iOS 26 tweaks iPhone Always On Display in a way you might not like

Apple’s Always On Display has been fairly consistent since it debuted on iPhone 14 Pro. With iOS 26, Apple quietly changed how it works in a way that may not be obvious.

Always On Display modes

Instead of simply dimming your Lock Screen wallpaper, the system blurs it by default in iOS 26. The tweak makes the clock and widgets stand out more, but it also defeats the purpose of displaying a photo if that’s what you like about the feature. Luckily, there’s also a toggle to…