I’m delighted with the introduction of new color folders. Although, I can’t help but wonder why we still need both color folders and tags. Aren’t the color folders sufficient for our needs?
Explore the art and science of app design. Discuss user interface (UI) design principles, user experience (UX) best practices, and share design resources and inspiration.
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Hi Guys, I noticed that with Icon Composer when you export the icon it does not export a square image, is there any way of doing it or that's how it is now?
Checking the icon on the iPhone something doesn't seem right...
On earlier iOS versions Live Activity displays correctly according to mode set.
Can't find an opened issue for that
version: iOS 26
device: iPhone 16
I'm using the new badge feature for UIBarButtonItem, but it's not working properly for me when transitioning between view controllers.
I have two view controller with various right bar button items. In the first view controller the first button (the one with the bell) has a badge with a numeric count. The second view controller has the same button but in the third position. When I push the second view controller, it seems that the badge maintains also the old position, so I see two buttons with badges instead of one. What can I do to fix this?
I have two views I've applied Liquid Glass to in Swift UI. I've noticed that depending on the height of the view the material changes and I'm not sure why. See the attached screenshot. Both views add the liquidGlass style in the same way but behave very differently on the same background.
Ideally I'd like them to look the same as the bottom one. Is that the same as the clear style?
I just played around on macOS with the new icons created by Icon Composer, and I noticed that the Dock displays programmatically set icons differently. Try this:
Make sure you have the Mail app in your Dock.
Set the icon appearance to "Tinted/Light" and set a dark (black) background for the Desktop.
Run this code:
let image = NSWorkspace.shared.icon(forFile: "/System/Applications/Mail.app")
if image.isValid { NSApp.applicationIconImage = image }
You'll get something like this:
When the icon appearance is set to "Default" or "Dark," everything works as expected, and the "Clear/Dark" and "Tinted/Dark" modes seem to work as well. It seems like the Dock uses a special blend mode depending on the selected background, but this does not seem to be the case if the icon is set programmatically. I filed feedback FB20291186.
Why?
Why stop there? (Why not ipod.and.imacg3? applenewton.and.vision.pro?)
I get why the older ipod symbols exist but these new pairings are odd.
If anyone ever sees these restricted symbols in the wild, or even just someone using a Vision Pro and an iPod (Touch) together in a way that's not contrived, please do let me know!
The system provided liquid glass background looks terrible with my companies navigation bar background color. The navigation background color is not up for discussion and cannot be changed. The clear liquid glass style looks great and I can apply that to buttons I add to the navigation bar, but that doesn't effect the system provided back button. I would prefer to maintain the default back button functionality. Please make it possible to set the liquid glass style that the system provides for navigation bar items.
I'm in the process of add some swift code that is all objective-c. I have trouble with my actual app so I have worked on a prototype. There is what I have done
Created a new Xcode project, selecting App and Objc
Added a blank Swift file and accepted the generation of the -Bridging-Header.
In project build setting, Yes for Defines Modules, Yes for Always Embed Swift Libraries
Add appropriate .h file to Bridging header
In Build Settings, in Swift Compiler - General, Bridging Header has correct path to the bridging header file
Setup the single swift file in this was using @objc like this:
@objcmembers
class MySwiftClass: NSObject {
func myMethod() {
let output = ...
}
}
When the project runs I execute in the objc ViewController:
MySwiftClass *swiftObject = [[MySwiftClass alloc] init];
and get
Use of undeclared identifier 'MySwiftClass'
I would like to propose a design enhancement for future iPhone models: using the existing bottom-right antenna line (next to the power button area) as a capacitive “volume control zone” that supports swipe gestures.
Today this line is a structural antenna break, but it is also located exactly where the thumb naturally rests when holding the phone in one hand. With a small embedded capacitive/force sensor, the user could slide their finger along this zone to control volume without reaching for the physical buttons.
Why this makes sense:
• Perfect ergonomic thumb position in both portrait and landscape
• One-handed volume adjustment becomes easier for large-screen devices
• Silent and frictionless vs. clicking buttons (useful in meetings / night mode)
• Consistent with Apple’s recent move toward contextual hardware input (Action Button, Capture Button, Vision Pro gestures)
The interaction model would be:
• Swipe up → increase volume
• Swipe down → decrease volume
• (Optional) long-press haptic = mute toggle
This could also enhance accessibility, especially for users with reduced hand mobility who struggle to press mechanical buttons on tall devices.
Technically, this would be similar to the Capture Button (capacitive + pressure layers), but linear instead of pressure-based. It does not replace physical buttons, it complements them as a silent gesture-based alternative.
Thank you for considering this as a future interaction refinement for iPhone hardware design.
We have found that on iOS 26 beta some of our app icons built from an Xcode 16 asset catalog containing a single 1024x1024 .png file have a Liquid Glass effect applied to them while others have not.
The documentation states that
If you choose not to use Icon Composer, you can still use an AppIcon asset catalog in your project containing individual app icon images and let the system apply the Liquid Glass material.
and
If you prefer, you can take advantage of the system’s automatically generated treatment that is applied to all app icons.
