Apple Store App Gets Liquid Glass Overhaul and New Icon with iOS 26

Key Takeaways:

Apple Store app gets Liquid Glass redesign replacing the long-standing flat aesthetic with a translucent tab bar and updated textures.
New icon flips old color scheme with a white shopping bag on a blue background to match Apple’s updated visual identity across iOS 26.
No new features, only UI changes as version 6.6 focuses purely on design and performance without altering navigation or functionality.
Part of broader iOS 26 design rollout following similar updates to Apple TV and GarageBand, while iWork apps remain unchanged for now.
Visual overhaul may take months to complete with Apple apps updating first and third-party apps lagging behind; no user action required.

Apple has rolled out a major update to the Apple Store app following the release of iOS 26.2 beta 2. The app now adopts Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language, moving away from the long-standing flat aesthetic. This update was first reported by AppleInsider.

New Icon Embraces Liquid Glass Style

The most noticeable change is the redesigned app icon. Apple has inverted the earlier color palette. The shopping bag icon is now white and sits on a blue background. The look is consistent with the Liquid Glass visual style Apple showcased during WWDC and reflects the broader redesign taking place across iOS 26.

Complete UI Overhaul With Liquid Glass Tab Bar

The icon isn’t the only update. Inside the app, traditional buttons have been replaced by a Liquid Glass tab bar featuring translucent textures and subtle lighting transitions. The four navigation sections For You, Products, Go Further and Bag remain the same, so the update focuses purely on appearance rather than new functionality.

Expansion of Liquid Glass Across Apple Apps

This redesign is part of an ongoing visual refresh across Apple apps. The Apple TV app and its streaming platform received a similar Liquid Glass treatment earlier, including a real-glass redesign for the Apple TV logo. GarageBand has also adopted the new design style. In contrast, the iWork suite, including Pages, Numbers and Keynote, has not yet been updated.

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Version 6.6 Includes Performance Improvements

Apple notes that version 6.6 also introduces various improvements and performance enhancements. There are no new user-facing features included in this release. The focus is entirely on bringing the Apple Store app in line with the new design language of iOS 26.

Major Design Shift Since the Flat Aesthetic of iOS 7

Liquid Glass represents Apple’s biggest visual change since the introduction of the flat UI style in iOS 7, which continued through iOS 18. It may take months for all optional Apple apps to receive this update and even longer for third-party developers to transition to the new interface style.

Apple’s steady rollout signals a clear goal to create a unified visual identity ahead of larger ecosystem changes expected with future software updates.