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Is the Liquid Glass UI on iOS 26 Too Hard to Read?
The release of iPadOS 26 and iOS 26 introduced the “Liquid Glass” design language, a visually striking but often functionally difficult aesthetic. While the translucent layers and blurred backgrounds look modern, they frequently sacrifice contrast for style. This creates significant friction for users trying to distinguish between active windows, buttons, and background elements.
Fortunately, Apple includes a powerful visibility tool within its Accessibility suite called Show Borders. This setting addresses low-contrast frustrations by applying distinct outlines to interactive elements.
Why “Show Borders” Matters for Usability
The core issue with Liquid Glass is visual blending. Without defined edges, app windows and control centers bleed into wallpapers or other apps. This ambiguity slows down workflow, particularly on iPadOS where multitasking relies on precise window management.
Enabling Show Borders forces the operating system to render a high-contrast line around buttons, toggle switches, and window frames. This creates immediate visual separation. It does not disable the transparency effects entirely but frames them, ensuring you know exactly where a touch target begins and ends.
This adjustment is essential for:
- Multitasking: Clearly defining the edges of overlapping windows on iPad.
- Accessibility: Assisting users with visual impairments or contrast sensitivity.
- Efficiency: Reducing the cognitive load required to identify interactive areas.
Step-by-Step Guide to Enabling Button Shapes
Follow this procedure to activate clear boundaries on your device:
- Launch the Settings application on your iPhone or iPad.
- Navigate to the Accessibility menu.
- Select Display & Text Size.
- Locate the Show Borders switch and toggle it to the ON position.
Once active, the change is immediate. You will notice that floating windows in Stage Manager gain a crisp outline, and control center modules become distinct entities rather than floating blurs.
Mac Compatibility Notes (macOS Tahoe)
It is important to note that macOS Tahoe does not currently support the specific “Show Borders” command found in the mobile operating systems. Mac users facing similar visibility issues have two primary alternatives:
- Increase Contrast: Found in System Settings > Accessibility > Display. This significantly alters the UI appearance, often resulting in a harsh, high-contrast look that some designers find unappealing.
- Third-Party Utilities: Applications like Alan offer a middle ground. These tools specifically draw borders around the active foreground window, mimicking the iPadOS functionality without altering the entire system’s color palette.