iOS 26: Lock Screen, Home Screen & App Redesign

iOS 26: A Redesign with Liquid Glass

Apple’s unveiling of the Liquid Glass redesign at WWDC 2025 signals substantial changes coming to native features and applications within the new iOS 26.

Lock Screen and Home Screen Enhancements

Updates to both the Lock Screen and Home Screen are being implemented to harmonize with the overarching Liquid Glass aesthetic. A new custom font, San Francisco, will be utilized for displaying the date and time on the Lock Screen.

This font will dynamically adjust its size, expanding to fill available space based on the chosen Lock Screen image. For instance, when using a photograph featuring a sky backdrop, the time display will stretch to occupy the sky area without obscuring the primary subject of the image.

Furthermore, Lock Screen images will gain a more dynamic quality through an AI-driven 3D effect. Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, described this feature as a way of “bringing favorite memories to life.” Tilting the iPhone will create the illusion of the background subject emerging from the image.

App Icon Customization and Music Visualization

Apple will continue to provide users with options for customizing app icon appearances. As part of the Liquid Glass redesign, many native app icons are being redesigned with both dark mode and a new all-clear visual style in mind.

While listening to music on a locked screen, users may now experience animated visual representations of the currently playing track, mirroring a feature already available on Spotify. Artists will have the ability to upload looping short clips from their music videos for display.

Updates to Native iOS Applications

Several core iOS applications, including Camera, Photos, Safari, FaceTime, Phone, and CarPlay, will receive visual and functional improvements in iOS 26.

Camera and Photos App Refinements

The Camera app is being streamlined to facilitate easier access to frequently used settings. This includes adjustments for brightness and aperture, as well as quick toggling between photo and video modes.

Responding to user feedback, Apple is reintroducing tabs to the Photos app, allowing seamless switching between the library and collections views. This functionality was previously removed in a recent update.

Safari and Communication App Overhauls

The Safari redesign will feature web pages extending to the screen's edges, maximizing viewing space.

FaceTime will introduce a new landing page showcasing personalized contact posters for frequently contacted individuals. These posters will include autoplaying video messages as users scroll.

Updates to the Phone app mirror those in FaceTime, prioritizing frequently contacted individuals. The new design merges favorites with the contacts list, bringing favorites to the forefront.

CarPlay Enhancements

The updates also extend to Apple CarPlay. Users will now be able to display widgets, quickly reply to messages, and pin important conversations. For example, a flight status widget could allow drivers to monitor a friend’s flight information while en route to the airport.