The fastest way to change your lock screen

Open Settings, tap Lock Screen, then tap the preview image at the top. Swipe left or right to browse built-in wallpapers, or tap the plus sign to add a photo from your library. Once you pick one, tap Set, choose whether it applies to your lock screen only or both lock and home screens, then tap Set Lock Screen. That's it — your lock screen changes when ready.

The whole process takes about 30 seconds. You don't need to restart your phone or read anything. If you change your mind, you can swap it out again the same way.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings > Lock Screen > tap the preview image to open the wallpaper picker.
  • You can use Apple's built-in wallpapers or upload any photo from your Photos app.
  • When you set a new wallpaper, iOS asks whether to change the lock screen only or both lock and home screens.
  • You can customize your lock screen further by adding widgets or changing the clock style before you save it.

Using Apple's built-in wallpapers

Apple includes dozens of wallpapers on every iPhone. After you tap the preview image in Lock Screen settings, you'll see categories like Collections, Nature, Astronomy, and Emoji. Swipe through any category to see what's available, then tap one to preview it full-screen.

Once you've picked a wallpaper, tap Set at the bottom. iOS will ask you to choose between "Set Lock Screen Only" or "Set Both." If you pick "Set Lock Screen Only," your home screen stays the way it is. If you pick "Set Both," the same wallpaper appears on both screens. After you choose, tap Set Lock Screen and you're done.

Adding your own photos as a lock screen

You can use any photo from your Photos app as your lock screen. In the Lock Screen settings, tap the preview image, then tap the plus sign in the lower left corner. This opens your photo library. Find the photo you want and tap it once to select it.

iOS will show you a preview of how the photo looks as a lock screen. You can pinch to zoom in or out, or drag the image around to frame it the way you want. Once you're happy with how it looks, tap Add at the bottom. Then choose "Set Lock Screen Only" or "Set Both," and tap Set Lock Screen.

Customizing your lock screen before you save it

Before you tap Set, you can add widgets and change other details. On the preview screen, you'll see options to adjust the clock style, add the date, or add small widgets like weather or your next calendar event. Tap any of these to turn them on or off.

You can also add multiple lock screens and switch between them. After you set one, go back to Lock Screen settings and create another one the same way. Then swipe left on your actual lock screen to cycle through them. This is useful if you want different looks for different times of day or different moods.

What to do if your lock screen won't change

If you tap Set but nothing happens, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then slide it to turn off your phone. Wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo.

If the problem continues, check that you're running the latest version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available update. Older iOS versions sometimes have bugs that prevent lock screen changes from sticking.

Removing a lock screen you no longer want

You can't delete a lock screen directly, but you can replace it. Go back to Lock Screen settings, tap the preview image of the lock screen you want to remove, then pick a different wallpaper and tap Set. The old one stays in your list but you won't use it anymore.

If you want to clean up your lock screen list, swipe left on any lock screen preview in the Lock Screen settings and tap the trash icon. This removes it from your rotation so you won't see it when you swipe on your actual lock screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a live photo as my lock screen?

Yes. When you select a live photo from your library, iOS will ask whether you want it to play when you press and hold your lock screen. Choose "Live" to enable the motion effect, or "Still" to use just a single frame. The live effect uses a little more battery, so some people turn it off.

What's the difference between setting the lock screen only versus both?

Lock Screen Only changes only what you see when your phone is locked. Set Both applies the same wallpaper to both your lock screen and your home screen (the screen with your apps). Most people choose Set Both for a unified look, but Set Lock Screen Only is useful if you want different wallpapers on each.

Why does my lock screen look different than the preview?

The preview shows the wallpaper without your widgets and clock. Once you save it, iOS adds your widgets, the time, and any notifications on top of the image. If the photo is too dark or busy, your clock and widgets might be hard to read. Go back and adjust the zoom or position of the photo to make room for them.

Can I set a different lock screen for different times of day?

You can create multiple lock screens and swipe between them manually, but iOS doesn't automatically switch them on a schedule. Some people create a bright wallpaper for daytime and a darker one for night, then switch manually. You could also use Focus modes to change your lock screen appearance when Do Not Disturb or Work mode is on.