The fastest way to change your lock screen picture

Open Settings, tap Lock Screen, then tap Customize. Press and hold the current lock screen image, tap the plus sign, choose a photo from your library or take a new one, and tap Set as Lock Screen. That is the complete process — it takes about 30 seconds once you know where to look.

Your iPhone stores lock screen pictures separately from your home screen background, so changing one does not affect the other. You can have a different image on each, and you can create multiple lock screen styles with different pictures, widgets, and fonts if you want to switch between them.

Key Takeaways

  • The Lock Screen settings are in Settings > Lock Screen > Customize, where you press and hold the current image to edit it.
  • You can choose any photo from your library, take a new photo on the spot, or use one of Apple's built-in images.
  • Lock screen pictures are stored separately from your home screen background, so you can have different images on each.
  • If you create multiple lock screen styles, you can swipe between them on your actual lock screen and set one as your default.

Opening the lock screen customization menu

Tap the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Lock Screen — it is usually near the top of the list, below Display & Brightness.

You will see your current lock screen displayed at the top of the page. Below it, you will see options for Customize, Always-On Display, and other settings. Tap Customize to enter edit mode.

Selecting and setting a new picture

Once you are in Customize mode, press and hold the lock screen image itself — the photo or design shown at the top. A menu will pop up with a plus sign in the bottom right corner. Tap that plus sign.

You will see options to choose from your photo library or to take a new photo. If you tap Photo Library, your recent photos appear first, but you can scroll through all your albums. Select the photo you want. If you want to take a new one instead, tap Camera and take the photo when ready.

After you choose or take a photo, you can pinch and zoom to position it how you like. The image will be cropped to fit the lock screen shape. Once you are happy with the position, tap Set as Lock Screen in the bottom right corner.

Using Apple's built-in lock screen images

You do not have to use your own photos. When you tap the plus sign in Customize mode, scroll down past Photo Library to see collections of built-in images — Weather, Astronomy, Emoji, Flowers, and others depending on your iOS version.

Tap any collection to see the images inside. Select one, and it will appear on your lock screen when ready. These images often come with matching widgets or fonts that you can add to your lock screen at the same time, which can create a cohesive look.

Creating multiple lock screen styles

You can create more than one lock screen design and switch between them. In the Customize menu, tap the plus sign at the bottom of the screen (not the one on the image itself). This creates a new lock screen style with a blank template.

Add a picture, widgets, and fonts to this new style just as you would the first one. Once you have created multiple styles, you can swipe left and right on your actual lock screen to move between them. Long-press the lock screen and tap the dots at the bottom to see all your styles and choose which one appears by default when you unlock your phone.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is tapping the image itself instead of pressing and holding it. A single tap just shows you a preview; you need to press and hold to enter edit mode. If nothing happens when you tap, try pressing and holding for a full second.

Another mistake is confusing the lock screen background with the home screen background. If you change your lock screen picture and your home screen still looks the same, that is correct — they are separate. If you want to change your home screen background too, go to Settings > Wallpaper > Add New Wallpaper and follow the same process.

A third issue is choosing a photo that is too zoomed in or has important details near the edges. Remember that the lock screen will crop your image to fit, and the time and date will sit on top of it. Choose a photo where the main subject is in the center and the edges do not matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. When you select a photo in Customize mode, if it is a live photo, you will see a Live Photo toggle at the bottom. Turn it on, and your lock screen will play a short animation when you press it. This uses slightly more battery power, so you can turn it off if you prefer a static image.

What if I want different lock screens on different days or times?

You can create multiple lock screen styles and manually swipe between them whenever you want. iOS does not have a built-in scheduler to change them automatically, but you can set up a Focus mode (like Work or Sleep) and assign a different lock screen to each Focus. When you set up that Focus, the lock screen will switch automatically.

Does changing my lock screen picture affect my home screen?

No. Your lock screen and home screen backgrounds are completely separate. You can change one without touching the other. If you want to change both to match, you will need to set them separately in Settings.

Can I delete a lock screen style I created?

Yes. In Customize mode, swipe left on any lock screen style you created, and a delete button will appear. You cannot delete the default lock screen that came with your phone, but you can change it to any image you want.

Why does my photo look different on the lock screen than in my library?

The lock screen crops images to fit its shape and size, and the time and date sit on top of the image. What you see in your photo library is the full uncropped version. You can adjust the crop by pinching and zooming before you tap Set as Lock Screen.