Where to find and change your iPhone greeting

Your iPhone's greeting appears in a few different places depending on which version of iOS you're running. The most common greeting is the lock screen message that shows when someone picks up your phone before you unlock it. You can change this message, along with your Siri voice greeting and voicemail greeting, each through a different settings menu.

The lock screen message — sometimes called a lock screen note or emergency contact info — is the easiest to modify. This is the text that appears above or below your lock screen wallpaper. It's useful for displaying your name, a phone number to reach you, or a custom message.

Your voicemail greeting is separate and plays when someone calls and reaches your voicemail. Siri's greeting is what Siri says when you set up it by voice or button press. Each one has its own path to change.

Key Takeaways

  • Lock screen messages are changed through Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode) > Lock Screen, then toggling on "Custom Message" and typing your text.
  • Voicemail greetings are recorded through the Phone app by opening Voicemail, tapping Edit, selecting your voicemail box, and choosing "Greeting."
  • Siri's greeting cannot be customized — it uses Apple's default voice — but you can change Siri's voice accent and language in Settings > Siri & Search.
  • Lock screen messages are visible to anyone who picks up your phone, so avoid sharing sensitive information like your full address or financial details.
  • Changes to lock screen messages take effect when ready, while voicemail greeting changes may take a few minutes to sync across your carrier's network.

Changing your lock screen message on iOS 16 and newer

If you're running iOS 16 or later, the lock screen message feature is built into your passcode settings. Open the Settings app, then tap Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode if your phone uses fingerprint recognition). Enter your passcode when prompted.

Scroll down to the Lock Screen section. You'll see a toggle for "Custom Message" — turn this on. A text field will appear below it. Type the message you want to display on your lock screen. You can use up to 160 characters, which is enough for a name, phone number, or a short message like "If found, please call 555-0123" or "This is Sarah's phone."

Once you've typed your message, tap the back arrow or swipe back to exit. Your lock screen message will appear when ready the next time your phone locks. The message shows on top of your wallpaper, usually at the bottom of the screen.

Changing your lock screen message on iOS 15 and earlier

Older iPhone models running iOS 15 or earlier don't have a dedicated lock screen message feature in Settings. Instead, you can set an emergency contact message through the Health app or Medical ID feature.

Open the Health app, tap your profile icon in the top right corner, then select Medical ID. Tap Edit and scroll to the bottom. You'll see a field for "Emergency Contacts" and another for notes. Add your information here. This data is visible on the lock screen when someone swipes up from the bottom during an emergency call, but it's not a persistent message like newer iOS versions offer.

If you want a message visible at all times on older iPhones, your only option is to change your lock screen wallpaper to an image with text on it using a photo editor, then set that image as your background.

Recording a new voicemail greeting

Your voicemail greeting is what callers hear when they reach your voicemail box. Open the Phone app and tap the Voicemail tab at the bottom right. Tap Edit in the top left corner, then select your voicemail box (usually labeled with your phone number).

Tap Greeting. You'll see two options: Default or Custom. If you select Custom, tap Record and speak your greeting into the phone. Keep it brief — 10 to 20 seconds is standard. When you're done, tap Stop. You can tap Play to hear it back, or tap Save to confirm.

If you make a mistake, tap Record again to re-record. The new recording will replace the previous one. Your carrier may take a few minutes to update the greeting across its network, so callers might hear your old greeting for a short time after you change it.

Changing Siri's voice and language settings

You cannot change Siri's greeting itself — Siri always uses Apple's default greeting when activated. However, you can change the voice that Siri uses, which affects how the greeting sounds.

Open Settings and tap Siri & Search. Tap Siri Voice. You'll see options for different accents and languages: American, British, Australian, Indian, Irish, and others depending on your region and iOS version. Select the accent you prefer. Siri's greeting will now use that voice.

You can also toggle Siri's voice feedback on or off in the same menu. If you turn off "Voice Feedback," Siri will respond silently with text only, and you won't hear a greeting at all when you set up Siri.

What information is safe to display on your lock screen

Your lock screen message is visible to anyone who picks up your phone, even before they unlock it. For this reason, avoid including sensitive information. A first name and phone number is safe. Your full address, date of birth, Social Security number, or bank account details should never appear on your lock screen.

If you're using the lock screen message for emergency purposes, include only what a stranger would need to contact you or a trusted person. Examples: "If found, call Mom at 555-0199" or "Sarah's iPhone — please call 555-0123." This balances safety with privacy.

Troubleshooting lock screen message problems

If your lock screen message isn't showing up, first check that you've toggled the Custom Message switch on in Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Lock Screen. The toggle should be green or blue, not gray.

If the toggle is on but the message still doesn't appear, lock your phone and wait a few seconds, then unlock it. Sometimes the message takes a moment to display after you've made changes. If it still doesn't show, restart your phone by powering it off and back on.

If you're on iOS 15 or earlier and trying to use the Medical ID method, make sure you've actually saved your changes in the Health app. Tap Edit, add your information, then tap Done at the top right. Without tapping Done, your changes won't save.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use emojis in my lock screen message?

Yes. You can type or paste emojis into your lock screen message just like you would in a text message. They count toward your 160-character limit, so a message with several emojis will have less room for text.

Will my lock screen message show up if my phone is in lost mode?

Yes. If you set up Lost Mode through Find My iPhone, your custom lock screen message will still display. This is actually useful — you can set a message like "This phone is lost. Please call 555-0123" before enabling Lost Mode.

Can I set different lock screen messages for different times of day?

No. iOS doesn't support scheduling different lock screen messages at different times. You can only have one active message at a time, though you can change it manually whenever you want.

What happens to my lock screen message if I update iOS?

Your lock screen message is saved as part of your phone's settings and will carry over when you update iOS. You won't lose it during an update.

Can someone change my lock screen message without my passcode?

No. Changing your lock screen message requires entering your Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode. Without one of these, someone cannot modify your message even if they have physical access to your phone.