How to Make a Transparent Widget on iPhone (iOS 26 Liquid Glass)
Quick answer: On iOS 26 or later, open a group in WidgetLoft (formerly FolderMini), tap Edit Group and choose the Transparent material. Add the regular WidgetLoft widget for a fully see-through look, or WidgetLoft · Liquid Glass for frosted glass. Either way your wallpaper shows through and only the app icons float on top.
Solid widget boxes can bury a wallpaper you picked with care. A transparent widget keeps the photo visible and still gives you one-tap access to your apps.
What a transparent widget looks like
Most widgets sit on a solid or tinted card. A transparent widget drops that card, so the icons appear to sit right on your wallpaper, much like regular Home Screen icons, but arranged in a neat grid you control.
WidgetLoft offers two see-through styles for any group set to Transparent:
- WidgetLoft (the regular widget): the background disappears completely.
- WidgetLoft · Liquid Glass: the wallpaper shows through a soft frosted glass layer, which keeps icons readable on busy photos.
Both open apps directly when you tap a tile, just like any other WidgetLoft widget.
Step-by-step: make a transparent widget
- Open a group. In WidgetLoft, go to the Groups tab and open the group you want on your Home Screen (or create a new one).
- Choose Transparent. Tap Edit Group and set the material to Transparent. This option needs iOS 26 or later.
- Add the widget. Long-press an empty spot on your Home Screen, open the widget gallery, search for WidgetLoft and pick WidgetLoft (fully see-through) or WidgetLoft · Liquid Glass (frosted). If it shows a different group, long-press the widget, tap Edit Widget and choose the one you made transparent.
- Pick the icon look. For the Liquid Glass widget, go to Settings → Widget → Dark Icon Appearance and choose Light or Dark icons, whichever reads better on your wallpaper.
- Show app names if you like. Turn on App names for the group to show each app's name under its icon.
Transparent vs Liquid Glass vs Colour
| | Transparent | Liquid Glass | Colour | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Widget to add | WidgetLoft | WidgetLoft · Liquid Glass | WidgetLoft | | Look | Fully see-through, icons on your wallpaper | Frosted glass over your wallpaper | Solid theme color, gradient and depth | | Best wallpaper | Calm, simple backgrounds | Busy photos and bright patterns | Any, when you want the widget to stand out | | Dark icons | Automatic, Light or Dark | Light or Dark only | Automatic, Light or Dark | | iOS version | iOS 26 or later | iOS 26 or later | iOS 18 or later |
WidgetLoft lets every group pick its own material, so you can mix a see-through group on one page with a colored one on another. For more layout inspiration, see our iOS 27 Home Screen ideas.
On iOS 18 to 25? Use Colour instead
Transparency is not available before iOS 26, but the Colour material works on iOS 18 and later. In Edit Group choose from 12 themes (Ember, Citrus, Bloom, Dusk, Tide, Aurora, Moss, Neon, Storm, Clay, Ink, Paper) or Custom, turn on Gradient and set its direction, then use the Depth slider to make the card flatter or richer. Pick a theme that matches your wallpaper and the widget blends in nicely.
Common questions
Can you make a widget transparent on iPhone? Yes, on iOS 26 or later. Set a WidgetLoft group to Transparent: the regular WidgetLoft widget becomes fully see-through, and the WidgetLoft · Liquid Glass widget gives a frosted glass look.
Why can't I choose Transparent? Transparent needs iOS 26 or later. On iOS 18 to 25, use the Colour material with its 12 themes, Gradient and Depth.
Does the Liquid Glass widget follow Dark Mode? Not automatically. Pick Light or Dark icons in Settings → Widget → Dark Icon Appearance. The regular WidgetLoft widget can follow the device with Automatic.
Want your wallpaper back? Download WidgetLoft on the App Store and make your first see-through widget.