iOS 26.4 beta 2 is now available for developers, and it continues an interesting design shift that quietly started in beta 1.
Apple appears to be reversing parts of iOS 26’s app search redesign, bringing certain elements back in line with iOS 18.
Search UI shifts back toward iOS 18
When iOS 26 first launched, Apple introduced two notable search interface changes across system apps:
- The Search button was separated from the tab bar as a standalone control
- The search bar was moved to the bottom of the screen
This marked a clear departure from iOS 18, where:
- Search existed as a standard navigation tab
- The search bar was positioned at the top of the screen
With iOS 26.4 beta 1, Apple reverted those changes in the App Store app. Search was reintegrated into the tab bar, and the search field returned to the top of the interface.
At the time, it was unclear whether this was a bug or a deliberate design experiment, especially since the App Store prominently features ad placements near the top of search results.
Apple Games now follows the same pattern
In iOS 26.4 beta 2, Apple has expanded the same design reversal to a second app: Apple Games.
In beta 1, the Games app still used the newer iOS 26 search layout. Now, in beta 2, it mirrors the App Store changes exactly:
- Search is once again a tab within the bottom navigation bar
- The search bar returns to the top of the screen
With two apps now adopting the older layout, it is clear this is not a bug. Instead, Apple appears to be intentionally dialing back parts of the iOS 26 search redesign.
A broader design rollback?
So far, only the App Store and Apple Games have adopted the revised layout. However, expanding the change to a second app strongly suggests Apple could continue applying this “new-old” design across more first-party apps before iOS 26.4 ships publicly.
