Always-on display under iOS 26: How to get rid of the blurred image
Apple's current phones no longer turn off their displays. However, the selected wallpaper is blurred in iOS 26. This can be turned off.
iOS 26: The screen only looks like this in the middle when the iPhone is active.
(Image: Apple)
Current iPhones come with a screen that stays active – at least as long as the front of the device is not covered. The always-on display, built in since the iPhone 14 Pro, then allows current information to be displayed, especially the time. In addition, the chosen background image is visible, so you can also use your iPhone as a photo frame. However, with iOS 26, Apple made a change last fall: Since then, the wallpaper is no longer just dimmed, as it was before, but is also displayed blurred. The purpose seems to be to make the time easier to read, which was rarely a problem before. Fortunately, Apple has built an option into its operating system that allows you to bypass the “blurring”.
Setting available
However, the function is not easy to find: it cannot be set when creating a background image but is hidden in the general screen settings under “Display & Brightness” in the system settings. It is also not possible to set the blurred display depending on the wallpaper, but only via a master switch.
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This is located under “Display & Brightness” in the submenu “Always On,” which you reach by scrolling a bit. In addition to “show wallpaper,” “show notifications,” and the use of the always-on display itself, a blur option has now been added.
Time also readable
If this is turned off, the wallpaper will remain sharp in Always-on mode in the future. The readability of the time is hardly affected by this, as it is still clearly highlighted, and any glass effect, for example, is reduced. Apparently, the blurred look was considered particularly attractive by Apple's user interface team. Usability reasons can be debated.
It is only conceivable that Apple is implementing the blurring for privacy reasons – so you cannot clearly see what the user has chosen as wallpaper. However, a tap on the screen is enough to make the image sharp again; unlocking the iPhone is not necessary. Apple is still experimenting with the controversial Liquid Glass look. Whether the blurred always-on wallpaper will also be retained in iOS 27, which is expected in the fall, is therefore open.
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