How to Implement Liquid Glass in React Native (iOS 26+)

Learn to Implement Liquid Glass in React Native (iOS 26+)

If you’ve been keeping an eye on mobile design trends, you know that Liquid Glass is the next big thing. Introduced with iOS 26, this effect is a beautiful evolution of the classic glassmorphism we’ve loved for years. This isn’t the old “blur + opacity” trick anymore. Liquid Glass behaves like a real material. It refracts what’s underneath it, catches light as you interact, and subtly adapts its tint based on motion and context. The result is a surface that feels alive rather than painted on.

Ready to give your React Native app that premium, futuristic vibe? Let’s dive into how you can implement this effortlessly.

What Exactly is Liquid Glass?

Before we touch the code, a word of advice from Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines: use Liquid Glass sparingly. Because it is so visually powerful, overusing it can actually distract users from your content.

• Reserve it for functional elements: Use it for navigation bars, headers, floating cards, or action buttons.
• Don’t go full-screen: Avoid making entire screen backgrounds transparent; it works best for floating panels.
• Prioritize Readability: Ensure your text has enough contrast against the dynamic background. You can use a tintColor overlay to maintain brand consistency and visibility.

Getting started in React Native

On iOS 26+, implementing Liquid Glass in React Native is surprisingly straightforward. The exact approach depends on whether you’re using the New Architecture directly or working within Expo.

Step 1: Setting Up the Libraries

By 2026, the React Native ecosystem has matured to support these native primitives out of the box. You have two primary paths:

Option A: The Callstack Library (Recommended)

npm install @callstack/liquid-glass

npx expo install expo-glass-effect

import { LiquidGlassView, isLiquidGlassSupported } from '@callstack/liquid-glass';
import { Text, StyleSheet } from 'react-native';

const GlassCard = () => (
  <LiquidGlassView 
    effect="regular" // 'regular' for frosted, 'clear' for high transparency
    interactive={true} // Enables the "glint" effect on touch
    style={[
      styles.card,
      !isLiquidGlassSupported() && { backgroundColor: 'rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5)' }
    ]}
  >
    <Text style={styles.text}>Futuristic UI</Text>
  </LiquidGlassView>
);

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  card: {
    padding: 20,
    borderRadius: 24,
    width: 300,
    height: 150,
    justifyContent: 'center',
  },
  text: {
    fontSize: 18,
    fontWeight: '600',
    color: '#000',
  }
});

import { LiquidGlassContainerView, LiquidGlassView } from '@callstack/liquid-glass';

const MergedInterface = () => (
  <LiquidGlassContainerView spacing={20} style={styles.container}>
    <LiquidGlassView style={styles.circleLarge} />
    <LiquidGlassView style={styles.circleSmall} />
  </LiquidGlassContainerView>
);

import { AccessibilityInfo } from 'react-native';
const prefersReducedTransparency = await AccessibilityInfo.isReduceTransparencyEnabled();

Building modern mobile apps is more than just code

Implementing Liquid Glass is more than just a visual trend; it’s about embracing a new “physics of the interface”. By moving away from static designs and toward these “living” materials, you’re signaling to your users that your app is built for the modern era.

Design trends like Liquid Glass are exciting, but pulling them off well takes more than copying snippets. It requires a solid understanding of platform behavior, performance constraints, and how real users interact with your app.

At TechNurture IT Solutions, we build high-quality mobile applications using React Native and modern UI patterns that feel fast, native, and future-ready. From clean architecture and performance optimization to polished UI and smooth animations, we focus on building apps that not only look premium but scale confidently as your product grows.

If you’re planning a new mobile app or want to modernize an existing one with iOS 26 features like Liquid Glass, we’d love to help.