How do you change your Lock screen wallpaper, and how do you turn off access to Siri, Notification Center, Control Center, Apple Pay? Settings makes it easy!
Lock screen serves two contradictory purposes: It provides fast, convenient access to a ton of features like the camera, Siri, Control Center, and more, and it also prevents unauthorized access to the private contents of your iPhone or iPad. You can absolutely swap your wallpaper to make it your own, but you can also disable many of the conveniences if you'd prefer your Lock screen to be on lockdown.
- How to change the wallpaper on your Lock screen
- How to set Auto-Lock time
- How to turn off Raise to Wake
- How to turn off Control Center on the Lock screen
- How to turn off notifications on the Lock screen
- How to turn off Today View on the Lock screen
- How to turn off Notification View on the Lock screen
- How to turn off Siri access from the Lock screen
- How to turn off Reply with Message from the Lock screen
- How to turn off Home Control from the Lock screen
- How to turn off Wallet and Apple Pay from the Lock screen
How to change the wallpaper on your Lock screen
Your iPhone or iPad comes with Apple's default wallpaper on the Lock screen, but you can change it to another image from Apple's gallery, one of a few motion wallpapers, or even a Live Photo that animates when you 3D Touch it (if your iPhone or iPad supports it).
- Launch Settings from the Home screen.
- Tap on Wallpaper.
Tap on Choose a New Wallpaper.
- Tap on the location of the new wallpaper you want to choose:
- Dynamic: Circles that float around the screen and respond to the motion of your device.
- Stills: Apple's gallery of images.
- Live: Apple's gallery of Live Photo images that animate when you 3D Touch them.
- Libraries: All the images contained in your Photos app, including selfies, and your own Live Photos
- Tap on the image you want to use.
- If you're not happy with the default settings, adjust your options:
- Move and Scale: If it's one of your photos, you can slide it around and pinch-to-zoom in and out to frame it exactly the way you want it.
- Motion: Select if you want it still (no motion effect), perspective (moves slightly as you move your phone), or Live Photo (if available, animates on 3D Touch).
- Tap Set.
Tap Set Lock Screen if you only want to change the Lock screen wallpaper, or choose Set Both to change the Home screen wallpaper as well.
How to set Auto-Lock time
You can turn the screen off on your iPhone or iPad at any time, but by default it will turn off automatically after 2 minutes to save on power. If that time limit doesn't suit you, it's easy to change.
Note: You can't change Auto-Lock time when in Power Saver Mode.
- Launch Settings from the Home screen.
- Tap on Display & Brightness.
- Tap on Auto Lock.
- Tap on the timing you prefer:
- 30 Seconds
- 1 Minute
- 2 Minutes
- 3 Minutes
- 4 Minutes
- 5 Minutes
- Never
Tap on the Display & Brightness button at the top left to go back.
How to turn off Raise to Wake
iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, and later can all automatically wake the screen when you lift them up. If you'd rather that not happen, you can disable it in Settings.
Note: Raise to Wake is only available on iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, and later, running iOS 10 or later.
- Launch Settings from the Home screen.
- Tap on Display & Brightness.
Switch Raise to Wake to Off.
If you later change your mind, simply repeat the steps above and switch Raise to Wake back on.
How to turn off Control Center on the Lock screen
Control Center lets you easily access settings, media controls, and home accessories from your Lock screen. But, it also lets other people access all of that just as easily. If that's a concern, you can make it so Control Center can't be pulled up from the Lock screen.
- Launch Settings from the Home screen.
- Tap Control Center.
Switch Access on Lock Screen to Off.
How to turn off notifications on the Lock screen
Having your notifications pop up on the Lock screen is incredibly convenient ... unless it reveals private and confidential information you'd rather not have revealed. It could be the name of a contact or the content of a message. Whatever the case, you can turn them off in settings. Unfortunately, only one at a time ... sigh.
- Launch Settings from the Home screen.
- Tap on Notifications
- Tap on the notification you want to disable from the Lock screen.
Switch Show on Lock Screen to Off
Repeat for any and every app whose alerts you want to keep off your Lock screen.
Note: Some apps might have additional privacy options. (e.g. for Messages, you can turn off previews.)
How to turn off Today View on the Lock screen
Today View lets you search for content, see information like news and weather, review your upcoming calendar events, see Siri suggestions, and much, much, more. If there's anything in there that's private and you don't want accessible from the Lock screen, you can turn it off.
- Launch Settings from the Home screen.
- Tap on Touch ID & Passcode.
- Enter your Passcode.
Scroll to the bottom and switch Today View to Off.
If you later change your mind, you can repeat the same steps to turn Today View back on.
