Apple introduced the Liquid Glass design language in iOS 26, which brings a new translucent, layered interface across menus and system apps. Messages, Safari, Photos, Calendar, and Mail already showcase this refreshed look. But many of Apple’s creative and productivity apps, including GarageBand, iMovie, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, have not yet adopted Liquid Glass, leaving users wondering why.
The truth is this delay is not unusual. Apple almost always updates its core system apps at launch, while standalone apps follow later. These apps are more complex and often get bundled updates that combine design changes with new features like collaboration tools, Pencil support, or multimedia enhancements. This staggered approach has been consistent across multiple iOS generations.
Apple’s update history for iWork and iLife apps
The company’s previous iOS updates and iWork and iLife app releases confirm this pattern:
- iOS 7 (2013): The biggest design overhaul arrived on system apps immediately, but iWork and iLife updates with the flat design came about a month later.
- iOS 11 (2017): Drag-and-drop for iPad shipped with iOS, but Pages, Numbers, and Keynote gained support later that fall.
- iOS 15 (2021): Live Text and Focus were ready on launch day, while iWork apps got Pencil and collaboration upgrades later in the year.
- iOS 16 and iOS 17: Again, GarageBand, iMovie, and iWork apps received staggered updates across the fall, not on day one.
This makes iOS 26 consistent with Apple’s long-standing strategy. The absence of Liquid Glass in some apps today does not mean they are being ignored, but that Apple is following its usual rollout cycle.
Users should expect updates for GarageBand, iMovie, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote within the month after iOS 26’s release, likely by the end of fall. When these updates arrive, they will almost certainly include both the Liquid Glass look and functional enhancements. In the meantime, Apple’s system apps already offer a preview of how the new design language transforms everyday use.
This split between updated and pending apps is normal, and history suggests Apple will deliver. For now, users can enjoy Liquid Glass in core apps while waiting for the creative and productivity suite to catch up.
