how to implement iOS 26 design
Asked on 06/11/2025
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To implement the iOS 26 design, you should focus on adopting the new design system introduced by Apple, which includes a material called Liquid Glass. This material is central to the new design, providing a translucent, dynamic, and lively appearance across the system. Here are some steps and resources to help you implement the iOS 26 design:
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Recompile with the iOS 26 SDK: Start by recompiling your app using the iOS 26 SDK. This will automatically update many of your app's UI components to the new design.
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Adopt Liquid Glass: Liquid Glass is a new material that gives a dynamic and adaptive look to your app. It is used in various components like navigation bars, toolbars, and controls. You can learn more about it in the session Build a UIKit app with the new design.
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Use Standard Containers: Utilize standard containers like
UISplitViewControllerandUITabBarControllerto support flexible layouts and the new design aesthetics. This is discussed in the session What’s new in UIKit. -
Update Navigation and Toolbars: Navigation bars and toolbars now have a glass appearance and float above the content. Learn more about this in the session Build a UIKit app with the new design.
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Customize with New APIs: Use new APIs to tailor the design to your app, especially for custom views and controls. This is covered in the session Platforms State of the Union.
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Review and Refine: Audit your app screen by screen to identify which views stand out and refine them to match the new design. Consider whether standard UIKit controls may be a better fit for your custom controls.
For a comprehensive guide, you can watch the session Build a SwiftUI app with the new design to see how these principles apply to SwiftUI apps as well.
What’s new in UIKit
Modernize your app with the latest APIs in UIKit, including enhanced menu bar support, automatic observation tracking, a new UI update method, and improvements to animations. We’ll also cover how you can include SwiftUI scenes in your UIKit app and explore SF Symbols, HDR color pickers, and more.
Build a UIKit app with the new design
Update your UIKit 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.
Build a SwiftUI app with the new design
Explore the ways Liquid Glass transforms the look and feel of your app. Discover how this stunning new material enhances toolbars, controls, and app structures across platforms, providing delightful interactions and seamlessly integrating your app with the system. Learn how to adopt new APIs that can help you make the most of Liquid Glass.