For developers · Checked 1 October 2026

Opting out of Liquid Glass with UIDesignRequiresCompatibility

Short answer: set the Info.plist key UIDesignRequiresCompatibility to YES and an app built with the iOS 26 SDK runs in a compatibility mode that looks the way it did with earlier SDKs, without Liquid Glass. Apple calls it a temporary key, and the system ignores it when you build for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, Mac Catalyst 27, macOS 27 or tvOS 27 or later. Because App Store uploads must use the 27 SDKs from April 2027, that is the practical end of the opt-out.

What the key does, by the SDK you build with

From Apple’s UIDesignRequiresCompatibility documentation and SDK upload requirements, read 1 October 2026.

You build with	Key set to YES	Key missing or NO	Accepted for upload
iOS 26 SDK (Xcode 26)	Compatibility mode, previous design	Liquid Glass	Yes, required since April 28, 2026, until the April 2027 requirement
iOS 27 SDK (Xcode 27)	Key ignored, Liquid Glass	Liquid Glass	Yes, and required from April 2027

How to add the key

In Xcode, open your target’s Info tab and add UIDesignRequiresCompatibility as a Boolean set to YES, or add <key>UIDesignRequiresCompatibility</key><true/> to Info.plist directly. Apple documents it for iOS, iPadOS, macOS and tvOS from version 26.0. With it, standard bars, tab bars, sheets and controls keep the earlier look while your app still links against the 26 SDK, which uploads have required since April 28, 2026, see the Xcode 26 SDK requirement. Apple describes the key as something to use while you review and refine your UI for the new design, not as a permanent setting.

Why it stops working with Xcode 27

Apple’s documentation says the system ignores the key when you build for the 27 SDKs. So the moment you move to Xcode 27, the app picks up Liquid Glass whatever the key says, and searches for “UIDesignRequiresCompatibility not working” usually trace back to this. You can stay on Xcode 26 for a while, but Apple announced on September 9, 2026 that from April 2027 uploads must be built with the iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 SDK or later; details are in Xcode 27 release date and requirements. The 27 SDK also brings other required changes, such as the UIScene lifecycle, so plan both together.

What to fix before the opt-out runs out

Apple’s adoption guide starts with building in the latest Xcode and running on the latest OS to see what changes. Standard SwiftUI, UIKit and AppKit components adopt Liquid Glass on their own, so most work is removing things that fight it: custom backgrounds on toolbars, tab bars and split views, which can cover the material and the scroll edge effect; hard-coded control sizes; and crowded or stacked controls. If you draw your own bar over scrolling content, use the scroll edge effect, scrollEdgeEffectStyle(_:for:) in SwiftUI, to keep it legible. Use custom Liquid Glass effects sparingly and group them in a GlassEffectContainer. Test with Reduce Transparency and other accessibility settings. For cross-platform UI, see Compose Multiplatform and Liquid Glass.

Where Censuus fits

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Frequently asked questions

How do I disable Liquid Glass in my app?

Add UIDesignRequiresCompatibility to Info.plist as a Boolean set to YES and build with the iOS 26 SDK. The app then runs in a compatibility mode with the previous design.

Does UIDesignRequiresCompatibility work with the iOS 27 SDK?

No. Apple’s documentation says the system ignores the key when you build for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, Mac Catalyst 27, macOS 27 or tvOS 27 or later.

Why is UIDesignRequiresCompatibility not working?

Check which SDK you build with. The key is ignored on the 27 SDKs, and it must be a Boolean set to YES in the target’s Info.plist.

How long can I keep the old design?

As long as you can build with the iOS 26 SDK. Apple announced that from April 2027 App Store uploads must be built with the iOS 27 SDK or later, which ignores the key.

Can users turn off Liquid Glass themselves?

People can choose a preferred Liquid Glass look in their device settings and turn on accessibility settings that reduce transparency or motion; standard components adapt to these automatically.

Guides for app developers

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