Today, Apple released iOS 26 beta 3 for developers, which is also expected to be the version that will become iOS 26 Public Beta next week. This update not only fixes bugs but also tweaks Liquid Glass to improve readability. Let’s take a look at what’s new in iOS 26 Beta 3.
In case you missed it, here are the features included in iOS 26 Beta 2 →
iOS 26 Wallpaper
iOS 26 Beta 3 brings three new color options to the default wallpaper: Shadow, Halo, and Dusk. Each color also has a matching dark mode.
Files App Icon
Apple changed the Files app icon once again. In Beta 3, it now has a more sky blue tone.
Liquid Glass Tweaks
The Liquid Glass design is being refined in iOS 26 Beta 3, making it easier to read and slightly less transparent.
Not sure if this is a bug or something Apple meant to do, since some users say the Liquid Glass on their iOS 26 Beta 3 devices still looks just like it did in Beta 2.
Cursor on iPadOS
In iPadOS 26 beta 3, shake the cursor and it’ll expand in size, It’s a trick carried over from macOS to make the cursor easier to see if it gets lost on multiple screens.
Thanks to @EdFromFreelance on X
Four-finger swipe gesture on iPad
With the Windowed Apps enabled, iPadOS 26 Beta 3 now lets you quickly switch between recent apps by swiping four fingers left or right, something that wasn’t possible before.
Each full-screen app in Beta 3 is given its own separate space, similar to virtual desktops in macOS.
Photos App Icon
In Beta 3, the Photos app icon looks a bit more saturated.
Thanks to @Apple_Boy
Control Center
Connectivity icons in Control Center (Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, etc.) now have brighter colors.
Screenshot
In iOS 26 Beta 3, screenshot previews now default to a small thumbnail in the bottom-left corner instead of showing full screen.
You can turn the full-screen preview back on in Settings → General → Screen Capture.
The Visual Intelligence interface has also been slightly updated.
The object recognition icon in screenshots now shows the Apple Intelligence logo instead of the old sketch-style icon. The “Swipe up for Image Search” menu has been renamed to “Swipe up to see images from Google,” and it no longer covers the screenshot itself.
Apple Maps
You can now receive fog alerts when using offline maps in the Maps app.
Face ID
The Face ID icon on the Lock Screen is now green.
Safari
In Safari, the Bookmarks interface has a few changes to the folder icons. Bookmarked websites now show the site’s actual logo instead of the generic globe icon.
Icons in the Page Menu interface have also been moved to the left next to the title, instead of being on the right.
App Switcher
iOS 26 Beta 3 changes app switching behavior: instead of automatically jumping back to the previous app, it now stays on the current app.
https://x.com/BetaProfiles/status/1942564810383843708
Apple Podcasts
The menus in Podcasts have been streamlined, with buttons like Download, Save, and Share moved to the top of the menu.
Library tab also has categories to manage Shows, Channels, Downloaded content, etc., similar to iOS 18.
Lock Screen
On the Lock Screen, Apple adds a subtle black background layer under the notifications to make them easier to read. In Beta 3, this background now seems to extend upward to the clock area.
Control Center on iPad
iPadOS 26 Beta 3 adds a translucent black background layer under the Control Center, making the controls stand out and much easier to see.
Messages
When you tap on a contact in iMessage chats, you’ll see a new Liquid Glass–style tab transition effect.
Buttons
The buttons that appear when you swipe left or right on a list item now have labels showing what each button does. In previous versions, these buttons only had icons, which could make it unclear to some users what their functions were.
iOS 26 beta 3 also tones down the colors of categories in the Mail app, making them look less vibrant.
Bug Fixes 
- “Opening link in background” no longer freezes Safari
- Apps in the Dock are now centered again. In iOS 26 Beta 2, if there were fewer than four icons in the Dock, they were left-aligned instead.
- Fixed an issue where iPad would automatically go to sleep during video calls or while watching livestreams.
I’ll keep adding more iOS 26 Beta 3 changes and new features here as I discover them. Stay tuned and follow @BetaProfiles on X or Threads!
