Apple is bringing your photos and Lock Screen wallpaper to life with a new 3D effect called Spatial Scenes. The best part? You don’t need a special camera or the latest iPhone model. If your iPhone supports iOS 26, you’re good to go. Let’s explore what Spatial Scenes on iPhone is all about and how you can use it.
What Is Spatial Scenes in iOS 26?
Spatial Scenes is a new feature in iOS 26 that gives depth and motion to your still photos. As you tilt or move your iPhone, the image shifts slightly, making it look like you’re peeking into a 3D scene instead of a flat picture. It separates the foreground and background and animates them based on your movement.
Apple uses on-device AI and the Neural Engine to analyze the photo’s depth—even if it was taken years ago. Interestingly, this doesn’t rely on the new Apple Intelligence system. So even without the latest iPhones with the full AI suite, you’ll still get access to this feature if your device supports iOS 26.
Inspired by Vision Pro—But Now Available for All iPhones
Apple already had a version of this idea in the Vision Pro, where it introduced spatial photos and videos. However, you needed an iPhone 16 and had to take the photo in Spatial mode. Then, you could view the photo with a 3D effect only on the Vision Pro.
Now, with iOS 26, Apple is removing these limitations by utilizing advanced computer vision to recreate depth. You can now apply this effect to any photo in your library, old or new.
Where Can You Use Spatial Scenes?
You can use Spatial Scenes in two key areas on your iPhone:
- Lock Screen: Set any eligible photo as your wallpaper, and you’ll see an option to enable Spatial Scene. Once activated, the image shifts as you tilt your phone. Even the time on your screen adjusts to blend in with the depth of the photo.
- Photos App: Open any compatible photo in your library, and if it’s eligible, a hexagon icon will appear. Tap it to convert your image into a Spatial Scene. Moving your phone will make the photo come to life with depth and motion.
How to Enable Spatial Scenes on iPhone
On the Lock Screen:
- Go to Settings > Wallpaper.
- Tap the ‘+’ button to create a new wallpaper.
- Tap the Photos option and choose the photo you want to apply.
- Tap the Spatial Scene icon (a hexagon).
- Tap Add in the top right corner.
- Tap Set as Wallpaper Pair, or you can further customize the Home Screen before setting it.
You can also activate it by long-pressing the Lock Screen and tapping Customize. Alternatively, you can set the Spatial Scene wallpaper directly from the Photos app if the photo is eligible.
In the Photos App:
- Open the Photos app and pick any photo.
- If it’s compatible, you’ll see a hexagon icon at the top right.
- Tap it to activate the Spatial Scene effect.
- Tilt your iPhone to experience the 3D motion effect.
Redesigned Photos and Camera Apps in iOS 26
Apple also redesigned the Photos and Camera apps with a cleaner, more modern interface inspired by the new “Liquid Glass” UI.
- Photos app now features two main tabs: Library (everything you have) and Collections (your albums or folders). It’s simpler, faster, and easier to find what you’re looking for.
- The Camera app now has fewer essential buttons at the top, with more features hidden just a swipe away—making it useful for both everyday users and professionals alike.
Your iPhone Just Got More Immersive
Spatial Scenes itself is not completely new, as the feature was already available on the Vision Pro. Now, it’s available on all iPhones with iOS 26, for any photo that has a clear foreground and background. You can even view the 3D effect directly on your iPhone. It’s a small change, but it can make your photos feel more alive and your wallpaper more dynamic.
Using Spatial Scene as wallpaper may drain your battery, but it still needs to be tested to see how much it actually affects your iPhone’s battery life.
Explore more iOS 26 tips and tricks:
