The tech world is buzzing because Apple is about to launch iOS 26.1, the first significant update since iOS 26. This update is packed with at least six cool tweaks and enhancements that I think you'll find pretty interesting.

A Fresh Look with Liquid Glass

If you're someone who likes to personalize your iPhone, you'll appreciate this. Apple's adding a new Liquid Glass customization option. This lets you play with how see-through the interface looks. You can pick between a Clear style, which lets more of your background peek through, or a Tinted style that adds more solid colors, making things pop a bit more. I think this is a nice touch for those who want a bit more control over their phone's appearance.

No More Accidental Camera Shots

How many times have you pulled out your phone and accidentally launched the camera? Annoying, right? iOS 26.1 finally lets you disable the swipe gesture that opens the camera from the lock screen. Just dive into Settings, then Camera, and turn off "Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera." I know I'll be switching this off immediately, as it will save me a lot of pocket-pictures.

Snooze or Stop: A New Alarm Experience

Get ready for a change to your morning routine! Apple's tweaked how you turn off alarms. Now, you'll need to swipe to fully stop an alarm instead of just tapping. Snoozing is still a simple tap away, but stopping the alarm requires a bit more effort. I see this as a clever way to prevent accidentally dismissing your alarm when you really meant to snooze. However, if you can't stand this change, you can go back to the old tap-to-stop method in the Accessibility settings.

Better Control Over Local Captures

With iOS 26.1, Apple's refining the experience even further. I've noticed that in Settings ➝ General, a new Local Capture menu will give you more command over how your recordings are handled. You can save captures anywhere you prefer instead of the default Downloads folder. There's also a new Audio Only toggle, which is handy if you want to focus purely on sound without recording video.

Music at Your Fingertips

Apple Music is getting a small upgrade that should make listening even smoother. When the music player is minimized at the bottom of the screen, you can now swipe left or right to skip between songs, without having to open the full player. I find that the change makes it feel more instant and natural.

Under-the-Hood Security Enhancements

Security is always a big deal, and Apple's stepping up its game here. With iOS 26.1, there's a new "Background Security Improvements" feature. This automatically downloads and installs security fixes silently in the background.