOS 26.1.
You may replace your system by going to Settings > Basic > Software program Replace. It’s obtainable for all iPhones and iPads already suitable with iOS 26.
