Can I make a window made of glass?
Asked on 06/16/2025
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Yes, you can create a window made of glass using Apple's new design materials introduced at WWDC. The "Liquid Glass" material is a key feature that allows developers to create visually appealing and dynamic interfaces. This material is designed to float above the content, providing a distinct layer for navigation and controls. It adapts to its surroundings, maintaining clarity and focus within the UI hierarchy.
For example, in the session Build an AppKit app with the new design, it is explained how the liquid glass material can be used to transform the appearance of a Mac window, altering the window shape and framing key structural regions in glass. The toolbar elements are placed on a glass material, enhancing the sense of hierarchy within the window.
Additionally, in the session Meet Liquid Glass, it is discussed how liquid glass can be used effectively, including guidelines to avoid using glass on glass to prevent a cluttered interface.
These sessions provide insights into how you can implement glass-like effects in your app's UI, making use of the new design system and APIs provided by Apple.
Build an AppKit app with the new design
Update your AppKit app to take full advantage of the new design system. We’ll dive into key changes to tab views, split views, bars, presentations, search, and controls, and show you how to use Liquid Glass in your custom UI. To get the most out of this video, we recommend first watching “Get to know the new design system” for general design guidance.
Meet Liquid Glass
Liquid Glass unifies Apple platform design language while providing a more dynamic and expressive user experience. Get to know the design principles of Liquid Glass, explore its core optical and physical properties, and learn where to use it and why.
Tailor macOS windows with SwiftUI
Make your windows feel tailor-made for macOS. Fine-tune your app’s windows for focused purposes, ease of use, and to express functionality. Use SwiftUI to style window toolbars and backgrounds. Arrange your windows with precision, and make smart decisions about restoration and minimization.