WWDC 2025: Apple unveils Liquid Glass UI and year-based naming for iOS, iPhone, and macOS in historic design overhaul

In the ongoing WWDC 2025, Apple has announced a historic revamp of its user interface philosophy, unveiling a new 'Liquid Glass' design aesthetic, that will be integrated across all of Apple's major platforms: iOS, macOS, and more.

The new update has been described by Alan Dye, Vice President of Human Interface, as Apple's 'broadest design update, ever,' pointing out that the Liquid Glass aesthetic represents a major shift in the visual identity of Apple's operating systems.

Inspired by the optical qualities of real glass, Liquid Glass is defined by a dynamic combination of translucency, depth, and light refraction. From the dock to the lock screen, Apple’s updated UI reimagines the digital interface with fluid responsiveness.

“It refracts light, reacts to movement, and responds in real time to your content,” said Dye during the unveiling, highlighting the interface’s ability to create live, tactile interactions that feel both futuristic and intuitive.

This visual overhaul is accompanied by a strategic rebranding of Apple’s operating system naming convention. Announced by Craig Federighi at the company’s WWDC keynote, Apple is shifting from version numbers to year-based naming, beginning with iOS 26 and watchOS 26. Going forward, Apple’s software nomenclature will reflect the release year — a move that aligns its platforms more clearly with the calendar and underscores the annual cadence of innovation. This renaming initiative reinforces the scale of the redesign and positions 2025 as a landmark year for Apple’s software.

Users will immediately notice the difference on the upcoming iOS 26 lock screen. A glass-like edge appears when swiping up, echoing across the OS with new contours and textures. Similar transformations are visible on macOS, where the desktop interface now adopts shimmering surfaces and layered transparencies, adding visual clarity without sacrificing functionality.

This is not Apple’s first flirtation with glass-inspired design. The Aqua interface — introduced in 2000 with iMovie 2 and later featured in Mac OS X 10.0 — was Apple’s first major use of translucent layers. Elements of that style were revisited in macOS Big Sur, which embraced softer corners and visual depth.

However, Liquid Glass pushes those ideas into a new frontier with real-time responsiveness and a unified cross-platform identity.

For developers, the change will mean revisiting UI elements to harmonise with Apple’s new aesthetic. For users, it promises an immersive, more tactile experience — one that redefines how they see and touch their digital world.