Is there any insight into how the system treats app icons that have not yet been updated with Icon Composer?
While build now I receive this error help me to resolve it
Showing Recent Errors Only
Prepare build
error: Multiple commands produce '/Users/mayankjain/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/PCS_EmpApp-chsylqbxjptobeawzzckymqzagvr/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/PCS_EmpApp.app/Info.plist'
note: Target 'PCS_EmpApp' (project 'PCS_EmpApp') has copy command from '/Users/mayankjain/Documents/05-NOV-2025-SWETA_IOS/PCS_EmpApp/PCS_EmpApp/xcode-out/Platforms/iOS/Info.plist' to '/Users/mayankjain/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/PCS_EmpApp-chsylqbxjptobeawzzckymqzagvr/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/PCS_EmpApp.app/Info.plist'
note: Target 'PCS_EmpApp' (project 'PCS_EmpApp') has process command with output '/Users/mayankjain/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/PCS_EmpApp-chsylqbxjptobeawzzckymqzagvr/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/PCS_EmpApp.app/Info.plist'
Multiple commands produce '/Users/mayankjain/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/PCS_EmpApp-chsylqbxjptobeawzzckymqzagvr/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/PCS_EmpApp.app/Info.plist'
Hi guys, I've exported the images with transparency for a Vision OS icon but I still keep getting a weird shadow on the top of the icon when I focus on it.
Do you guys had this issue before?
Hello!
I'm currently working on Liquid Glass support for my app. I understand that starting with iOS 26, standard buttons like "Close" or "Done" have shifted from text buttons to using SF Symbols, as mentioned in the Human Interface Guidelines under "Icons".
However, on iOS 18 and earlier, the flat text button style remains the standard. I am unsure about the best approach for backward compatibility:
Branch by OS version: Keep text buttons for older OS versions and use SF Symbols for iOS 26+.
Concern: This increases the number of conditional branches, potentially reducing code readability and maintainability.
Adopt SF Symbols universally: Use SF Symbols for all versions.
Concern: I feel that SF Symbols do not fit well (look inconsistent or out of place) with the flat design language of iOS 18 and earlier.
What would be the recommended approach in this situation?
Hello
So I have an application which is in the Apple store. I wanted to fixe some issue therefore i created update build with the following:
• Reworked Character Physics: Improved responsiveness and movement for smoother, more controlled gameplay.
• Bug Fixes & Performance Enhancements: Fixed critical issues affecting gameplay consistency and stability. Players will now experience better performance and more accurate controls.
• Mac Catalyst Fixes: Improved support for macOS, fixing issues related to UI scaling and responsiveness.
The changes above are basically all there is. Now it seems that i am not able to pass review as it constantly marks design spam and not give anything in particular. Whats up with that ?
I've been losing countless hours of work trying to create a variable-width SF Symbol that supports interpolation, no dice. Both Sketch and Figma output SVGs that are not interpolatable.
After numerous hours of research, I believe it's due to the fact that when outlining strokes, these editing tools introduce artifacts into the shapes — sometimes I get very short line segments where there would not be needed, sometimes a 3-point curve gets expanded to a 4-point curve, but not in all weights. It's always inconsistent.
So my only question is rather simple: what's the graphic editing tool Apple uses to create hundreds of symbols? Clearly you cannot edit the stroke of ALL curves by hand, it's inhumane.
Sketch? Figma? Illustrator? Inkscape? Affinity? I'd like a definitive answer from someone internal so that I can at least try to use the same tool as you without wasting more hours.
Hello, I am currently trying all of the new features in iOS 26, including some of the new API's. However, there's one question I am not sure of.
In the Build a SwiftUI app with the new design video, there is one section where they show off the Apple Music TabView with one section containing the tabs on the left and the search tab on the right. The scroll down feature I was able to implement. The tabs being split, I have no idea how to do that. How can I do that in SwiftUI?
Can I use the “apple.intelligence” SF symbol to refer to the functionality of Foundation Models frameworks within my app, or does it specifically refer to Apple Intelligence and not a feature of my own creation that is built upon Apple Intelligence?
With the new ios 26 beta 3 helps some stabillty and performance issues but most of the liquid glass has been removed or made very frosty look; and it defeats the whole purpose of a big redesign, and even thought the changes are because of readability and contrast complaints it should not take away liquid glass design. I think apple should consider adding a toggle or choice to choose if they would want a more frosted look or a more liquid glass look the the original plan.
As someone who genuinely appreciated the Liquid Glass effect introduced in iOS 26 Beta 1–2, I am deeply disappointed by its reduction in Beta 3. Liquid Glass wasn’t just eye candy it gave iOS a unique identity, futuristic feel, and a visual soul.
Now, the UI looks flat, generic, and indistinguishable from other platforms. I feel Apple is stepping back from a bold vision due to readability complaints that could’ve been solved with an option or toggle not by removing the whole design language.
Please consider restoring the full Liquid Glass look, or at least offer a toggle so users who believe in Apple’s design language can choose it. Don’t let this innovation fade because of short-term complaints.