How to turn off Notification View on the Lock screen
Notification View, part of Notification Center, lets you see previous notifications, including on the Lock screen. If you'd rather that information not be available to anyone and everyone, you can disable it.
- Launch Settings from the Home screen.
- Tap on Touch ID & Passcode.
- Enter your Passcode.
Scroll to the bottom and switch Notification View to Off.
If you later change your mind, you can repeat the same steps to turn Notification View back on.
How to turn off Siri access from the Lock screen
Siri, Apple's virtual personal assistant, can answer questions and execute commands right from the Lock screen. Many require Touch ID or Passcode to authorize from the Lock screen, but if you'd prefer that Siri not be accessible at all, you can turn it off.
- Launch Settings from the Home screen.
- Tap on Touch ID & Passcode.
- Enter your Passcode.
Scroll to the bottom and switch Siri to Off.
If you later change your mind, you can repeat the same steps to turn Siri back on.
How to turn off Reply with Message from the Lock screen
If someone sends you a voice message (soundbite) from iMessage, and the notification pops up on your Lock screen, you can reply straight from the Lock screen. If you'd rather that not be available to pranksters and miscreants, you can turn it off.
- Launch Settings from the Home screen.
- Tap on Touch ID & Passcode.
- Enter your Passcode.
Scroll to the bottom and switch Reply with Message to Off.
If you later change your mind, you can repeat the same steps and turn Reply with Message back on.
How to turn off Home Control from the Lock screen
HomeKit lets you control your home automation accessories, even from the Lock screen. If you consider that to be too much of a security risk, you can disable it.
- Launch Settings from the Home screen.
- Tap on Touch ID & Passcode.
- Enter your Passcode.
Scroll to the bottom and switch Home Control to Off.
If you later change your mind, you can repeat the same steps and turn Home Control back on.
How to turn off Wallet and Apple Pay from the Lock screen
Wallet on your Lock screen means everything from your boarding pass to Starbucks card to movie tickets can pop up when the time and place is right. It also means your Apple Pay credit and debit cards are just a double-click of the Home screen away. If either of those things aren't to your liking, though, you can turn them off.
- Launch Settings from the Home screen.
- Tap on Touch ID & Passcode.
- Enter your Passcode.
Scroll to the bottom and switch Wallet to Off.
If you later change your mind, you can repeat the same steps to turn Wallet and Apple Pay back on.
Note: You can also control this from Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay >, and how you set one will be reflected into the other.
Any Lock screen questions?
If you have any trouble setting up your Lock screen just the way you like it, or you need more help, drop your questions in the comments below!
Reader comments
How to customize your Lock screen on iPhone and iPad
Very Good and informative Article Rene !!
=]
I can't find any option to "raise to wake" in iPhone 6s. Can you help on this?
I always turn these off whenever I get a new iPhone. I also hate that the last 4 digits of your credit card are shown. (The main reason I don't leave that feature on)
What's wrong with showing the last 4 digits? It's so you can recognize which card it is. No one can do anything when the rest of the digits are hidden
There are many websites that you can call up to get a password reset, that use the last 4 digits as proof of identity. You might remember from another article I mentioned a "security risk" and everyone was jumping on me saying "it's only a privacy risk, not a security one" - well this is one example of what I meant. You people think too small and don't look at the full picture. You people are quick to judge and give down votes. You really need to educate yourself.
I would love to know what these websites are, you really don't think Apple would have thought this through? And also the many other websites that only show the last 4 digits of your card number?
You've never payed your credit card online before? You never had to call because you forgot your password? They often will ask for either the last 4 digits if your credit card number -or- the last 4 of your SS#. Now I'm done wasting my time with you, Google it next time.
Well not actually customizing. Just turning on or off....
Sent from the iMore App
Might want to mention that the steps for changing Auto-Lock settings are iOS 10 specific (currently under General settings in iOS 9).
Yea, would have been nice to mention what version. I was going crazy trying to figure out why it was under the General settings. How many of us have IOS 10. Not me.
I want to add my ICE details to my lock screen. Can it be done? I though of just adding it to a photo I wanted to use then saving that as wallpaper. is there another way? iphone 5
Hi Guys I am very new to this so would like to know if there is a way to put my phone # on the front locked screen and also when I get a text it just pops up and anyone can read it can I change that also.
I had news notifications on my lock screen before Apple replaced the battery on my iPhone 6S. How do I get them back?
How will i disable imo icon from my locked screen of IPhone 6.?
I have the "new iPad 2017" and wonder if you can have independent control of the iPad being locked and the screen turning off. I am at home most of the time so don't worry about security and don't want to have to keep logging in, but would like the screen to shut off quickly to save battery. Are there two separate ways of doing this in settings!