Should setting a UIVisualEffectView's effect to nil remove its visual glass effect?

UI Frameworks UIKit
Mr. Jefferson OP
Created Aug ’25
Replies 10
Boosts 4
Views 211
Participants 6

In the WWDC 2025 session "Build a UIKit app with the with the new design", at the 23:22 mark, the presenter says:

And finally, when you no longer need the glass on screen animate it out by setting the effect to nil.

The video shows a UIVisualEffectView whose effect is set to a UIGlassEffect animating away as its effect is set to nil. But when I do this in my app (or a sample app), setting effect to nil does not remove the glass appearance. Is this expected? Is the video out of date? Or is this a bug?

Replies  10
Boosts  4
Views  211
Participants  6
Onit OP
Aug ’25

I noticed the same thing — the animation shown in the video doesn’t happen when using:

UIView.animate { effectView.effect = nil }

I’ve filed a bug report with Apple for this, and I’d recommend you do the same so it gets more attention.

2
skeeJay OP
Aug ’25

I similarly still can't get this to work, as of Beta 7.

2
aswyer OP
Aug ’25

Does not appear to work on Beta 8 either.

3
Frameworks Engineer OP
Apple
Sep ’25

This certainly sounds like a bug! Have you filed a feedback about this? Please post the FB ID (ideally attach the sample app you're using) here so we can track this, and fix it appropriately.

0
Onit OP
Sep ’25

Thanks for confirming! I’ve filed a feedback report. My FB ID is FB19397537.

1
Mr. Jefferson OP
Sep ’25

I filed too, with a sample project. Mine is FB20069803.

Note that this occurs on Seed 9, but that's not an option in the "which build" dropdown in Feedback Assistant.

1
aswyer OP
Sep ’25

FB19413975. Appears to be reproducing on Seed 9.

1
chrisbrakebill OP
Sep ’25

FB20157465 Adding another to the list

Somewhat tangential. I've also noted in mine that if the glass effect has a tint color, it doesn't animate when it's added to the view (inside an animation block)

1
skeeJay OP
Sep ’25

Does not appear to be fixed in iOS 26 RC. Looks like iOS 26 is shipping without it, which is wild, considering that is was core functionality the WWDC videos described exactly how to use.

1
Onit OP
Sep ’25

Seems to be fixed in iOS 26.1 beta 1. 🎉

1
Should setting a UIVisualEffectView's effect to nil remove its visual glass effect?
First post date Last post date
 
 
Q