How to customize your Lock Screen on iPhone

By Bryan M Wolfe
published

Make the Lock Screen yours by customizing it just how you like it.

iOS 16 change wallpaper
(Image credit: iMore)
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The Lock Screen is the first thing you see when you pick up your favorite iPhone. It also gives you fast and convenient access to features like the Camera app, Siri, Control Center, and much more. You can also prevent unauthorized access to your iPhone or iPad's private contents with the Lock Screen since a passcode or biometrics are needed to get past it.

Since the Lock Screen is vital to your best iPhone experience, it's important to tweak it to your liking. With iOS 16, you can experience an entirely new Lock Screen as you can customize the typeface and colors, add widgets, and much more.

Here's how to customize your Lock Screen on iPhone. 

How to add a new Lock Screen/Wallpaper

  1. On your Lock screen, hard press, which will bring up the Lock Screen/Wallpaper options on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the "+" sign at the bottom right of the device. 
  3. Choose the wallpaper you wish to use. These are arranged in various categories, including Featured, Suggested Photos, and more. 

On your Lock screen, hard press, which will bring up the Lock Screen/Wallpaper options on your iPhone. Tap the "+" sign at the bottom right of the device. Choose the wallpaper you wish to use. These are arranged in various categories, including Featured, Suggested Photos, and more.

(Image credit: iMore)
  1. You can make various changes on the next screen. First, adjust the background color. Choices include natural (the default), black & white, duotone, and color wash.

You can make various changes on the next screen. First, adjust the background color. Choices include natural (the default), black & white, duotone, and color wash.

(Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap the date at the top to choose a different top widget.
  2. Choose Add widget to add widgets to your Lock Screen. You can add up to four widgets of various sizes.

Tap the date at the top to choose a different top widget. Choose Add widget to add widgets to your Lock Screen. You can add up to four widgets of various sizes.

(Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click on the time to change the font for the time.
  2. Tap Add when finished.
  3. Select Set as Wallpaper Pair if you want the Home screen and Lock screen to have the same background image. Otherwise, tap Customize Home Screen. 

Click on the time to change the font for the time. Tap Add when finished. Select Set as Wallpaper Pair if you want the Home screen and Lock screen to have the same background image. Otherwise, tap Customize Home Screen.

(Image credit: iMore)
  1. In addition to being able to add a different background to serve as your Home Screen, you can adjust its color and gradient. You can also blur the Home Screen background. 

How to delete an existing Lock Screen/Wallpaper

To remove an existing Lock screen/Home screen combination:

  1. On your Lock screen, hard press, which will bring up the Lock Screen/Wallpaper options on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll back or forth to find the combination you wish to delete. 
  3. Tap the delete button by moving your finger up on the screen. 
  4. Confirm the deletion by tapping Delete this Wallpaper.

On your Lock screen, hard press, which will bring up the Lock Screen/Wallpaper options on your iPhone. Scroll back or forth to find the combination you wish to delete. Tap the delete button by moving your finger up on the screen. Confirm the deletion by tapping Delete this Wallpaper.

(Image credit: iMore)

Make the Lock Screen completely yours

Play around with the new Lock screen/Wallpaper tools in iOS 16 to further customize your iPhone. The tools are great to use and relatively simple to get started. 

Bryan M Wolfe
Bryan M Wolfe
Staff Writer

Bryan M. Wolfe has written about technology for over a decade on various websites, including TechRadar, AppAdvice, and many more. Before this, he worked in the technology field across different industries, including healthcare and education. He’s currently iMore’s lead on all things Mac and macOS, although he also loves covering iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Bryan enjoys watching his favorite sports teams, traveling, and driving around his teenage daughter to her latest stage show, audition, or school event in his spare time. He also keeps busy walking his black and white cocker spaniel, Izzy, and trying new coffees and liquid grapes.