Apple Inc. unveiled a sweeping visual redesign of its operating systems under the moniker Liquid Glass at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, held late Monday.
The company said the new interface, inspired by its Vision Pro spatial computing headset, marks the most significant aesthetic update to its software since the shift from skeuomorphism to flat design in iOS 7.
Introduced on stage by Alan Dye, Apple’s Vice President of Design, the Liquid Glass interface seeks to unify the user experience across Apple’s ecosystem — from iPhones and iPads to Macs, Apple Watches and even the Apple TV. The design also nods to a future where Apple’s software could expand beyond traditional devices to augmented reality (AR) glasses or spatial computing environments.
“The new interface combines the optical qualities of real glass with a fluid responsiveness that only Apple can deliver,” Dye told attendees at the developer-focused event. “It refracts light, reacts to your touch and adapts in real-time to content and movement.”
New chapter in Apple’s design language
Liquid Glass draws heavily from Apple’s experiments in spatial computing, as seen in the Vision Pro headset. The redesigned interface introduces a translucent visual system that responds dynamically to the environment and user interaction. The design will be implemented across system-level experiences such as the Lock Screen, Control Center, Notifications, and across core app icons.
Apple claims the design is meant to enhance clarity in navigation while introducing a sense of dimensionality that mimics real glass. Alerts now appear from the point of touch, context menus expand in fluid motions, and interface elements respond with depth and light, depending on user movement and ambient lighting.
App icons will now be rendered as multi-layered glass-like structures, available in three modes: light, dark, and a new “clear mode.” Lock Screen typography has also been updated with a glassy variant of Apple’s San Francisco typeface, which adjusts its dimensions based on the background image.
In a notable media-centric feature, Apple says it can now turn standard 2D photos into 3D spatial scenes, enhancing the immersive experience, especially when paired with the new interface.
Cross-platform evolution
The redesign is not exclusive to iPhones running iOS 26. Apple confirmed that the Liquid Glass interface will extend to iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26, making it the first visual update to be adopted simultaneously across all major Apple platforms.
Key system apps and controls — including FaceTime, Safari tab bars, and media playback tools — have been redesigned to incorporate Liquid Glass effects. For instance, Apple Music now features artist-curated animations and visuals that complement tracks, akin to Spotify’s Canvas feature.
The company also highlighted new development tools, including updated APIs in SwiftUI, UIKit, and AppKit, which will enable third-party developers to integrate Liquid Glass materials into their own applications.
Looking ahead
While Apple stopped short of announcing any new hardware at WWDC 2025, the design overhaul may hint at the company’s broader ambitions in spatial computing. Analysts suggest the visual language could lay the groundwork for future AR wearables or expanded mixed-reality interfaces.
The company is expected to release public beta versions of the new operating systems later this summer, with a general rollout scheduled for the fall.
With Liquid Glass, Apple appears to be setting the stage not just for a visual refresh, but for a paradigm shift in how users interact with digital content across surfaces — flat or spatial.
