Where to find screensaver settings on iPhone

Apple calls screensavers "Lock Screen" on iPhone, and you change them in Settings under Display & Brightness or Lock Screen, depending on your iOS version. Open Settings, scroll down, and tap either Display & Brightness or Lock Screen — the exact name varies by whether you have iOS 16 or later, or an older version. Once you're there, you'll see options to customize what appears when your phone is locked.

If you have iOS 16 or newer, Apple added a dedicated Lock Screen customization menu that lets you pick from preset designs, add widgets, and change fonts and colors all in one place. Older iOS versions keep these options scattered across Display & Brightness and Accessibility settings, so the path is slightly different but the end result is the same.

Key Takeaways

  • On iOS 16 and newer, go to Settings > Lock Screen to pick a screensaver design and customize colors and fonts.
  • On older iOS versions, screensaver options live in Settings > Display & Brightness, though the customization is more limited.
  • iPhone screensavers are actually Lock Screen wallpapers, not moving animations like on older devices.
  • You can create multiple Lock Screen designs and switch between them by long-pressing the current Lock Screen.
  • Some screensaver styles let you add widgets that show time, weather, or activity rings without unlocking your phone.

Steps to change your Lock Screen on iOS 16 and newer

Start by opening Settings and tapping Lock Screen. You'll see a preview of your current Lock Screen at the top. Below that is a row of preset designs — tap any one to see what it looks like. The designs include options like color blocks, emoji, astronomy views, and weather displays. Once you pick one, tap Set as Lock Screen to confirm.

After you choose a design, you can customize it further. Tap the Lock Screen again to edit colors, fonts, and which information appears. For example, with the Astronomy design you can change the planet or moon shown; with Color designs you can pick the shade. Some designs let you add widgets below the time — tap the plus icon to add a weather widget, activity ring, or calendar event. When you're done, tap Set as Lock Screen to save your changes.

If you want multiple Lock Screens, create them the same way. Each time you finish customizing one, tap Set as Lock Screen. Then, whenever you want to switch between them, long-press your current Lock Screen and swipe left or right through your saved designs, then tap the one you want to use.

How to change your Lock Screen on iOS 15 and earlier

On older iOS versions, you don't have a dedicated Lock Screen menu. Instead, go to Settings > Display & Brightness and look for Wallpaper. Tap Wallpaper, then tap Choose a New Wallpaper. You'll see categories like Dynamic, Stills, Live, and Collections. Pick a category, then select an image. The phone will ask whether you want to set it as your Lock Screen, Home Screen, or both — choose Lock Screen.

The customization options are more limited on older versions. You can't add widgets or change fonts the way you can on iOS 16 and newer. Your Lock Screen will straightforward show the wallpaper image you picked, along with the time and date. If you want to change it again later, follow the same steps and pick a different image.

What the different screensaver styles do

Apple offers several preset designs, each with a different look and function. The Astronomy design shows a live view of the Earth, moon, or planets and updates throughout the day. The Weather design displays your current conditions and temperature. Color designs are solid colors or gradients that you can customize to match your preference. Emoji designs let you pick multiple emojis that appear on your Lock Screen.

The Gradient and Blur designs are straightforward and minimal, good if you want the focus on the time and date. The Photo Shuffle design rotates through photos from your library, so you see a different image each time you lock your phone. Some designs, like Astronomy and Weather, update in real time, while others stay static until you manually change them.

Adding widgets to your Lock Screen

On iOS 16 and newer, you can add small widgets that show information without unlocking your phone. Long-press your Lock Screen, tap Customize, then tap the plus icon below the time. A menu will appear showing available widgets — Weather, Calendar, Reminders, Activity, Fitness, Stocks, and others depending on your apps. Tap a widget to add it, then tap outside the menu to close it.

Each widget shows only essential information: Weather displays the current temperature, Calendar shows your next event, Activity shows your daily rings. You can add up to four widgets per Lock Screen design. If you want different widgets on different Lock Screens, create multiple designs and customize each one separately.

Troubleshooting common screensaver problems

If your Lock Screen won't change, make sure you're tapping Set as Lock Screen after customizing it, not just closing the menu. Some users accidentally customize a design but don't confirm the change. If the button doesn't appear, try closing Settings completely and opening it again.

If a design looks different than the preview, it may be because your phone is explore a color filter or accessibility setting. Check Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size to see if Color Filters or Reduce Transparency is turned on. These settings can change how colors appear on your Lock Screen. If you want the design to look exactly as shown, turn these off temporarily while you set up your Lock Screen.

If widgets aren't showing on your Lock Screen, make sure you're on iOS 16 or newer — widgets are not available on older versions. Also check that the app providing the widget is installed and up to date. Some third-party apps don't offer Lock Screen widgets yet, so you may only see options from Apple's built-in apps.

How to use multiple Lock Screens and switch between them

You can create as many Lock Screen designs as you want and store them all on your phone. Each time you finish customizing a design, tap Set as Lock Screen to save it. The next time you create a new design, it won't replace the previous one — both will be saved.

To switch between your saved designs, long-press your current Lock Screen. A carousel will appear showing all your Lock Screens. Swipe left or right to browse them, then tap the one you want to use. This is useful if you want different looks for different times of day, or if you want to match your Lock Screen to your mood or the season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo from my camera roll as my screensaver?

Yes. Go to Settings > Wallpaper (on older iOS) or Settings > Lock Screen (on iOS 16+), tap Choose a New Wallpaper, then select Photos. Pick an album and choose the photo you want. On iOS 16 and newer, you can also use the Photo Shuffle design to rotate through multiple photos automatically.

Why does my Lock Screen look different on my iPhone than in the preview?

Accessibility settings like Color Filters or Reduce Transparency can change how colors appear. Check Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and turn off any filters that are on. Also make sure your screen brightness is set to a normal level, as very low brightness can make colors look different.

Can I add my own custom design or animation to my Lock Screen?

No. iPhone only lets you choose from Apple's preset designs or use photos from your library. You cannot upload custom graphics or create animated screensavers the way you can on some Android phones. You're limited to the designs, colors, and widgets Apple provides.

Do Lock Screen widgets drain my battery?

Widgets like Weather and Calendar use minimal battery because they only refresh when you lock your phone or at set intervals. Astronomy and live photo designs use slightly more power because they update more frequently, but the difference is small. If battery life is a concern, use static designs like Color or Emoji instead.

What happens to my old Lock Screen if I set a new one?

Your old Lock Screen is saved and stays on your phone. When you long-press your Lock Screen, you'll see all your designs in a carousel. You can switch back to any of them at any time without losing them.