Quick answer
iOS 27 adds a system-wide slider that turns Liquid Glass transparency up or down. To find it, open Settings, pull down to reveal the search field and type "Liquid Glass" or "transparency". Drag the slider to taste. For fully solid backgrounds, turn on Reduce Transparency under Accessibility. It works on every iPhone that runs iOS 27.
What is the Liquid Glass slider?
The Liquid Glass slider is a control in iOS 27 that sets how see-through the system's glass-style surfaces look. Apple introduced the Liquid Glass design in iOS 26 with one fixed look for everyone. Some people liked the depth and translucency; others found text over busy wallpapers harder to read. iOS 27 lets you choose.
Apple announced the slider at WWDC 2026 as part of what it called Liquid Glass personalisation: a system-wide slider that dials transparency up or down, plus app icons with a layered, near-3D depth. It is one of the confirmed iOS 27 changes in our full iOS 27 features list.
How to adjust the Liquid Glass slider
The quickest, most reliable way to reach the control is Settings search, which finds it wherever it sits in your build.
- Open the Settings app.
- Swipe down slightly on the main Settings screen to show the search field.
- Type Liquid Glass. If nothing matches, try transparency.
- Tap the result for the Liquid Glass setting.
- Drag the slider towards the more transparent end for a stronger glass look, or the other way for more solid surfaces.
- Go back to the Home Screen and open Control Center or a notification to judge the result.
Try it with your usual wallpaper, since the effect depends heavily on what sits behind the glass.
Why we do not give a fixed menu path
Before WWDC, this guide described the slider under Settings › Display & Brightness, with four named presets and percentage values for each. Those details came from pre-launch reports, not from a shipping build, and we have not been able to verify them. Rather than send you to a menu that may not exist, we recommend Settings search, which works regardless of where Apple put the control.
Liquid Glass slider vs Reduce Transparency
The slider and Reduce Transparency do different jobs, and you can use both.
| Liquid Glass slider | Reduce Transparency | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Design preference | Accessibility setting |
| Control | Slider, from more to less transparent | On or off |
| Effect | Keeps the glass design, changes its intensity | Replaces see-through surfaces with solid backgrounds |
| Where | Search Settings for "Liquid Glass" | Settings › Accessibility › Display & Text Size › Reduce Transparency |
| New in iOS 27 | Yes | No, available for years |
If the goal is readability rather than looks, Reduce Transparency is the stronger option. It removes the see-through effect rather than softening it.
How to make the iPhone look solid instead of glassy
For the most opaque look iOS 27 offers, combine both settings.
- Move the Liquid Glass slider to its least transparent position.
- Open
Settings › Accessibility › Display & Text Size. - Turn on Reduce Transparency.
Check Control Center, notifications on the Lock Screen and the Dock. If they still look too busy, try a plainer wallpaper; glass effects pick up colour and detail from whatever is behind them.
How to undo your changes
Nothing here is permanent, and you can go back at any time.
- To return the glass effect to how it looked, search Settings for "Liquid Glass" again and move the slider back.
- To bring back transparency after using the accessibility setting, turn off Reduce Transparency in
Settings › Accessibility › Display & Text Size.
If you are on an iOS 27 beta and the setting behaves oddly, update to the newest build first. The current beta is iOS 27.2 beta 4 (24B5110a) and the current public release is iOS 27.0.1 (24A446).
Which iPhones and iPads have the slider?
Every iPhone that runs iOS 27 has the slider. That covers iPhone 11 and later plus iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation), up to iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Because it is a design setting rather than an Apple Intelligence feature, it does not need an A17 Pro chip. The iPhone XS, XS Max and XR do not run iOS 27, so they do not get it. Check your model in the iOS 27 supported devices list.
iPadOS 27 includes the same transparency slider. Five older iPads that ran iPadOS 26 do not get iPadOS 27; the iPadOS 27 supported iPads list shows which ones.
Does the slider affect battery life or performance?
We do not have reliable numbers, so we do not quote any. An earlier version of this page included minutes-per-day battery estimates for different settings on different iPhones. Those figures were not based on measurements of iOS 27, and we have removed them.
If you want longer battery life, the settings that make a real difference are well known: screen brightness, Background App Refresh and Location Services. Our battery tips for iOS 27 go through them. Apple's own performance claims for iOS 27, up to 30% faster app launches and up to 70% quicker photo loading, apply to the system as a whole rather than to this slider.
What does the slider change?
The slider changes the system's glass surfaces: the translucent panels and bars that iOS 26 introduced across the interface, such as Control Center, notifications and tab bars. It does not change your wallpaper itself.
Third-party apps are less predictable. Apps built with Apple's standard interface components are the most likely to follow the slider. Apps that draw their own custom interfaces may look the same whatever you choose.
What to do next
The slider is one of several display and comfort tweaks worth making on a new iOS 27 install. Our guide to the best iPhone settings to change covers the rest, from battery to privacy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Liquid Glass slider in iOS 27?
It is a system-wide control, new in iOS 27, that dials the transparency of the Liquid Glass design up or down. iOS 26 gave everyone the same glass look; the slider lets you choose how see-through it is. Apple announced it at WWDC 2026 alongside layered, near-3D app icons, and it is part of every iOS 27 install.
How do I adjust Liquid Glass transparency in iOS 27?
Open Settings, swipe down to show the search field and type Liquid Glass or transparency. Open the matching result and drag the slider: one way makes the glass more see-through, the other more solid. Settings search finds the control even if its location changes between builds, which is why we recommend it over a fixed menu path.
Can I turn off Liquid Glass completely?
Not with the slider, which keeps the glass design and changes its intensity. For solid, opaque backgrounds everywhere, turn on Settings › Accessibility › Display & Text Size › Reduce Transparency. That accessibility switch has been in iOS for years and removes the see-through effect across the system. Turn it off again to go back to your slider setting.
Which iPhones have the Liquid Glass slider?
Every iPhone that runs iOS 27 can use it: iPhone 11 and later, plus iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation). It is a design setting, not an Apple Intelligence feature, so it does not need an A17 Pro chip. iPadOS 27 includes the transparency slider too. The iPhone XS, XS Max and XR cannot run iOS 27.
Does the Liquid Glass slider save battery?
We have no reliable figures, so we do not give any. Pre-launch reports made specific battery claims for different slider settings, and we removed them because nobody had measured a shipping build. If battery life is your concern, screen brightness, background app activity and location access usually matter far more than how transparent the interface looks.
Does the slider change third-party apps?
It depends on how the app was built. The slider is aimed at the system interface, and apps that use Apple's standard components are the most likely to follow it. Apps with fully custom interfaces draw their own backgrounds and may look the same whatever you choose. If one app looks out of place after you adjust the slider, check for an update from its developer.