Learn how to revert to the classic look of the iPhone’s built-in Phone app if you don’t like the design changes in iOS 26, and switch between the new and old interfaces.
iOS 26 brings a new Liquid Glass look with redesigned Phone and FaceTime apps, among other changes.
The new Phone app relocates favorites, kills tabs, and brings a whole new layout with contact posters of your favorite contacts lined up alongside the top of the Calls tab.
Similarly, the FaceTime app displays every call and suggestion as scrollable tiles instead of a simple recents list like before.
Some folks (this author included) detest the new layout. I myself would’ve appreciated a simpler recent list to fit more entries without scrolling. And if you didn’t create contact posters for your favorites, those blank tiles will definitely appear unappealing and feel like a giant waste of usable space.
Revert the classic Phone app design
To restore the old look, open the Phone app on your iPhone, select the Calls tab at the bottom, hit the three-line menu in the top-right corner, and choose Classic.
This will remove those favorite tiles at the top and bring back the familiar tabs alongside the bottom: Favorites, Recents, Contacts, Keypad, and Voicemail (in supported regions).
To switch to the new design again, select the Recents tab at the bottom, hit the menu in the top-right corner, and choose Unified.
Restore the classic FaceTime design
The new FaceTime app on iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26 doesn’t support restoring the previous design, but here are some options to consider:
- Ignore the FaceTime app and instead make FaceTime calls from within the Phone or Contacts app or by asking Siri.
- Create contact posters for your favorites to liven up the new FaceTime design until you get used to it over time.
- If you don’t want to touch the revamped FaceTime app at all, you can always downgrade your iPhone from the iOS 26 beta and turn off automatic software updates to stay on iOS 18 for as long as possible.
Also, check out: How to speed dial on iPhone (9 ways)