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

Whereas we’re all ready to get our fingers 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 numerous different adjustments as properly, together with redesigned icons, an improved Management Middle, 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 few of the simply missed however helpful iOS 26 settings you must change in your iPhone as quickly as you put in it.

Strive the large clock on the Lock Display screen

Apple lastly permits 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 power to make the Lock Display screen clock bolder and extra front-and-center. It seems to be particularly aesthetic when paired with the suitable wallpaper.

To make use of this characteristic 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 will discover a brand new nook bracket on the backside proper of the clock. Drag it to regulate the clock measurement as you want. As soon as you’ve got set your required model, faucet Accomplished on the prime proper.

Match your icons with the Liquid Glass design

Makes your setup really feel new

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

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

To attempt it, faucet and maintain an empty space in your House Display screen, choose Edit on the prime 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 alter 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 increased than typical.

It conserves sources by dimming the show, letting some actions take longer, and mechanically enabling Low Energy Mode when the battery drops under 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 characteristic 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’ll be able to all the time flip the characteristic off.

Personalize iMessage with new backgrounds

Set customized backgrounds in your chats

One other customization characteristic Apple has added in iOS 26 is the power to set customized backgrounds for iMessage chats. You may choose a strong colour, use one in every of your pictures, 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 characteristic, open a dialog within the Messages app and faucet the group or contact identify on the prime. Choose Backgrounds and select the choice you want. You may preview totally different kinds earlier than setting one. As soon as chosen, faucet the checkmark to use it to the dialog.

Select between the traditional and redesigned Cellphone app

If you happen to’re not prepared for Apple’s daring new Cellphone UI

Part of iOS 26’s new design is the redesigned Cellphone app. Apple now provides 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’ll be able to rapidly swap again.

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

To change again to the outdated Cellphone app UI, head to the Calls tab. Faucet the filter icon on the highest proper and choose Basic. You may all the time return to the brand new UI by tapping the filter icon once more and choosing Unified.

See battery charging ETA immediately in your Lock Display screen

No extra battery guessing

One characteristic nonetheless lacking on the iPhone, however widespread on most Android phones, is exhibiting the charging time left. Android units often show the estimated time as quickly as you plug them in, whereas Apple hasn’t provided this. Effectively, that’s type of altering with iOS 26.

Now you can see how lengthy it’s going to take in your iPhone to succeed in 80% battery on the Lock Display screen a number of moments after plugging it in. As soon as it hits 80%, the ETA shifts to full cost. This small however helpful addition turns out to be useful once you’re quick on time and must know when your cellphone could have sufficient cost to move out.

Regulate snooze time for iPhone alarms

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

With iOS 26, Apple has lastly added the power to customise the default snooze time for iPhone alarms. Till now, customers had been caught with the normal mounted 9-minute snooze. With iOS 26, you’ll be able to set snooze durations anyplace between 1 and quarter-hour.

To alter snooze length, open the Clock app and set a brand new alarm utilizing the “+” button on the highest proper. Faucet Snooze Length, then select your most popular snooze size from 1 to fifteen minutes. As soon as carried out, faucet the checkmark on the highest proper to avoid wasting the alarm.

Word that the setting applies per alarm, so you will have to decide on snooze instances individually; in any other case, they’ll stay the default 9 minutes.

Deliver again the outdated screenshot enhancing interface

If you happen to discover the redesigned screenshot UI clunky

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

If you happen to favor the old-style screenshot UI with a small preview within the backside left, you’ll be able to 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. After all, you’ll be able to nonetheless faucet the thumbnail preview to edit, share, and even use new instruments like Visible Search earlier than it disappears mechanically.

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 encompasses a barely greater 6.3-inch OLED display with as much as a 120Hz refresh charge. Below 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 claimed to ship longer battery life.