The iOS 26 Liquid Glass update has been one of the most troublesome iOS releases ever. It is marred by inconsistencies and design choices that cause several UI and readability issues.
One of the issues that was more noticeable on older Apple devices with SDR screens, including the iPad mini, iPhone SE, iPhone 11, and earlier models, was the liquid glow effect that caused text and certain UI elements to become unreadable when you interacted with them.
Apple adds a new fix in iOS 26.4 developer beta 4
After the release of iOS 26, Apple has been listening to user feedback and providing options to reduce the Liquid Glass effect. One of the most prominent options was introduced with the iOS 26.1 update, which let users switch from the default “Clear” design to a “Tinted” look.
In the latest iOS 26.4 developer beta 4, Apple has added another setting called “Reduce Bright Effects” that minimizes highlighting and flashing when interacting with onscreen elements, such as buttons or the keyboard.
These flashing effects were particularly prominent on Apple devices with SDR screens, as shown by an X user in his post.
If this effect has been bothering you, you can finally turn it off using the new setting.
How to enable the Reduce Bright Effects setting on iPhone
The new setting has been released as part of Apple’s developer beta program. To get it, you need to be on the latest iOS 26.4 developer beta 4 version. Once you have updated your device, go to Settings → Accessibility ⇾ Display & Text Size, and turn on the toggle for “Reduce Bright Effects” settings.
If you are not running the developer beta on your iPhone, which I do not recommend installing on your primary device, you have to wait for the public beta or the stable release, which should arrive in about two weeks.
