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Customize your iPhone Lock Screen with iOS 18 and 26โwidgets, wallpapers, and more made easy.
For years, the iPhone’s Lock Screen was nothing more than a static wallpaper with a clock. However, with iOS 16, Apple revolutionized the Lock Screen by enabling users to create multiple Lock Screens, customize clock styles, and add widgets. These features were polished in iOS 17 and significantly enhanced in iOS 18. Now, with iOS 26, Apple has taken Lock Screen customization to the next level.
In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to personalize your iPhone Lock Screenโfrom wallpapers and widgets to new features introduced in iOS 26.
Apple allows you to build a gallery of personalized Lock Screens and switch between them as you like.
Once you create a new Lock Screen, it’s time to personalize it. Here’s what you can change:
Apple offers several wallpaper styles:
You can tailor the clock font and color to match your Lock Screen theme.
Depending on their size, you can add a maximum of five widgets to your Lock Screen: one above the time and up to four below it, to showcase real-time data from the associated app.
While the widget space below the time is left empty so you can choose the widgets yourself, Apple has added the Calendar widget above the time by default. However, only some users are aware that you can also replace the default Calendar widget.
iOS 18 finally lets you modify or remove Lock Screen controls.
You can choose how notifications appear on your Lock Screen.
iOS 26 adds powerful new features to make your Lock Screen even more functional and beautiful.
Widgets are no longer confined under the clock. In iOS 26, you can place them at the bottom, just above the Flashlight and Camera shortcuts, making room for cleaner wallpapers.
The time display is now resizable. In edit mode, drag the new handle to enlarge the clock, which can fill nearly half the screen and automatically adapt to depth effects in the wallpaper.
Tap the photo in Customize mode and select Show Photo in Library to quickly find the original image in your Photos app.
iOS 26 brings Spatial Scenes to everyone. These use machine learning (not Apple Intelligence) to create subtle 3D-like motion when you tilt your iPhone. Toggle it on/off with the Spatial Scene button.
Now, when you’re listening to music, tap the album art to expand and animate it. Currently supported on Apple Music, with Spotify and YouTube Music support coming soon.
To switch between Lock Screens:
Want to remove a Lock Screen?
Focus modes help reduce distractions, and you can link them to specific Lock Screens.
From then on, switching to that Lock Screen will automatically activate the corresponding Focus mode.
As you’ve seen, iOS now offers deep customization for the Lock Screenโfrom fonts and widgets to wallpaper styles and even animated visuals. Dive in and tailor your iPhone’s first impression to match your style and workflow.
Have a favorite Lock Screen setup? Share your widget and wallpaper combos in the comments below!
Other than that, you can also read these iPhone guides: