The fastest way to change your lock screen

Open Settings, tap Lock Screen, then tap Customize. From there you can change the wallpaper, add widgets, adjust the clock style, and rearrange elements by long-pressing them. The whole process takes about two minutes. If you want to use a photo from your camera roll instead of Apple's built-in wallpapers, tap the wallpaper preview at the top, then choose Photo Library.

Your lock screen is separate from your home screen wallpaper, so changing one does not change the other. You can have a different look on each without affecting the other.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings > Lock Screen > Customize to reach the lock screen editor on any recent iPhone model.
  • You can change the wallpaper, clock style, and add up to four widgets that show information without unlocking your phone.
  • Long-press any element on the lock screen to move it, resize it, or remove it entirely.
  • Your lock screen wallpaper is independent from your home screen wallpaper, so you can have two different looks.

Step 1: Open Settings and find Lock Screen

Tap the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Lock Screen. You will see a preview of your current lock screen at the top of the page, with options below it to customize different parts.

If you do not see Lock Screen in Settings, you may be using an older iPhone model (iPhone 12 or earlier). Those models do not support the full lock screen customization feature, though you can still change the wallpaper through Settings > Wallpaper.

Step 2: Tap Customize to enter edit mode

On the Lock Screen settings page, tap the Customize button. Your phone will show the lock screen in edit mode, with a blue border around each element you can change. The clock, wallpaper, and any widgets will all be outlined.

You can now tap on any of these elements to change them. Tap the wallpaper preview to swap it for a different image. Tap the clock to choose a different style. Tap the plus sign to add widgets that show weather, calendar events, or other information without unlocking your phone.

Step 3: Change the wallpaper

Tap the wallpaper preview (the large image at the bottom of the lock screen preview). A menu will appear with options: Featured (Apple's built-in wallpapers), Collections (organized by theme), or Photo Library (your own photos).

If you choose Photo Library, select any photo from your camera roll. The phone will automatically crop it to fit the lock screen. You can pinch to zoom in or out on the photo to adjust what part shows. Once you are happy with it, tap Add or Set Lock Screen to confirm.

Step 4: Customize the clock and add widgets

Tap the clock to change its style, color, or size. Apple offers several clock designs — some show the time in large numbers, others in smaller text with more room for widgets below. Choose the one that fits your lock screen layout.

Tap the plus sign to add widgets. You can add up to four small widgets that show live information like weather, calendar events, reminders, or fitness rings without you having to unlock your phone. Tap a widget to choose which information it displays, then tap Add to place it on your lock screen.

Rearranging and removing elements

Long-press any element on the lock screen — the clock, a widget, or the wallpaper — to move it or resize it. A menu will appear with options to delete it, move it, or adjust its size. Drag elements around to create the layout you want.

You can remove the clock entirely if you prefer, or stack multiple widgets in the same space. Experiment with different arrangements until your lock screen shows the information you check most often.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not tap Done until you are finished making changes — tapping Done saves your lock screen and exits edit mode. If you realize you want to change something after that, you have to go back into Settings > Lock Screen > Customize to make more edits.

If a widget you added is not showing live information, check that the app it belongs to has permission to show notifications. Go to Settings > Notifications and make sure the app is allowed to send notifications. Some widgets also require you to be signed into an account (like Apple Weather or Apple Calendar) to work properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Create multiple lock screens by tapping the plus sign at the bottom of the Lock Screen settings page. You can set up a work lock screen, a home lock screen, or a sleep mode lock screen, then use Focus modes to switch between them automatically at certain times or when you open certain apps.

Why is my lock screen not updating after I made changes?

Make sure you tapped Done or Set Lock Screen to save your changes. If you closed Settings without saving, your edits will not appear. Go back into Settings > Lock Screen > Customize and confirm your changes are saved before exiting.

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

Yes. When you choose a photo from your Photo Library, if that photo is a live photo, you will see an option to enable the live photo effect. The lock screen will play the short video when you press and hold it, then return to the still image when you release.

What happens to my old lock screen when I create a new one?

Your old lock screen is saved. You can switch between multiple lock screens at any time by going back to Lock Screen settings and tapping the one you want to use. Each lock screen you create stays there until you delete it.

Do lock screen widgets drain my battery?

Lock screen widgets use very little battery because they update infrequently and do not require your phone to be unlocked. The impact is negligible for most users, but if you are concerned about battery life, remove widgets you do not check regularly.