New iPhone Screen Customization Features in iOS 26: How to Personalize

With iOS 26, Apple takes iPhone interface personalization even further. The update introduces the Liquid Glass design, adding transparency to elements like app icons and widgets. These enhancements expand on features first introduced in iOS 18, where users gained tools to customize their home screen—removing app labels, changing icon colors, and rearranging layouts.

To remove app labels, long-press an empty area on the home screen to enter edit mode, select 'Edit,' then 'Customize.' In the menu, tap the icon with two differently sized squares—the icons will enlarge, and labels will disappear. Repeat the process to revert to the standard view.

Another standout feature is the ability to change icon and widget colors. In the 'Customize' menu, users can choose from four options: Default, Dark, Clear, and Tinted. Dark mode darkens icon backgrounds, potentially reducing battery consumption. Clear mode makes icons semi-transparent, while Tinted allows selecting any color via a gradient scale or wallpaper color picker.

App placement remains flexible: simply drag icons to desired positions. However, iOS 26 still enforces grid constraints—icons cannot overlap or be placed too closely together. Users can now experiment with unconventional layouts, such as arranging apps along the screen’s edges or grouping them by usage frequency.