Change Your Lock Screen Wallpaper and Widgets

You can change your iPhone lock screen by opening Settings, tapping Display & Brightness, then Lock Screen, and selecting a new wallpaper or adding widgets. The process takes about two minutes and works on iPhone XS and newer models running iOS 16 or later. If you have an older iPhone, you can still change the wallpaper that appears behind your lock screen, but you cannot add widgets or customize it as deeply.

Apple lets you create multiple lock screen designs and switch between them. You might have one lock screen for work hours and another for evenings, or one with weather information and another with your calendar. Each design can have its own wallpaper, color filter, and set of widgets.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then Lock Screen to reach the lock screen editor on iPhone XS or newer with iOS 16 or later.
  • You can add up to four small widgets or two large widgets to show information like weather, calendar events, or battery percentage without unlocking your phone.
  • Create multiple lock screen designs and swipe between them by pressing and holding the lock screen itself, then tapping the plus button to add a new one.
  • Wallpaper choices include Apple's built-in collections, your own photos, or emoji and color options that let you customize the look without a traditional image.
  • Changes take effect when ready — your new lock screen appears the next time your phone locks or you press the side button to lock it manually.

Step-by-Step: Adding a New Lock Screen Design

Start by pressing and holding your current lock screen until a menu appears at the bottom. Tap the plus button (a white circle with a plus sign) to create a new lock screen design. You will see a list of wallpaper categories: Suggested, Collections, Photos, Emoji, and Color Filters.

Choose a wallpaper category and select the image or style you want. If you pick a photo from your library, you can pinch and zoom to frame it the way you like. Once you have chosen your wallpaper, tap Add at the bottom right. The new lock screen is now created and active.

If you want to go back to a previous lock screen design, press and hold the lock screen again. You will see thumbnails of all your saved designs at the bottom. Tap the one you want to switch to, and it becomes active when ready.

Adding Widgets to Show Information at a Glance

Widgets on your lock screen let you see information without unlocking your phone — weather, calendar events, reminders, battery percentage, or fitness rings. To add a widget, press and hold your lock screen, then tap Customize at the bottom. Tap the plus button next to the wallpaper preview.

A list of apps appears. Tap the app whose information you want to display — Weather, Calendar, Reminders, Health, or any other app that supports lock screen widgets. Choose the widget size and style you prefer. You can add up to four small widgets or two large widgets to a single lock screen.

Widgets update throughout the day without you opening the app. A weather widget shows the current temperature, a calendar widget shows your next event, and a fitness widget shows your daily progress. If a widget is not useful anymore, press and hold the lock screen, tap Customize, and tap the minus button next to that widget to remove it.

Using Focus Modes to Switch Lock Screens Automatically

You can set different lock screens for different Focus modes — Work, Sleep, Personal, or custom ones you create. When you turn on a Focus, your phone automatically switches to the lock screen you assigned to it. This means your work lock screen appears during business hours and your personal one appears after hours.

To link a lock screen to a Focus, open Settings, tap Focus, and select the Focus you want to customize. Scroll down and tap Lock Screen. Choose which lock screen design you want to use when that Focus is active. The next time you turn on that Focus, the lock screen changes automatically.

Changing the Lock Screen Font and Color

The time and date on your lock screen can be customized with different fonts and colors. Press and hold your lock screen and tap Customize. Tap the time display at the top of the preview. A menu appears with font options like San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and others, plus color choices.

Select the font style and color you prefer. Some fonts are thicker or more rounded, and colors range from white to bright accent colors that match your wallpaper. Tap outside the menu to close it and see your changes on the lock screen preview. The new font and color take effect when ready.

Troubleshooting Common Lock Screen Issues

If you cannot see the Customize option when you press and hold your lock screen, make sure you are running iOS 16 or later. Go to Settings, tap General, then Software Update to check your version. Older iPhones running iOS 15 or earlier do not support the lock screen customization feature.

If a widget is not updating information, open the app that powers it and check that notifications are turned on. Go to Settings, tap Notifications, find the app, and make sure Allow Notifications is enabled. Some widgets also require location services or specific permissions — check the app's settings if the widget shows no data.

If you accidentally delete a lock screen design you want back, you cannot recover it. However, you can create a new one with the same wallpaper and widgets by following the steps above. Apple does not store deleted lock screens, so recreating it is the only option.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Press and hold your lock screen, tap the plus button, select Photos, and choose the image from your library. You can zoom and pan to frame it the way you want before tapping Add.

What happens to my lock screen if I update iOS?

Your lock screen designs and settings stay the same during an iOS update. All your custom wallpapers, widgets, and fonts remain in place after the update completes.

Can I have the same lock screen on multiple Focus modes?

Yes. Create one lock screen design, then assign it to as many Focus modes as you want. Open Settings, tap Focus, select each Focus, and choose the same lock screen for each one.

Do lock screen widgets drain my battery?

Lock screen widgets use minimal battery because they update only when your phone is already awake or checking for notifications. The impact is negligible compared to running full apps.

Can I delete a lock screen design?

Yes. Press and hold your lock screen, tap and hold the design you want to remove, then tap Delete. You must have at least one lock screen remaining, so you cannot delete your only design.