Where to find the lock screen settings on your Mac

Your MacBook's lock screen is the image and time display that appears when your computer wakes from sleep or when you log out. To change it, you open System Settings (called System Preferences on older Macs), then navigate to the Lock Screen panel. On newer Macs running macOS Ventura or later, this is straightforward; on older versions, the setting lives under a different name but works the same way.

The fastest route is to click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select System Settings, then look for Lock Screen in the left sidebar. If you don't see it there, your Mac is running an older version—scroll down in the sidebar until you find it, or search for "lock screen" using the search box at the top of System Settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings, click Lock Screen in the sidebar, and choose a new image from Apple's built-in library or your own photos.
  • You can use any photo from your Mac's photo library, a folder on your hard drive, or Apple's default wallpaper collection.
  • The lock screen image is separate from your desktop wallpaper, so you can have different images on each.
  • You can also customize the clock style, date display, and notification settings that appear on your lock screen.

Choosing an image from Apple's built-in collection

When you open the Lock Screen panel, you'll see a grid of thumbnail images—these are Apple's default wallpapers organized by category. Categories include Dynamic (images that change throughout the day), Light and Dark (solid colors), Nature, Landscapes, and others. Click any thumbnail to preview it full-size on your lock screen.

Once you've found one you like, click it again or click the Set button to explore it. The change takes effect when ready. If you want to see how it looks with your chosen clock style and notification settings, those options appear in the same panel below the image selector.

Using your own photos as a lock screen image

To use a photo from your Mac instead of Apple's defaults, click the + button at the bottom of the image grid, or look for an option labeled Add or Choose Photo. A file browser will open. Navigate to the folder where your photos are stored—usually Pictures or inside the Photos app library—and select the image you want.

Your Mac will show you a preview of how the photo looks as a lock screen. You can drag the image around to reframe it if needed, making sure the important parts (like faces or details) aren't hidden behind the clock or notifications. Once you're satisfied, click Set or Add to confirm.

Customizing the clock and notification display

Below the image selector, you'll see options to change how the time and date appear on your lock screen. Click on the clock preview to open a menu of clock styles—options usually include large digital, small digital, analog, and others depending on your macOS version. Select the style you prefer and it updates in real time.

You can also toggle whether the date appears below the time, and whether notifications from apps show on the lock screen. Some people prefer a clean, minimal look with just the time; others want to see alerts and messages without unlocking. Adjust these settings to match your preference, and they'll stay in place the next time your Mac locks.

Making the lock screen different from your desktop wallpaper

Your lock screen image and your desktop wallpaper are completely separate. You can have a minimalist clock display on your lock screen and a busy, colorful image on your desktop, or vice versa. This separation is intentional—the lock screen is meant to be straightforward and readable, while your desktop can be anything you want.

If you want to change your desktop wallpaper instead (or in addition), go to System Settings > Wallpaper and follow the same steps. The two settings don't affect each other, so you can customize them independently.

Troubleshooting lock screen changes that don't stick

If you change your lock screen image but it reverts to the default the next time you lock your Mac, check whether you're logged into an iCloud account with iCloud Keychain or iCloud Desktop and Documents enabled. These features can sync settings across your devices, and sometimes a setting from another Mac can override your choice.

To fix this, open System Settings, click your Apple ID at the top of the sidebar, then click iCloud. Look for Desktop and Documents Folders or Sync options and toggle them off if you don't need them. Alternatively, if you're using a work Mac managed by your organization, your IT department may have locked the lock screen settings—in that case, contact them to request a change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a different lock screen image for each user account on my Mac?

Yes. Each user account has its own System Settings, so you can log into a different account and set a different lock screen image there. When that user logs in, they'll see their chosen image. The settings don't overlap.

What image formats work for lock screen photos?

Your Mac accepts JPEG, PNG, HEIF, and most common photo formats. If you have a photo in an unusual format, convert it to JPEG or PNG first using a photo editor or online tool, then try again.

Why does my lock screen image look blurry or stretched?

This usually happens when the photo's dimensions don't match your Mac's screen aspect ratio. Try cropping the photo to a wider, more landscape-oriented shape before setting it as your lock screen. You can also use the drag-to-reframe option in the Lock Screen settings to adjust which part of the image is visible.

Can I schedule my lock screen image to change automatically?

On newer Macs, if you choose one of Apple's Dynamic wallpapers, the image changes throughout the day automatically. For custom photos, macOS doesn't have a built-in rotation feature, but you can use third-party apps from the Mac App Store that rotate images on a schedule.