Steve Troughton-Smith

Alan Dye strikes again:

Did you notice in iOS 26 that the home indicator is permanently hidden?

It only shows when you touch or slide your finger on the empty space where it's supposed to be. This is even more frustrating when you consider that the home indicator can be double-tapped to invoke Apple Intelligence — except now you have to know to double-tap the blank space — or swiped to invoke Reachability.

Another case of hiding system UI you use 100x a day for prettier marketing shots

Sep 13, 2025 at 4:22pmIvory for Mac
Show threadmingistech Sep 13, 2025
@stroughtonsmith honestly, the bar felt like a pointless addition to a swipe gesture most users understood immediately.
Show threadKeirSep 13, 2025
@stroughtonsmith the guy simply doesn't know what he's doing and that's become painfully evident this year
Show threadJeffSep 13, 2025
@stroughtonsmith You can double tap the home indicator to bring up siri??? huh
Show threadSörenSep 13, 2025
@JPZ @stroughtonsmith yep, type to Siri. Added last year, I think.
Show threadChase CarrollSep 13, 2025
@stroughtonsmith another consequence is that any tab bar that doesn’t match the new system inset style will always look off balance now.
Show threadSörenSep 13, 2025

@stroughtonsmith is that a change? I thought it’s been like that since the X.

And the bar *does* briefly show when you launch an app from the Home Screen, to indicate “here’s how you get back”, I suppose.

Show threadIngoSep 13, 2025
@stroughtonsmith I didn’t know that. That’s quite a change
Show threadJimmy CallinSep 13, 2025
@stroughtonsmith Apple should learn from the game industry and have settings for different amount of HUD.
Show threadJosh HrachSep 13, 2025
@stroughtonsmith Reachability is different now, too. It’s not just a swipe down like before, but you have to physically swipe up and then down, almost like you’re flinging the screen down.
Show threadFlorian KriechbaumerSep 13, 2025
@JoshHrach @stroughtonsmith I didn’t observe this. It actually works better in iOS26 for me, previously it constantly invoked Siri by accident.
Show threadAlex KanSep 13, 2025
@JoshHrach @stroughtonsmith just tried multiple times — you can just swipe down as usual 🤷‍♂️
Show threadJosh HrachSep 14, 2025
@alexkancom @stroughtonsmith Interesting. 🤔 And it does so even when the indicator isn't visible?
Show threadAlex KanSep 14, 2025
@JoshHrach @stroughtonsmith
Show threadJosh HrachSep 15, 2025
@alexkancom @stroughtonsmith Ah, I got it now. I used to be able to do it just on the home indicator, but it looks like they moved the swipe to start _above_ the indicator.
Show threadKurtSep 13, 2025
@stroughtonsmith I just wish they’d fix the bug where swiping accidentally triggers UI elements in the app you are dismissing. Been around since 18 and double-tap type to Siri. Turning it off doesn’t help.
Show threadPaul-Vincent Roll (he/him)Sep 13, 2025
@stroughtonsmith aaahhh that’s why the write to Siri thing sometime showed up!
Show threadDagaloniSep 13, 2025
@stroughtonsmith ok that I’m very happy with. I upgrade from an iPhone 7 to 13 and found the home indicator very unnecessary and wished I could make it dissapear.
Show threadQuarterSwedeSep 13, 2025
@stroughtonsmith I’ve wanted that stupid thing hidden for years. It’s about time in my opinion! Though, do I wish it were an option? Yes.
Show threadAndrew Mackarous 🇨🇦Sep 14, 2025
Did not notice this at first but now it feels so weird.
Show threadMike CaneSep 25, 2025
@stroughtonsmith No option to make it show permanently?