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Opt Out of Liquid Glass on iOS 26 with `UIDesignRequiresCompatibility`

·2 mins

You could not have missed it: with iOS 26, Apple introduced a new design language called Liquid Glass. This refreshed, translucent look affects system elements like navigation bars, toolbars, and backgrounds — creating a dynamic, layered feel across apps.

While it’s beautiful and very Apple-like, it might not always blend well with existing designs. If your .NET MAUI app suddenly looks off when built against the latest iOS SDK, there’s a way to temporarily opt out and keep the older, pre–Liquid Glass appearance.

💡 This post focuses on .NET MAUI, but this trick works for any iOS app — whether it’s Swift, Objective-C, Xamarin, or otherwise.

The Key: UIDesignRequiresCompatibility #

To keep your existing look, add the following key to your app’s Info.plist file:

<key>UIDesignRequiresCompatibility</key>
<true/>

When set to true, iOS will render your app using the legacy (pre–Liquid Glass) design system. This effectively opts your app out of the new visual style — for now.

Where to Add It in a .NET MAUI App #

In your MAUI project, open or create the following file:

Platforms/iOS/Info.plist

Then add the key/value pair shown above. Rebuild and deploy your app — you’ll see your familiar, pre–Liquid Glass visuals again.

Important: This Is (Probably) Temporary ⚠️ #

Apple has clearly indicated this flag is only a temporary compatibility aid. It’s designed to give developers time to update their apps to fit the new Liquid Glass design language.

In other words: expect this to stop working in a future iOS release.

Use this as a short-term measure while you:

  • Audit your app’s colors, contrasts, and layering.
  • Update backgrounds and translucency to match the new system behavior.
  • Test your UI with and without the flag enabled.

Works for Any iOS App #

Although this example shows a .NET MAUI project, the UIDesignRequiresCompatibility key works for any iOS or iPadOS app. If it has an Info.plist, it can use this flag.

Summary #

If your app is not quite ready for iOS 26’s new Liquid Glass visuals, you can quickly restore the old style by adding this key:

<key>UIDesignRequiresCompatibility</key>
<true/>

But remember: Apple will likely remove this option soon — so start preparing to embrace the new design direction.

Happy coding, and may your MAUI apps shine (or stay opaque, if that’s what you prefer 😉).