The fastest way to change your lock screen
On most phones and computers, you reach the lock screen settings through your device's main settings menu, not through a separate app. The exact path depends on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac.
For iPhone: Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then Lock Screen. You can choose a wallpaper, add widgets, or adjust the clock style directly from this menu.
For Android: Open Settings, search for "lock screen," and tap Lock Screen or Lock Screen and Security (the name varies by manufacturer). From there you can change the wallpaper, style, and what information shows on the locked screen.
For Windows 10 or 11: Open Settings, go to Personalization, then Lock Screen. You can pick a background image, slideshow, or Windows Spotlight (which rotates images automatically).
For Mac: Open System Settings, click Lock Screen, then choose your background image and adjust clock and message options.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone lock screen settings are in Settings > Display & Brightness > Lock Screen, where you can add widgets and change the clock appearance.
- Android lock screen options are in Settings > Lock Screen (or Lock Screen and Security), though the exact menu name depends on your phone brand.
- Windows computers use Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen to change the background image or enable a rotating slideshow.
- Mac users find lock screen options in System Settings > Lock Screen, where you can also set a custom message to display.
Changing the wallpaper or background image
The wallpaper is the image that appears behind everything on your lock screen. On iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac, you can upload your own photo or choose from built-in options.
On iPhone, tap the plus icon in Lock Screen settings, choose a category (Photos, Emojis, Weather, or Collections), and select your image. You can create multiple lock screens and swipe between them.
On Android, the process varies by phone. Samsung phones have a dedicated Wallpapers section in Settings where you can browse, read, or upload images. Other Android phones may let you long-press the lock screen itself to access wallpaper options directly.
On Windows, you can click "Browse" to select a photo from your computer, or enable Windows Spotlight to have Microsoft rotate images automatically each day.
Adding widgets and information to your lock screen
Modern phones let you display useful information directly on the lock screen without unlocking the device. This includes weather, calendar events, fitness rings, or battery status.
On iPhone, after choosing your wallpaper in Lock Screen settings, scroll down and tap "Add Widgets." You can add up to five small widgets or one larger widget at the bottom. Tap the plus icon to browse available widgets from your installed apps.
On Android, the widget options depend on your phone. Some phones let you long-press the lock screen and tap "Widgets" to add them directly. Others require you to go through Settings > Lock Screen > Lock Screen Widgets. Not all Android phones support lock screen widgets.
On Windows and Mac, you cannot add interactive widgets to the lock screen, but you can display the time, date, and a custom message.
Changing the clock style and time display
You can customize how the time and date appear on your lock screen, including the font, size, and color.
On iPhone, open Lock Screen settings, tap the lock screen you want to edit, and look for "Customize." You can change the clock font, color, and size. Some wallpapers offer more customization options than others.
On Android, clock customization is limited and varies by manufacturer. Samsung phones let you change the clock style in Lock Screen settings under "Clock Style," but other Android phones may not offer this option.
On Windows, the clock appears automatically and cannot be customized in appearance, but you can add a personal message below it.
On Mac, the clock style is fixed, but you can add a custom message that displays on the lock screen.
Setting a custom message on your lock screen
Windows and Mac both let you display a message on the lock screen — useful for contact information if your device is lost, or just a personal note.
On Windows, open Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen, scroll down, and look for "Screen timeout settings" or "Lock screen status." Some versions of Windows let you add a message directly in Lock Screen settings; others require you to go to Accounts > Sign-in options > Lock Screen Message.
On Mac, open System Settings > Lock Screen, and look for "Show message when locked." Type your message and it will appear at the bottom of the lock screen.
iPhone and Android do not have a built-in custom message feature on the lock screen itself, though some Android phones let you set an emergency contact message through the lock screen settings.
Using a slideshow or rotating background
If you want your lock screen to change automatically, Windows and some Android phones offer slideshow options.
On Windows, open Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen and select "Slideshow" instead of a single image. Click "Browse" to choose a folder of photos, and Windows will rotate through them while your screen is locked. You can set how long each image displays (from 1 second to 1 hour).
On iPhone, you can create multiple lock screens with different wallpapers and swipe between them, but there is no automatic rotation feature.
On Android, Samsung phones offer a "Wallpaper" option that can rotate images, but most other Android phones do not have this feature built in.
On Mac, there is no slideshow option for the lock screen.
Troubleshooting lock screen changes that do not appear
Sometimes changes you make in settings do not show up on your actual lock screen. This usually happens because the device needs to refresh or because you are looking at the wrong screen.
On iPhone, make sure you are editing the correct lock screen — you may have created multiple ones. Swipe left or right on the lock screen itself to see all your screens, then tap the one you want to edit. If changes still do not appear, lock and unlock your phone to refresh.
On Android, restart your phone if the new wallpaper does not appear. Some phones also require you to confirm changes by tapping "explore" or "Save" in the settings menu.
On Windows, the lock screen may not update when ready. Try locking your computer (press Windows key + L) to see the new background. If it still does not appear, restart your computer.
On Mac, lock your screen (Control + Command + Q) to see changes take effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo from my camera roll as my lock screen wallpaper?
Yes, on all devices. iPhone and Android let you select photos directly from your photo library in the lock screen settings. Windows and Mac let you browse your computer's folders and select any image file. The image will be cropped to fit the lock screen dimensions.
Will changing my lock screen affect my home screen wallpaper?
No. Lock screen and home screen are separate. You can have different images on each, or the same image on both — the choice is yours. Changing one does not change the other.
Can I set a different lock screen for different times of day?
iPhone lets you create multiple lock screens and swipe between them manually, but does not support automatic switching by time. Android does not have this feature either. Windows and Mac do not offer this option.
What happens to my lock screen if I update my phone or computer?
Your lock screen settings are usually preserved during updates. However, if you performed a factory reset or clean install, your custom lock screen will be erased and you will need to set it up again.
Can I read lock screen themes from the internet?
iPhone and Android both have built-in wallpaper collections you can browse. You can also read wallpaper apps from the App Store or Google Play Store, though these are optional. Windows and Mac do not have official theme stores, but you can read any image from the internet and use it as your lock screen background.