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 necessary 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 the whole lot new in iOS 26.1 and why you need to rush to replace your iPhone or iPad proper now.
Make Liquid Glass extra frosted
One of many major highlights of iOS 26 is the brand new Liquid Glass interface. Nonetheless, Apple’s try and 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 alter the looks of Liquid Glass. Now you possibly can 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.
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To do that, go to Settings > Show & Brightness > Liquid Glass and select the most suitable choice for you.
When you’re a part of the group of customers who have been sad with Liquid Glass in iOS 26.1, you’ll actually admire the brand new “Tinted” mode. After all, in case you like Liquid Glass, you don’t have to do something about it – and you may relaxation straightforward with out worrying about Apple backtracking on Liquid Glass now that there’s an possibility.
Don’t sleep by means 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 just under the Snooze button, which is identical measurement however a special colour.
Because of this, various 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 more durable to show off in iOS 26.1.
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To repair this, iOS 26.1 as soon as once more tweaks the alarm interface. Now, Apple has added a “Slide to Cease” characteristic, which requires customers to slip their finger from left to proper to show off alarms fully. However in case you assume that’s too sophisticated and wish 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 “Favor Single-Contact Actions” toggle. This may convey again the button to cease the alarm as an alternative of the brand new swipe gesture.
Cease by chance launching the digicam
Whereas iOS already provides an possibility for customers to take away the Digicam button from the Lock Display screen, the app can also be accessible by swiping from proper to left. If, for some motive, you need to fully take away entry to the Digicam app from the Lock Display screen, now you can accomplish that.
By going to Settings > Digicam and turning off the “Lock Display screen Swipe to Open Digicam” toggle, the Digicam app will now not be accessible by swiping your finger on the Lock Display screen. After all, you possibly can nonetheless entry the app in different methods, reminiscent of by urgent the Digicam Management on iPhone 16 or later. However that will also be turned off.
Though swiping to open the Digicam app is supposed to be a helpful shortcut, some customers complain about unintended 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 a substitute of getting to open the full-screen participant or press any buttons, all it’s good to do now’s swipe your finger on the mini participant to skip to the subsequent tune or return to the earlier one.
Give it a attempt after you replace: play an album or playlist, then decrease the participant and check the swipe gestures. Though it’s not a life-changing characteristic, it’s actually slicker than tapping the skip button.
Apple Music has a brand new skip gesture in iOS 26.1.
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Use Apple Intelligence in additional languages
Launched final yr, Apple Intelligence is what Apple calls its set of AI-based options. This consists of issues like Writing Instruments for reviewing textual content, Genmoji for creating your personal emojis, and Visible Intelligence for trying to find issues along with your iPhone digicam.
Apple Intelligence has been accessible within the following languages: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Chinese language (Simplified), Japanese, and Korean. With iOS 26.1, Apple is increasing assist for Apple Intelligence to extra languages. These embrace: Chinese language (Conventional), Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Portuguese (Portugal), Vietnamese, and Turkish.
When you communicate certainly one of these languages and have a suitable gadget (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 characteristic previously referred to as “Speedy Safety Responses.” Now known as “Safety Enhancements,” the characteristic 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 ensure your gadget is all the time safe with the newest patches, go to Settings > Privateness & Safety > Background Safety Enhancements and allow the Robotically Set up possibility.
Safety updates will probably be a lot much less painful after the iOS 26.1 replace is put in.
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This may increasingly 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 maintain an app all the time seen on the display screen, 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 characteristic 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, however it’s again in iOS 26.1.
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Replace now
For individuals 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 further options. And in case you’re nonetheless operating iOS 18 for some motive, now is perhaps the fitting time to replace to iOS 26 and make the most of the whole lot new in iOS 26.1.
You possibly can replace your gadget by going to Settings > Common > Software program Replace. It’s accessible for all iPhones and iPads already suitable with iOS 26.
