The latest iOS 26 release introduces a multitude of new features, some of which have gone relatively unnoticed. One intriguing feature is the ability to tint your Home Screen icons to match the color of your iPhone or an Apple-made iPhone case.
After years of a static experience, Apple made significant changes in the iOS 18 release last year to make the home screen more vibrant and customizable. Users could now place icons anywhere on the screen, resize icons and widgets more easily, and change icon colors to their preference.
In iOS 18, users could adjust the color and saturation of icons using sliders. However, iOS 26 introduces a new feature where buttons below the sliders allow users to select a tint that automatically matches their iPhone color. Here’s how to access this feature:
- Press and hold an empty spot on your iPhone Home Screen until the icons begin to jiggle.
- Tap Edit in the top-left corner.
- Select Customize from the menu that appears. A customization panel will appear at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose Default, Dark, or Clear for different options, but for the tinted feature, select Tinted.
- Use the sliders to adjust the color saturation and choose between Light or Dark modes.
- Opt for Auto to match the icons to your iPhone’s light or dark mode setting.
The color-matching feature is not limited to new iPhone models and should be available on any iPhone running iOS 26. Although there have been reports of it not appearing on older models, this is likely a bug.
iOS 26 can determine your iPhone’s color from the part number, which can be found in the Settings app under General > About. Each color, capacity, and country variant has its own part number, distinct from the model number.
For instance, the model number A3295 is for all iPhone 16 Pro Max models sold in specific countries, while the part number MYWN3VC/A is specific to a Desert Titanium 512 GB iPhone 16 Pro Max sold in Canada. Other colors and capacities have different part numbers.
iOS 26 also allows users with Apple-made MagSafe cases to match their icon tint to the case color, thanks to the NFC chips embedded in these cases. The tinting feature now applies to the entire icon, with graphics rendered in white, providing a more elegant and uniform look compared to iOS 18’s Tinted mode.
Users can also select a color from their background wallpaper using the eye-dropper button for customization.
The new matching feature in iOS 26 adds a personalized and whimsical touch to the user experience, especially for those who enjoy coordinating their wallpaper, widgets, and case with their device.
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