The fastest way to change your Mac lock screen

Open System Settings, go to Lock Screen, and choose a new wallpaper or photo from the options shown. You can also drag a photo from your computer directly into the preview area. The change takes effect the next time your Mac locks or you log out.

If you want to change what appears on your lock screen — the time format, notification badges, or which apps show information — those settings are in the same Lock Screen panel. You do not need to restart your Mac or use any third-party tools.

Key Takeaways

  • System Settings > Lock Screen is where you change the background image, time display, and which apps show notifications on your lock screen.
  • You can use Apple's built-in wallpapers, photos from your library, or drag any image file directly into the preview window.
  • Changes to your lock screen appearance take effect when ready without restarting.
  • The lock screen and login screen are separate — changing one does not change the other.
  • If you share your Mac with other users, each person can set their own lock screen independently.

Opening System Settings and finding the Lock Screen panel

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings. In the sidebar on the left, scroll down and click Lock Screen. You will see a preview of your current lock screen in the center of the window, with options below it.

On older Macs running macOS Monterey or earlier, the setting is called Desktop & Screen Saver instead. The process is the same: open System Settings, find that panel, and look for the Screen Saver tab.

Choosing a new wallpaper or photo

In the Lock Screen panel, you will see a dropdown menu at the top that says Desktop Pictures, Photos, Colors, or another category depending on what is currently selected. Click that dropdown to see all available options.

Desktop Pictures shows Apple's built-in wallpapers organized by theme — macOS Big Sur, macOS Monterey, nature scenes, and others. Click any thumbnail to preview it on your lock screen. Photos lets you pick from images in your Photos library. Colors displays a solid color instead of an image.

To use a photo that is not in your Photos library, drag the image file from Finder directly onto the preview area in the center of the Lock Screen panel. Your Mac will add it to the available options.

Customizing what shows on your lock screen

Below the wallpaper preview, you will see options to customize the lock screen display. These include the clock style (analog or digital), whether to show the date, and which apps can display notifications or information on the lock screen.

Click Customize next to the preview to open a larger editor. Here you can add or remove widgets — small information boxes that show weather, calendar events, reminders, or battery status. Drag widgets from the bottom of the editor onto the lock screen preview to add them, or click the minus sign to remove them.

You can also change the color and style of the time display by clicking on the clock in the preview itself. Some wallpapers support tinted text that matches the image colors.

Setting different lock screens for different users

If your Mac has multiple user accounts, each person can set their own lock screen independently. When you log out or lock your Mac, the person who logs in next will see their own chosen wallpaper and settings.

To set a lock screen for another user account, that person must log in to their account, open System Settings, and follow the same steps. Their choices will not affect your lock screen.

Lock screen versus login screen

Your Mac has two separate screens: the lock screen (what you see when your Mac is locked or asleep) and the login screen (what appears when you restart or log out). Changing the lock screen does not change the login screen background.

To change the login screen background, you must use a different method. Open System Settings, go to General, then Login Items, and look for options there. On some older macOS versions, the login screen background is controlled through Users & Groups settings instead. The login screen is less customizable than the lock screen on recent Mac models.

Troubleshooting lock screen changes that do not appear

If you change your lock screen wallpaper but the new image does not show up, lock your Mac manually to see the change. Press Control + Command + Q to lock your screen when ready, or go to the Apple menu and select Lock Screen. Changes sometimes do not display until the screen actually locks.

If a photo you dragged into the Lock Screen panel disappears from the options, the image file may have been moved or deleted from your computer. Drag it into the panel again, or move the original file to a permanent location like your Pictures folder before adding it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a video or animated image as my lock screen background?

No. Mac lock screens only support still images. You can use any photo file format — JPG, PNG, HEIF — but not video files or animated GIFs. If you want motion on your lock screen, some third-party apps offer this, but they require additional software installation.

Will changing my lock screen affect the appearance of my desktop?

No. Your lock screen and desktop background are separate. You can have a different image on each one. To change your desktop background, open System Settings, go to Wallpaper, and choose a new image there.

What happens to my lock screen settings if I update macOS?

Your lock screen choices usually stay the same after a macOS update. However, if you are using a very old wallpaper from an earlier macOS version, it may no longer be available in the built-in options. You can always use your own photos instead.

Can I schedule my lock screen to change automatically at certain times?

The built-in Lock Screen settings do not include scheduling. You would need a third-party automation app to change your wallpaper on a schedule. Some users create automations through the Shortcuts app, but this requires manual setup for each time period.

Why is my lock screen showing a blurry or low-quality version of my photo?

If your image is very small or low resolution, Mac may display it blurry to fill the screen. Use a photo that is at least 1920 by 1080 pixels for best results. High-resolution photos from your camera or phone will display much more clearly.