Change Your Lock Screen Wallpaper and Widgets

You can change your iPhone lock screen by opening Settings, tapping Display & Brightness, then Lock Screen, and selecting a new wallpaper or adding widgets. The process takes about two minutes and works on iPhone XS and newer models running iOS 16 or later. If you have an older iPhone, you can still change the lock screen appearance, but the steps are slightly different — you'll use Settings > Wallpaper instead.

Apple lets you customize three separate things on your lock screen: the wallpaper image, the clock style and color, and the widgets that appear above the time. You can create multiple lock screen profiles and switch between them, so you might have one for work and another for personal use.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then Lock Screen to access all lock screen customization options on iOS 16 and newer.
  • You can choose from Apple's built-in wallpapers, your own photos, or create a custom design using the lock screen editor.
  • The clock style, color, and font can be changed independently from the wallpaper by tapping the clock preview.
  • You can save multiple lock screen profiles and switch between them by long-pressing the lock screen and selecting a different profile.
  • Widgets on your lock screen show live information like weather or calendar events and can be added or removed by tapping the plus icon.

Open Settings and Navigate to Lock Screen

Start by opening the Settings app on your home screen — it's the gray icon with gears. Scroll down and tap Display & Brightness. On the next screen, you'll see Lock Screen near the bottom of the list. Tap it to open the lock screen customization menu.

If you're using an iPhone with iOS 15 or earlier, the option will be called Wallpaper instead of Lock Screen. The steps are similar, but you'll have fewer customization choices — mainly just the background image.

Choose a Wallpaper or Create a Custom One

Once you're in the Lock Screen menu, you'll see your current lock screen at the top and a row of wallpaper options below it. Tap any wallpaper thumbnail to preview it on your lock screen. Apple provides collections like Weather, Astronomy, Emoji, and Solid Colors. You can also tap Photos to use an image from your camera roll.

To create a custom wallpaper, tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom of the screen. This opens the lock screen editor, where you can select a photo, adjust the focus point, add a color filter, and change the clock style all in one place. Once you're happy with how it looks, tap Add at the top right, then choose whether to set it as your lock screen, home screen, or both.

Customize the Clock Style and Color

The clock on your lock screen can be styled to match your wallpaper. In the Lock Screen menu, tap directly on the clock preview at the top of your current lock screen. A menu will appear showing different clock fonts and colors. Tap any option to see how it looks against your wallpaper.

Some wallpapers offer more clock style choices than others — for example, the Astronomy wallpaper has different clock designs than a solid color background. If you don't like the available options for a particular wallpaper, try switching to a different one and then adjusting the clock again.

Add or Remove Widgets from Your Lock Screen

Widgets display live information like the current temperature, upcoming calendar events, or your activity rings without you having to unlock your phone. To add a widget, tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom of the Lock Screen menu. A list of available widgets will appear — scroll through and tap any widget you want to add.

You can add up to four widgets to your lock screen, and they'll appear in a stack above the time. Tap and hold a widget to rearrange the order, or swipe left on a widget to remove it. Some widgets, like Weather and Calendar, update automatically throughout the day.

Save Multiple Lock Screen Profiles and Switch Between Them

iOS lets you create and save multiple lock screen profiles, each with different wallpapers, clock styles, and widgets. After you've customized a lock screen the way you want it, tap Add at the bottom of the Lock Screen menu to save it as a new profile. You can create as many profiles as you like.

To switch between profiles, long-press your lock screen (press and hold for about two seconds). A carousel of your saved profiles will appear at the bottom. Swipe left or right to browse them, then tap the one you want to use. Your lock screen will change when ready.

Troubleshooting Common Lock Screen Issues

If the Lock Screen option doesn't appear in Settings, make sure you're running iOS 16 or later. Check by going to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, install it first.

If widgets aren't showing on your lock screen, make sure you've actually added them — just customizing the wallpaper and clock doesn't automatically add widgets. Also check that you haven't reached the four-widget limit. If a widget stops updating, try removing it and adding it again. Some widgets require location services or specific app permissions to work, so check Settings > Privacy if a widget isn't functioning.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No, lock screen wallpapers must be still images. However, you can use any photo from your camera roll, including screenshots and images you've downloaded. If you want a moving background, the Astronomy and Weather wallpapers include animated elements.

What happens to my lock screen if I update my iPhone?

Your lock screen customizations are saved to your iPhone and will remain after a software update. If you restore your iPhone from a backup, your lock screen profiles will be restored as well.

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

iOS doesn't have a built-in scheduling feature for lock screens, but you can manually switch between profiles by long-pressing your lock screen. Some third-party apps offer automation, but they require additional setup outside of Settings.

Why can't I add more than four widgets to my lock screen?

Apple limits lock screen widgets to four to keep the screen from becoming cluttered and to preserve battery life. If you need more information visible at a glance, you can create multiple lock screen profiles and switch between them.

Do lock screen widgets drain my battery?

Widgets use minimal battery because they update periodically rather than constantly. Weather and Calendar widgets update a few times per hour, while others update less frequently. The impact on battery life is negligible for most users.