The fastest way to change your lock screen

Open Settings, tap Lock Screen, then tap Customize. From there you can change the wallpaper, the clock style, the font, and which apps show notifications. If you want a different lock screen entirely — not just a different look on the same screen — you create a new one by swiping left on your current lock screen in the Lock Screen menu, then tapping the plus sign at the bottom.

The whole process takes under two minutes. You do not need to restart your phone or use a computer. Every change takes effect when ready when you tap Set.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap Settings > Lock Screen > Customize to change the wallpaper, clock, font, and notification badges on your existing lock screen.
  • Create a brand-new lock screen by opening Settings > Lock Screen, swiping left on your current screen, and tapping the plus sign.
  • You can have multiple lock screens and switch between them by swiping left and right on the lock screen itself when your phone is locked.
  • Changes take effect when ready and do not require restarting your phone.
  • You can create up to five different lock screens and delete any of them except your last one.

Changing the wallpaper and clock on your current lock screen

Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Lock Screen. Tap it. You will see your current lock screen displayed at the top. Tap Customize directly below it.

The Customize screen shows you what your lock screen looks like now. Tap the wallpaper image at the bottom to change it. You can choose from Apple's built-in collections (Weather, Nature, Astronomy, Emoji), upload a photo from your camera roll, or create a color-filled screen. After you pick a wallpaper, tap Set to confirm.

To change the clock style, tap the clock itself on the Customize screen. You will see options like Rounded, Monogram, Numerals, and Typographic. Pick one and tap Set. The font and color of the time will change when ready on your lock screen.

Adding or removing notification badges

While you are in Customize, scroll down to see which apps are showing notifications on your lock screen. You can tap any app to turn its notifications on or off, or tap the plus sign to add a new app to the display.

This controls which apps show a small dot or count on your lock screen — it does not affect whether you receive notifications overall. Those are controlled separately in Settings > Notifications. You can add up to four apps to your lock screen notification area.

Creating a second or third lock screen

If you want a completely different lock screen instead of just tweaking the current one, create a new one. Go to Settings > Lock Screen and look at your current lock screen at the top. Swipe left on it with your finger. A trash icon will appear on the right, and a plus sign will appear at the bottom of the screen.

Tap the plus sign. You will be taken to the Customize screen for a brand-new lock screen. Choose a wallpaper, clock style, and notification apps just as you would for your first one. Tap Set when you are done.

Now you have two lock screens. You can swipe left and right directly on your lock screen (when your phone is locked) to switch between them. You can create up to five different lock screens this way, each with its own wallpaper, clock style, and notification setup.

Switching between multiple lock screens

Once you have more than one lock screen, you control which one shows by swiping on the lock screen itself when your phone is locked. Swipe left to see the next lock screen, swipe right to go back. The lock screen you are viewing when you unlock your phone becomes your active lock screen.

You can also switch lock screens from Settings > Lock Screen by tapping the one you want to use. A small dot underneath a lock screen shows which one is currently active. This dot updates automatically when you swipe to a different lock screen on your phone.

Removing a lock screen you no longer want

Go to Settings > Lock Screen. Swipe left on the lock screen you want to delete. Tap the trash icon that appears. The lock screen is removed when ready.

You cannot delete your last lock screen — your phone must have at least one. If you try to delete the only lock screen you have, nothing will happen. If you have multiple lock screens and delete the one that is currently active, your phone will switch to the next one in the list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo from my phone as my lock screen wallpaper?

Yes. In Settings > Lock Screen > Customize, tap the wallpaper image at the bottom. Scroll to find Photos, tap it, then choose an album and select the photo you want. You can zoom and move the photo to frame it the way you like before tapping Set.

Will changing my lock screen affect my home screen?

No. Your lock screen and home screen are separate. Changing one does not change the other. If you want to change your home screen wallpaper, go to Settings > Wallpaper instead.

What happens if I delete a lock screen by mistake?

You can create a new one when ready by going to Settings > Lock Screen, swiping left on your remaining lock screen, and tapping the plus sign. There is no undo, but you can rebuild it in under a minute.

Can I set different lock screens for different times of day?

Not automatically. You can create multiple lock screens and switch between them manually by swiping on your lock screen, but iOS does not have a built-in schedule to change them on its own.

Why is my lock screen not changing after I tap Set?

Make sure you tapped Set and not Cancel. If you did tap Set, lock your phone and unlock it to see the new lock screen. Sometimes the change does not display until you lock and unlock your device once.