You can change the clock color on your iPhone in two places: Control Center and your lock screen
The clock that appears in Control Center uses the accent color you set in your iPhone's display settings, and you can change it by adjusting your overall color scheme. The larger clock on your lock screen can be customized with different color options and text styles through the lock screen editor. Both changes happen in Settings, not through a separate clock app.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you want to change the Control Center clock or the lock screen clock, so this guide covers both. Neither change requires downloading anything or restarting your phone.
Key Takeaways
- The Control Center clock color is tied to your iPhone's accent color, which you change in Settings under Display & Brightness or Accessibility.
- Your lock screen clock color is customized directly in the lock screen editor by tapping and holding the lock screen, then selecting the clock style.
- Lock screen clock customization options include different colors, fonts, and whether the seconds display — these choices are saved to that specific lock screen.
- If you use multiple lock screens, each one can have its own clock color and style.
Change the Control Center clock color through your accent color setting
The clock in Control Center — the panel you pull down from the top right of your screen — displays in whatever accent color your iPhone is set to use. To change it, go to Settings, then tap Display & Brightness. Scroll down and tap Accent Color, then choose from the available options: Blue, Green, Red, Pink, Orange, or Yellow.
If you use Light or Dark appearance mode, the accent color may look slightly different in each mode. You can set a different accent color for Light mode and Dark mode separately by tapping Appearance at the top of the Display & Brightness menu, choosing one mode, then selecting a different accent color for that mode alone.
If you do not see an Accent Color option in Display & Brightness, go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Display & Text Size, and look for Accent Color there instead. The location varies by iOS version.
Change the lock screen clock color and style
To customize the clock on your lock screen, unlock your iPhone and press and hold the lock screen until the customization menu appears at the bottom. Tap Customize. You will see the current lock screen layout with small icons below it — one of these is the clock widget.
Tap the clock widget (it looks like a small clock icon). A menu will open showing different clock styles and colors. Scroll through the options to see the available designs — these typically include different fonts, colors, and whether seconds are displayed. Tap the style you want, then tap outside the menu or swipe up to save your choice.
If you have multiple lock screens set up, each one remembers its own clock style and color. You can customize the clock differently on each lock screen by repeating these steps for each one.
What clock color options are available
Lock screen clock colors depend on your iOS version and the specific clock style you choose. Common options include white, black, red, blue, green, orange, and colors that match your wallpaper. Some clock styles also let you choose whether to display seconds alongside the hours and minutes.
The Control Center clock is limited to your iPhone's accent color choices: Blue, Green, Red, Pink, Orange, or Yellow. You cannot create a custom color for the Control Center clock — you can only choose from these six preset options.
Reset the clock to its default color
To return the Control Center clock to its default blue color, go to Settings, Display & Brightness, Accent Color, and tap Blue.
To reset a lock screen clock to its default style, press and hold the lock screen, tap Customize, tap the clock widget, and select the first or default clock style shown in the menu. The exact default depends on your wallpaper and iOS version.
Clock color does not change in other apps
Changing your iPhone's accent color or lock screen clock style does not affect the clock color in the Clock app, the time display in your status bar at the top of the screen, or the clock in other third-party apps. Those elements use their own fixed colors and cannot be customized through Settings.
If you want a clock with a different color in a different location on your screen, you may need to use a third-party clock widget from the App Store, though these widgets are subject to iOS limitations and may not offer as many customization options as the built-in clock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set different clock colors for Light and Dark mode?
Yes, for the Control Center clock. Go to Settings, Display & Brightness, Appearance, select Light, then choose an accent color. Repeat for Dark mode and select a different color. Lock screen clocks do not have separate Light and Dark mode settings — they use one style regardless of which appearance mode is active.
Why does my lock screen clock look different than the one I selected?
The clock style you see depends on your wallpaper. Some wallpapers have limited color options available, or the colors may appear different depending on the background image. Try selecting a different clock style or changing your wallpaper if the color does not match what you expected.
Does changing the clock color affect the time display at the top of my screen?
No. The time in your status bar at the very top of the screen is always white (in Dark mode) or black (in Light mode) and cannot be changed. Only the Control Center clock and lock screen clock can be customized.
Can I use a custom color for the Control Center clock?
No. The Control Center clock is limited to six preset accent colors: Blue, Green, Red, Pink, Orange, and Yellow. You cannot create or upload a custom color for it.
If I delete a lock screen, does the clock color setting get deleted too?
Yes. When you delete a lock screen, all its customizations — including the clock color and style — are deleted with it. If you create a new lock screen later, it will use the default clock style for that wallpaper.