what is the best recommendation to start adopting glass elements on my Swift UI app while also supporting iOS 18?

Asked on 06/12/2025

•@wwdc25

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To start adopting glass elements in your SwiftUI app while supporting iOS 18, you should follow these recommendations:

  1. Recompile with Xcode 26: Begin by building your app with Xcode 26. This will automatically apply many of the new design elements, including Liquid Glass, to standard controls without requiring code changes.

  2. Audit Your App: Review your app's flow and identify views that may need adjustments. Pay special attention to background colors behind sheets and toolbars, as these can be removed to better integrate with the new design.

  3. Use New APIs: Utilize the new APIs to customize the experience further. For instance, you can use the Glass Effect ID modifier to add transitions to your glass containers, as demonstrated in the session Build a SwiftUI app with the new design.

  4. Adopt Liquid Glass: Liquid Glass is designed to be an interactive layer that floats above your content. Limit its use to the most important elements of your app to maintain a clear hierarchy. You can learn more about how to implement Liquid Glass in the session Meet Liquid Glass.

  5. Customize Your UI: Consider where you can simplify custom components and take advantage of framework views with Liquid Glass enabled. This will help your app feel more seamless and delightful.

By following these steps, you can effectively integrate the new design elements into your SwiftUI app while ensuring compatibility with iOS 18.

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Build a SwiftUI app with the new design

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.

Build an AppKit app with the new design

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.

Build a UIKit app with the new design

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.