How do I revert to the previous update?

can you undo the recent recent “glass” update? I am finding it impossible to work with and I wish I could just undo it and go back to the one right before this one. If I had known it was this bad, I wouldn’t ever have installed it. Now I don’t know what to do. I am trying to run a business with an “update” that is impossible to work with.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: New update is impossible

iPad Pro, iPadOS 26

Posted on Nov 14, 2025 6:36 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 15, 2025 4:28 AM

Rolling-back to an earlier version of iOS/iPadOS is not possible. All System Updates are digitally signed by Apple - and can only be installed whilst the digital signatures remain valid. After release of a new iOS/iPadOS version, the digital signatures of the preceding version are revoked within days, preventing reinstallation of the earlier version.


As mentioned by Mac Jim ID, iOS/iPadOS 26.1 introduced a new setting that subtly charges the appearance of Liquid Glass:

Settings > Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass - select Clear or Tinted


Sadly, for iPad, this new setting makes very little difference for those that struggle with both the appearance and overlapping screen elements introduced with Liquid Glass - an issue that is often not understood by those that don't have or regularly use an iPad. While iOS for iPhone and iPadOS for iPad are closely related, some features can have substantial differences in how they appear on related devices.


If you are experiencing difficulty with the new Liquid Glass UI, there are other settings that can significantly improve the appearance and suppress the majority of unwanted effects:


  1. Settings > Accessibility > [Vision] Display & Text Size > Reduce Transparency - set to ON
  2. Settings > Accessibility > [Vision] Display & Text Size > Increase Contrast - set to ON
  3. Settings > Accessibility > [Motion] Reduce Motion - set to ON


Each if these settings can be used individually, or in combination. Setting Reduce Transparency alone (1) will likely suppress the majority of your issues. The Reduce Motion setting (3), if used, will eliminate the "lensing" effects of the Liquid Glass UI. Experiment; you should find a combination that works for you.


I suggest that you begin with setting Reduce Transparency to ON - and then, if needed, experiment with additional use of one or more of the other options.


NB: The new Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass setting can only be changed/toggled while Reduce Transparency is set to OFF. You might find that setting Liquid Glass to Clear, prior to enabling Reduced Transparency to ON, may give the best result.


Liquid Glass is here to stay - and will likely evolve throughout the lifespan of iPadOS 26. Hopefully, Apple will provide additional controls with which to selectively eliminate some aspects of the new UI to better meet the functional and visual needs of the wider user population. Liquid Glass is very "pretty" - but for some is arguably form over function, reducing legibility and usability.


5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 15, 2025 4:28 AM in response to Londasuefromnc

Rolling-back to an earlier version of iOS/iPadOS is not possible. All System Updates are digitally signed by Apple - and can only be installed whilst the digital signatures remain valid. After release of a new iOS/iPadOS version, the digital signatures of the preceding version are revoked within days, preventing reinstallation of the earlier version.


As mentioned by Mac Jim ID, iOS/iPadOS 26.1 introduced a new setting that subtly charges the appearance of Liquid Glass:

Settings > Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass - select Clear or Tinted


Sadly, for iPad, this new setting makes very little difference for those that struggle with both the appearance and overlapping screen elements introduced with Liquid Glass - an issue that is often not understood by those that don't have or regularly use an iPad. While iOS for iPhone and iPadOS for iPad are closely related, some features can have substantial differences in how they appear on related devices.


If you are experiencing difficulty with the new Liquid Glass UI, there are other settings that can significantly improve the appearance and suppress the majority of unwanted effects:


  1. Settings > Accessibility > [Vision] Display & Text Size > Reduce Transparency - set to ON
  2. Settings > Accessibility > [Vision] Display & Text Size > Increase Contrast - set to ON
  3. Settings > Accessibility > [Motion] Reduce Motion - set to ON


Each if these settings can be used individually, or in combination. Setting Reduce Transparency alone (1) will likely suppress the majority of your issues. The Reduce Motion setting (3), if used, will eliminate the "lensing" effects of the Liquid Glass UI. Experiment; you should find a combination that works for you.


I suggest that you begin with setting Reduce Transparency to ON - and then, if needed, experiment with additional use of one or more of the other options.


NB: The new Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass setting can only be changed/toggled while Reduce Transparency is set to OFF. You might find that setting Liquid Glass to Clear, prior to enabling Reduced Transparency to ON, may give the best result.


Liquid Glass is here to stay - and will likely evolve throughout the lifespan of iPadOS 26. Hopefully, Apple will provide additional controls with which to selectively eliminate some aspects of the new UI to better meet the functional and visual needs of the wider user population. Liquid Glass is very "pretty" - but for some is arguably form over function, reducing legibility and usability.


Nov 15, 2025 6:39 AM in response to Londasuefromnc

Londasuefromnc wrote:

I am trying to arrange three apps open at the same time on the screen and use each app at the same time


You can have two or three App windows side-by-side - or a spit the screen into four quadrants.


To access, assuming that the current App window is not maximised; touch-and-hold the traffic-light icon at top-left of the App window to expose the Fill & Arrange options:




NB: If you update to iPadOS 26.1, you also have a Slide Over view from which to choose:




The current App window will move aside, allowing you to open another App; the selected view will open the selected Apps in their own windows - which can be resized laterally, as before, by dragging the divider to left or right.


If the App window is already maximised, swipe downwards from the top-edge of the screen to expose the new menu bar - then use the traffic-light icon as described above.



Remember, for iPadOS 26, you have a configuration choice to use Full Screen Apps only, use Windowed Apps, or Stage Manager mode as you prefer:

Settings > Multitasking & Gestures - select your preferred multitasking mode



How do I revert to the previous update?

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