The fastest way to change your lock screen

Open Settings, tap Lock Screen, then tap the preview image at the top of the screen. Swipe left or right to browse lock screen styles, tap the one you want, then tap Set as Lock Screen at the bottom. That's the complete process — it takes about 30 seconds.

If you want to customize the style further (change the font, add widgets, adjust the color), tap Customize instead of Set as Lock Screen. You can adjust those details before confirming your choice.

Key Takeaways

  • The Lock Screen settings are in Settings > Lock Screen, and you preview changes by tapping the image at the top of that screen.
  • iPhone 16 comes with several built-in lock screen styles, and you can also use any photo from your library as a custom background.
  • You can add widgets to your lock screen (like weather, calendar, or battery percentage) by tapping Customize and selecting Add Widget.
  • If you have multiple lock screens saved, you can swipe between them on your actual lock screen and long-press to switch which one is active.

Using a photo as your lock screen background

To use a photo instead of a built-in style, open Settings > Lock Screen and tap the preview image at the top. Scroll down past the style options and tap Photo Library. Select the photo you want, then use the pinch gesture to zoom in or out and position it the way you like it.

Once you've positioned the photo, tap Add at the top right. You'll see options to customize the text color and add widgets. When you're satisfied, tap Set as Lock Screen to make it active.

Adding and removing widgets from your lock screen

Widgets show live information like the current temperature, upcoming calendar events, or your battery percentage without unlocking your phone. To add one, open Settings > Lock Screen, tap Customize, then tap Add Widget below the clock.

A list of available widgets appears. Tap the one you want (Weather, Calendar, Reminders, Battery, and others are available depending on your installed apps). Some widgets let you choose what information they display — for example, Calendar can show your next event or a specific calendar. After you choose, tap Add Widget to confirm.

To remove a widget, tap Customize on your lock screen, tap the widget you want to remove, then tap the minus button that appears.

Changing the clock style and text color

The clock on your lock screen can be styled in different ways. Open Settings > Lock Screen, tap Customize, then tap the clock preview at the top. A menu shows different font and style options — tap the one you prefer.

To change the text color, tap Customize on your lock screen, then tap the color circle next to the clock. You can choose from preset colors or tap the color picker to create a custom shade. The color you pick applies to the clock and any widgets on that lock screen.

Managing multiple lock screens

iPhone 16 lets you create and save multiple lock screens, then switch between them by swiping on your actual lock screen. Each one can have a different background, widgets, and clock style.

To create a new lock screen, open Settings > Lock Screen and tap the plus button at the bottom left. Choose a style or photo, customize it the way you want, then tap Add. The new lock screen is saved and you can swipe to it from your lock screen.

To delete a saved lock screen, open Settings > Lock Screen, swipe left on the lock screen you want to remove, then tap the trash icon. You cannot delete your currently active lock screen — you must switch to a different one first.

Syncing lock screens across your Apple devices

If you use multiple Apple devices (iPad, Mac, Apple Watch), your lock screens can sync through iCloud. Any lock screen you create on your iPhone 16 appears as an option on your other devices if they're signed into the same Apple ID and have iCloud Keychain turned on.

To check that syncing is on, open Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and make sure Keychain is toggled on. Lock screens sync automatically after that, though it may take a few minutes. You can choose different active lock screens on each device — syncing just makes them available, it doesn't force them to match.

Troubleshooting common lock screen problems

If your changes aren't saving, force close the Settings app and open it again. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or swipe down from the top right on iPhone 16), find Settings in the app switcher, swipe up on it to close it, then reopen Settings.

If widgets aren't showing on your lock screen, check that the app they belong to is installed and that you have notifications turned on for that app. Open Settings > Notifications, find the app, and make sure Allow Notifications is toggled on. Some widgets also require location services or other permissions — check the app's settings if the widget still won't appear.

If you can't see the Lock Screen option in Settings, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button and either volume button, drag the power off slider, wait 30 seconds, then press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No, iPhone 16 doesn't have automatic scheduling for lock screens. You can create multiple lock screens and manually swipe to switch between them, but you cannot set one to appear automatically at a certain time. You would need to switch manually each time.

What happens to my lock screen if I update iOS?

Your custom lock screens are saved and remain after an iOS update. However, if you're updating to a major new version of iOS, Apple sometimes changes how lock screens work — in that case, your existing screens may need to be recreated or adjusted to match the new system.

Can I use a live photo as my lock screen background?

Yes. When you select a photo from your library in Settings > Lock Screen, live photos are included. The live photo will play a short animation when you press and hold your lock screen, but it displays as a still image when you're not interacting with it.

Why are some widgets not showing on my lock screen?

Widgets only appear if the app is installed, notifications are turned on for that app, and the widget itself is compatible with lock screens. Some older apps don't have lock screen widgets yet. Check Settings > Notifications for the app and make sure Allow Notifications is on.

Can I change my lock screen from the lock screen itself without opening Settings?

Yes. Long-press your lock screen to enter customization mode, then tap Customize at the bottom. From there you can add or remove widgets, change colors, and switch to a different lock screen. Tap Done when you're finished.