From minimizing the clock size into a tiny size to using AI to extend and recreate your photo, here are 10 ways (both new and old) to personalize your iPhone Lock Screen. These features are also available on an iPad running the latest version of iPadOS.
In case you haven’t already updated your iPhone 11 or later to iOS 27, you can do that from Settings > General > Software Update.
Note that not all features mentioned here are available on all iOS 27 or iOS 26 devices.
Make the clock tiny
iOS 27 lets you make the Lock Screen clock sit on the same line with the date text. When editing the Lock Screen, tap the clock, and then the icon shown in the screenshot below to move it to the left of the day and date indicator at the top.
Extend Lock Screen wallpaper
When you’re applying a photo as your iPhone 15 Pro or later Lock Screen wallpaper, simply pinch in to see the new Extend option and have AI generate the sides of the photo so it fits well on the screen.
Note: This new iOS 27 feature is different from the existing Extend Wallpaper option that simply stretches the photo and blurs it at the top. You can access it by tapping the three dots icon on the Lock Screen customization page.
Make the clock glassy
iOS 26 and later have the Liquid Glass software design, and this is visible on the Lock Screen as well. From the flashlight and camera controls to the widgets, notifications, and the clock, everything gets a glassy translucent style. The clock in particular has a frosted glass look, with thin strands of light shining on some edges.
Customize your iPhone Lock Screen, tap the clock, and select the Glass style. You can then go with the first option that matches the look of the wallpaper, or pick some other color. If the glass style isn’t for you, tap the Solid option instead.
Adjust the Liquid Glass intensity
iOS gives you the option to change the Liquid Glass intensity and make the Lock Screen clock appear more or less transparent. Just select the Glass look, then drag the Liquid Glass slider left or right. We have explained the whole process here.
Use another font script for the clock
iOS 26 and later have many more language scripts/font styles for the Lock Screen clock. Start editing your iPhone Lock Screen and tap the clock, followed by the globe icon. Then, select one of the various fonts from different scripts.
Increase the clock size
One of the most notable Lock Screen changes is a dynamic clock! When you set a picture as the iPhone wallpaper, you may notice that the clock size has increased automatically. If not, you can drag down the new pull tab under the clock to adjust it manually. Additionally, if you set a photo shuffle wallpaper, the clock size will change automatically based on the subject and background of the picture.
Note: The dynamic Lock Screen clock is only available with the Arabic (Eastern and Western) style scripts.
Move widgets to the bottom
The Lock Screen widget will mandatorily move to the bottom of your screen if you change the clock size even slightly. You can also touch the widget area under the normal-sized clock and drag it down to make widgets easily accessible for one-handed use.
Use 3D moving wallpaper
When you’re adding a new photo Lock Screen, just tap the hexagonal icon and in a few seconds, your iPhone will generate a spatial scene wallpaper. Your normal photo will now get a subtle 3D effect, and tilting your iPhone on either the X or Y-axis will move the wallpaper for a cool parallax effect.
Blur or unblur wallpaper during Always On display
If you use the Always On display on your supported iPhone, you have the choice to blur or unblur the wallpaper. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display to see which style you prefer. Of course, you can also choose to stop showing the wallpaper altogether during Always On if you like a pitch-black look.
Full-screen animated music album art
This Lock Screen customization kicks in when you’re listening to songs from a supported app like Apple Music.
Simply tap the tiny album artwork thumbnail in the Lock Screen Now Playing widget, and then the artwork will fill the entire screen and animate for a unique, immersive experience.
However, note that not all songs support full-screen, animated album artwork. If you want to try it now, here are links for a few Apple Music tracks that have animated artwork:
- Sapphire by Ed Sheeran
- Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley
- Numb by Linkin Park
- What Goes Around Comes Around by Justin Timberlake
- Heat Waves by Glass Animals
- Runaway Baby by Bruno Mars
What all do you do to customize your iPhone Lock Screen?
Also, check out: New features added to iPhone Photos app in iOS 27