CaseyCBenn

Level 1 (4 points)

Is there any way to get ios 27 to replicate the behaviors of ios17?

I recently updated my OS from ios17 to ios27.

The new UI and general "usability" is extremely fiddly and feels like software bloat.

From my 1st iPhone 5s till this iPhone 12 mini... I have always liked the the way the iPhone

seemed like minimalism. Form follows function type of product.

Easy, never had to think about it. Each ios update a little different... same functionality.

Ever since I updated my iPhone from 17 to ios27 it seems like almost every single thing

I do takes way more effort to do. More tapping around... sliding... etc.

I have never had to put in so much effort and swiping around to do such simple things

like I was doing in either one or two moves before.

Getting into my email. Even navigating the phone list is like "what" where is the ???

I have been honestly wanting to down grade to ios 17 again until the designers

of the OS maybe get to ios 28 and maybe get it right again.

I asked Chat GPT for help and it gave me a lot of settings tips to get rid of all the weird

bubbly bouncy "effects" stuff which I am 100% sure would make Steve Jobs fire an entire fleet

of people just for letting that os ever make it to a public space.

This isn't a case of just "you were just used to os17 and will get used to ios 27"

Yes, you can acclimate to walking on glass after a certain time.

However.. I am 100% sure that if you had two iPhone users use 17 and 27 side by side you

would see the 17 user blazing through tasks 200% faster than ios27 user on a slow day.

I love my iPhone mini 12. I use it for my VFX work shooting shots, making HDRI,

checking stars for telescope use etc.. plugs into my Jeep nav and shows up on the screen.

It is like my mini computer away from the desktop.

But, I've updated ios over the years and each time I go "ok, thats different.. but I get it..

I'll adjust". This time though, the design is way too fiddly and obtuse.

I open the email app... it is connected to outlook.

It downloads the emails and I used to just select and press "mark read" or "delete"

and it was very clear.. and took two moves. Now its like there is this button at the top right.. then

a flag at the bottom... with a minus button? Like... is that the delete?

Do I press it? Hmm...

ok... then that opens up to another little floaty windows... like? What?

Why? How about.. just select.. then I see the options once selected... like before..

not.. ok... mysterious symbol flag with minus mark that opens to a new panel?

Yeah, no its just a bad design philosophy.

Bouncy, bubble, fiddly for the sake of being flashy with little practicality.

Through and through.

Never had to guess and fiddle around like this before.

This is all throughout the phone now. Even trying to get a number in my number list.

Yes, I can figure it out... but... I didn't have to before. It was just easily apparent.

Now its like a little game every time I open a new application.

Find the button... that brings up a bubble.. that has little arrows.. that.... that,.. ok now it does the thing

that it used to do in 1 or 2 moves.

Sorry about the rant. But IOS17 was that good. Use it or any previous IOS for that matter

as a kind of goal post for ease of use as you guys go forward with IOS designs.

Posted on Oct 29, 2026 12:57 PM

3 replies

Mac Jim ID

Level 10 (105,996 points)

Oct 29, 2026 1:31 PM in response to CaseyCBenn

No, you cannot revert back to the UI of iOS 17, but you can send feedback to Apple.

Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Apple doesn't participate in providing support on this Community Forum of users and I doubt they would even see it for feedback, which is why they have that specific link. The reference to "you guys" is not going to get to Apple.

I wouldn't be so quick to suggest knowing what Steve Jobs would do. I say this for 2 specific reasons.

When asked by a user about the inability to maintain a cellular connection when holding the phone in a certain way, he famously said "Just avoid holding it in that way."
When discussing user input in the design, he said “Some people say, "Give the customers what they want." But that's not my approach. Our job is to figure out what they're going to want before they do. I think Henry Ford once said, "If I'd asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, 'A faster horse!'" People don't know what they want until you show it to them. That's why I never rely on market research. Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page.”

We see all too often where people want more options in each OS release, and very rarely are they looking for less, so of course that same Feedback link is provided. Adding more features increases the complexity along with more Settings and that has always been the case.

There is a User Guide for iOS 27 and that may be helpful if you are having trouble wondering what a button is going to do, like in your Mail example.

iPhone User Guide - Apple Support (CA)

Phil0124

Level 10 (242,520 points)

Oct 29, 2026 1:47 PM in response to CaseyCBenn

Hi,

The little flag icon has (...) 3 dots, not a minus sign, but I can understand how on an iPhone Mini that would be hard to see.

You may want to look through the iOS 27 user guide, to familiarize yourself with the new changes.

click here ➜ Check your email in Mail on iPhone - Apple Support

It's not unexpected that skipping straight to iOS 27 from iOS 17, the changes would be more massive and confusing. You went past two other versions, that likely would have eased you into the new options. Another reason, why updating regularly is helpful, as it keeps changes to a lesser degree.

LD150

Level 10 (107,674 points)

Oct 29, 2026 1:10 PM in response to CaseyCBenn

If you are on iphone 12 mini there is so little difference there is no point, even if you could.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256385501