Abstract
- iOS 26 was introduced at Apple’s WWDC26 convention again in June.
- The working system is presently being beta-tested, with a presumed steady launch date someday within the fall.
- Past its Liquid Glass visible redesign, the replace is sprinkled with smaller settings and new additions which can be value diving into.
Apple first unveiled its next-generation iPhone working system, iOS 26, to the general public at its Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) again in June. By and huge, the corporate’s new Liquid Glass design language stole the present, with its translucency, its means to dynamically mirror and refract mild, and its different distinctive optical qualities. This visible overhaul has confirmed considerably polarizing, resulting in a lot of the iOS 26 dialog revolving round aesthetics.
After all, Apple can also be sprinkling in a ton of latest options into the iOS 26 expertise, together with main updates to iMessage, CarPlay, and even the Phone app. Hidden beneath the floor is an extra set of even smaller tweaks and all-new settings, which I consider to be silently wonderful and worthy of debate.
Listed below are 5 ignored iOS 26 settings that I discover genuinely helpful, and that I can not wait to have on my iPhone as soon as the software program replace lands this fall.
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5
New Background Sounds
A brand new array of sounds that can assist you focus or drift off to sleep
One among my favourite hidden options inside iOS is its selection of Background Sounds. These might be toggled on from the Management Middle interface, with a devoted quantity slider that capabilities independently of different media and system audio. Background Sounds provides built-in entry to a number of types of white noise, in addition to different soothing sounds that may assist increase productiveness or induce a state of sleepiness within the night.
With iOS 26, Apple is stealthily including in an entire new set of Background Sounds to select from. These new choices embody Babble, Steam, Airplane, Boat, Bus, Practice, Rain on Roof, and Quiet Night time, bringing the full variety of selectable sounds to a formidable sixteen.
To entry Background Sounds on iOS 26, observe these steps
- Invoke the Management Middle by swiping down from the highest right-hand nook of the show.
- Faucet on the + button within the prime left-hand nook, adopted by Add a Management.
- Scroll down till you attain the Listening to Accessibility part, and faucet on the Background Sounds fast toggle.
- As soon as the short settings toggle is added to your Management Middle, long press on it to open the complete menu.

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4
Regulate snooze length
Lastly, in any case these years
One longstanding gripe I’ve had with iOS is the dearth of management it affords the consumer inside its native Clock software. Fortunately, with iOS 26, Apple is taking steps to deal with this concern. As soon as up to date to the brand new OS model, a brand new choice throughout the Alarms part of the app is unlocked: Snooze Period.
This setting permits you to manually set time increments between snoozes, anyplace from one minute to fifteen minutes in size. This provides some much-needed flexibility to the combo, lastly breaking the age-old nine-minute snooze limitation discovered on each iPhone that has ever been shipped up to now.

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3
Lens Cleansing Hints
The times of smudged iPhone images are numbered
A small however welcome inclusion, Lens Cleansing Hints does exactly what it says on the tin. As soon as toggled on in iOS 26, the system will immediate you to clear smudges off of your iPhone’s digicam lenses whereas within the viewfinder interface. Some Android telephones have provided an identical function for years, and for good purpose: it is all too straightforward to unintentionally smudge a handset’s lenses, which negatively impacts photographic high quality. Contemplating the ubiquity of capturing pictures in right now’s digital period, Lens Cleansing Hints is a logical inclusion that, presumably, will save many a household photograph within the years to come back.
To allow Lens Cleansing Hints, observe these steps:
- Launch the Settings software.
- Navigate to Digital camera > Lens Cleansing Hints and toggle its corresponding swap on.

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2
Adaptive Energy mode
Let your iPhone intelligently resolve how one can handle efficiency
Adaptive Energy is an all-new mode discovered buried inside iOS 26’s battery settings. When toggled on, it provides permission to the system to make small efficiency changes all through the day, based mostly on whether or not battery consumption is increased than regular.
In an effort to maximise effectivity and longevity, Adaptive Energy can barely decrease show brightness, in addition to enable sure background actions to take longer than they in any other case would. When paired with the existing Low Power Mode, which additional restricts processing velocity, syncing, refresh charge, and extra, iOS 26 seems well-equipped to deal with a full day of use on a single cost, regardless of the battery-zapping nature of Apple’s Liquid Glass engine.
To allow Adaptive Energy, observe these steps:
- Launch the Settings app.
- Navigate to Battery > Energy Mode.
- From right here, toggle the Adaptive Energy swap to the on place.

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1
Charging completion estimate
An Android staple lastly arrives on iPhone
One other long-time Android nicety, charging completion estimates are lastly arriving on the iPhone with the discharge of iOS 26. This function primarily exhibits up on the lock display screen, the place it’s going to provide up an estimation of what number of minutes are wanted for the battery to succeed in eighty % capability.
Apparently, there is no method to modify this metric to mirror the time wanted to succeed in 100% capability, although this info is available from throughout the battery part of the Settings app correct. In any case, charging completion estimates are a small-but-welcome addition to the Apple ecosystem, and I am glad to see the iPhone reach parity with Android on this entrance.

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