All the Ways to Customize the Lock Screen in IOS 26
iOS 26 is one of the biggest iPhone software updates Apple has released in years, bringing with it features like new gestures , improved parental controls , customizable snooze times , and, of course, a translucent interface overhaul called Liquid Glass (which takes some getting used to).
There are also changes to how you can customize the look of your iPhone’s lock screen, based on several other tweaks Apple has added in recent years. Your lock screen can be more personalized than ever, not just in terms of wallpaper, but also the elements at the top and how they’re arranged.
To start these settings, you need to lock your phone, then press the power button (to wake up the screen without unlocking the phone again), then press and hold the lock screen. Select Customize to start making changes.
At the top, you can tap the date to choose from a selection of single-line widgets. Options will vary depending on the apps you have installed, but typically include widgets for the weather, reminders, and calendar events. Next up is the clock, which in iOS 26 can be resized by dragging the handle in the bottom right corner.
Further down the screen, the widgets field is now at the bottom of the Lock screen instead of the top: As before, tap Add Widgets to add mini indicators for your iPhone’s battery level, world time zones, current fitness activities, news headlines, and more (again, your choices will depend on the apps you have installed).
Above the widget bar are two buttons. The one on the left lets you turn on or off depth effects for your wallpaper, which works especially well for spatial photos. The button on the right lets you customize whether your lock screen should use light mode, dark mode, or follow iOS settings in general.
Finally, there are two shortcuts at the bottom, in the lower left and right corners. Tap the small – (minus) symbol next to either of these shortcuts, which will allow you to select something new (or leave the spaces empty). There are a variety of shortcuts you can place here, from background music mixes to links to the iOS stopwatch. You can also use these shortcuts to quickly access your favorite apps.
Focus modes, wallpapers and more
iOS actually lets you set up multiple lock screens if you want, so you can have different lock screens for different moods or times of day. If you press and hold the lock screen to reveal the Customize button, then swipe left and right, you can add new lock screens and switch between them.
Choose to create a new lock screen using the + (plus) button, and the first decision you’ll need to make is to choose a wallpaper. This could be the same wallpaper as your home screens, or something different – and you can choose emoji, colors, and a photo slideshow from the icons at the top.
Above each lock screen thumbnail, you’ll see a Focus button. Tap it, and you’ll be able to choose a Focus mode that will automatically turn on when you switch to that specific lock screen. For example, you could have one lock screen and Focus mode for driving, one for sleeping, and so on.
There are a few more controls worth talking about, all of which can be accessed via the Display & Brightness menu in iOS Settings. The Auto-Lock option here lets you choose how long your iPhone will wait without being used before it locks and displays the lock screen, while Raise to Wake lets you control whether the lock screen lights up when you pick up your iPhone.
If you have an iPhone Pro or Pro Max from 2022 or later, you’ll also see an Always On Display option here. This lets you choose certain features, like wallpaper and notifications, to always appear on the display, even when your phone is locked — at the expense of some battery life, of course.
Speaking of notifications, you can also customize how they appear on your lock screen. You can hide previews if you think other people might be looking over your shoulder when they log in. To control how notifications work on your lock screen, go to Notifications in iOS Settings and tap Show Previews .
iOS 26 also brings another change to the lock screen, but it’s not customizable: For certain Apple Music tracks that support the feature, you can get full-screen animated album art on the lock screen by tapping the media player widget. It’s another feature worth trying out after installing the new operating system.