8 lesser-known iOS 26 settings I modified instantly on my iPhone

Whereas we’re all ready to get our arms on the new iPhone 17 models and AirPods Pro 3, Apple has launched iOS 26 to the general public. The brand new iOS 26 replace brings a number of options, together with a brand new Liquid Glass design that provides a extra translucent, fluid movement to the OS, mimicking actual glass by reflecting and refracting environment.

There are various different modifications as nicely, together with redesigned icons, an improved Management Heart, and a revamped design for a number of first-party apps. Past these, iOS 26 additionally introduces smaller, lesser-known options. Listed below are a number of the simply missed however helpful iOS 26 settings it’s best to change in your iPhone as quickly as you put in it.

Strive the massive clock on the Lock Display screen

Apple lastly allows you to go daring with a bigger clock design

iOS 26 is all about Apple’s new design language, and one in every of its standout options is the flexibility to make the Lock Display screen clock bolder and extra front-and-center. It seems particularly aesthetic when paired with the correct wallpaper.

To make use of this function in your iPhone, faucet and maintain the Lock Display screen and faucet Customise. Then faucet the Clock widget and choose the primary clock font. You may discover a brand new nook bracket on the backside proper of the clock. Drag it to regulate the clock dimension as you want. As soon as you have set your required model, faucet Completed on the high proper.

Match your icons with the Liquid Glass design

Makes your setup really feel new

Apple already permits you to customise app icons on iPhone with iOS 18, however with iOS 26, the corporate has launched new “Clear” glass-like icons. Whilst you can nonetheless follow the default iOS icons, the Clear possibility transforms all app icons into layered, clear glass, giving them delicate depth.

The very best half is that this function applies the “Clear” theme to all of the icons, even to apps that do not natively assist the function but.

To attempt it, faucet and maintain an empty space in your Dwelling Display screen, choose Edit on the high left, then faucet Customise, and select Clear. Immediately, all of your app icons will undertake the brand new glass-like theme, mixing seamlessly with iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design.

Activate Adaptive energy mode for higher battery life

Intelligently modify your iPhone’s efficiency

Whereas Apple could not have emphasised AI a lot in iOS 26, the corporate has added an AI-powered Adaptive Power Mode feature that helps lengthen iPhone battery life by making small efficiency changes when utilization is larger than regular.

It conserves sources by dimming the show, letting some actions take longer, and routinely enabling Low Energy Mode when the battery drops beneath 20%. Consider it as a better Low Energy Mode that learns your patterns and decides which duties to maintain working within the background extra aggressively.

For now, this function is restricted to iPhone fashions with Apple Intelligence, together with the iPhone 15 Professional and later. To allow it, go to Settings > Battery > Energy Mode and toggle on Adaptive Energy. In case your iPhone feels slower, you possibly can at all times flip the function off.

Personalize iMessage with new backgrounds

Set customized backgrounds on your chats

One other customization function Apple has added in iOS 26 is the flexibility to set customized backgrounds for iMessage chats. You may decide a strong colour, use one in every of your images, choose from preset animated reside backgrounds, and even create your individual distinctive backgrounds with Picture Playgrounds on Apple Intelligence-powered iPhones.

To make use of this function, open a dialog within the Messages app and faucet the group or contact identify on the high. Choose Backgrounds and select the choice you want. You may preview totally different types earlier than setting one. As soon as chosen, faucet the checkmark to use it to the dialog.

Select between the traditional and redesigned Telephone app

Should you’re not prepared for Apple’s daring new Telephone UI

Part of iOS 26’s new design is the redesigned Telephone app. Apple now presents a “Unified” interface that mixes your Recents, Favorites, and Voicemail right into a single tab for simpler entry. If, like me, you favor the outdated UI with separate tabs, you possibly can shortly swap again.

It is also value noting that whereas some could choose the brand new Unified interface, it generally glitches and removes contact posters on your favorites.

To modify again to the outdated Telephone app UI, head to the Calls tab. Faucet the filter icon on the highest proper and choose Traditional. You may at all times return to the brand new UI by tapping the filter icon once more and choosing Unified.

See battery charging ETA instantly in your Lock Display screen

No extra battery guessing

One function nonetheless lacking on the iPhone, however frequent on most Android phones, is displaying the charging time left. Android gadgets often show the estimated time as quickly as you plug them in, whereas Apple hasn’t provided this. Properly, that’s form of altering with iOS 26.

Now you can see how lengthy it’ll take on your iPhone to succeed in 80% battery on the Lock Display screen just a few moments after plugging it in. As soon as it hits 80%, the ETA shifts to full cost. This small however helpful addition is useful if you’re brief on time and must know when your cellphone could have sufficient cost to move out.

Modify snooze time for iPhone alarms

No extra being caught with Apple’s 9-minute customary snooze

With iOS 26, Apple has lastly added the flexibility to customise the default snooze time for iPhone alarms. Till now, customers have been caught with the standard mounted 9-minute snooze. With iOS 26, you possibly can set snooze durations anyplace between 1 and quarter-hour.

To vary snooze period, open the Clock app and set a brand new alarm utilizing the “+” button on the highest proper. Faucet Snooze Length, then select your most well-liked snooze size from 1 to fifteen minutes. As soon as performed, faucet the checkmark on the highest proper to save lots of the alarm.

Be aware that the setting applies per alarm, so you have to to decide on snooze occasions individually; in any other case, they are going to stay the default 9 minutes.

Deliver again the outdated screenshot modifying interface

Should you discover the redesigned screenshot UI clunky

One of many main new additions in iOS 26 is the up to date screenshot UI. Now, if you take a screenshot, you see a big preview that fills the display screen, together with instruments like annotation choices, a share button, and even a brand new Ask button powered by ChatGPT proper after the seize.

Should you choose the old-style screenshot UI with a small preview within the backside left, you possibly can swap again. Open the Settings app, go to Common, then choose Display screen Seize and disable Full-Display screen Previews.

As soon as disabled, screenshots will once more seem as a small thumbnail within the nook, identical to earlier iOS variations. In fact, you possibly can nonetheless faucet the thumbnail preview to edit, share, and even use new instruments like Visible Search earlier than it disappears routinely.

Model

Apple

SoC

A19

Show

6.3-inch 2622 x 1206 pixel decision Tremendous Retina XDR

Storage

256GB, 512GB

Ports

USB-C

Working System

iOS 26

The iPhone 17 is a serious improve over its predecessor. It includes a barely larger 6.3-inch OLED display screen with as much as a 120Hz refresh fee. Beneath the hood, the iPhone 17 is powered by Apple’s A19 processor. Apple has additionally improved the rear digital camera system with a brand new 48MP ultra-wide lens, whereas the selfie digital camera will get added options. The cellphone nonetheless makes use of an aluminum and glass construct and is alleged to ship longer battery life.