personalise your iPhone’s Lock Screen
Is your lock screen on the iPhone about as dull as watching grass grow? Time for a quick makeover! Changing the lock screen isn’t just for looks — it’s a great way to add some personality or keep favourite memories front and centre. Whether it’s a favourite family photo or that stunning piece of digital art you can’t get enough of, it’s easy to update. Just a few taps in Settings, and voilà — your phone looks fresh every time you unlock it.
Getting the Hang of Lock Screen Customisation on iPhone
Personalising your lock screen can totally change how your device feels and how you interact with it. Here’s how to give it a much-needed update without any fuss.
Opening Settings
First up, unlock your iPhone and find the Settings icon on the home screen. Tap it to access all your options.
Heads-up: If you’re rocking an iPhone X or newer, just swipe down from the top right corner to open the Control Centre and tap Settings.
Finding Wallpaper Options
Once inside Settings, scroll down until you spot Wallpaper. This is where the magic happens for both your lock and home screens. Tap on it to see your current wallpaper and options to change it.
Pro tip: You’ll see a button called “Choose a New Wallpaper” right here.
Starting to Change Your Wallpaper
Tap “Choose a New Wallpaper” to browse available options. This opens a gallery — Apple’s curated collections or your own photos.
Fun fact: With iOS 16 and later, you can choose from the Gallery, Photos, or Dynamic tabs. Want to get a bit fancy? Pop in a Live Photo from your library.
Selecting Your New Image
Pick an image that suits your vibe — Dynamic offers animated backgrounds, Stills keeps it classic, and your Photos are perfect for personal touches.
Quick tip: To make your wallpaper come alive, enable “Live Photo” when selecting it. Press and hold the lock screen during the preview to see the magic happen.
Finalising Your Lock Screen
Once you’ve chosen your favourite picture, tap “Set” and then select “Set Lock Screen”. That’s it — you’ve done the update!
Shortcut: For a quick snapshot of your new lock screen, press Side Button + Volume Up. It’s handy if you want to revisit later.
Pro tip: You can preview how it looks by pressing and holding the lock screen after setting it.
Tips to Make Your Lock Screen Even Better
The fun doesn’t have to end there! Here are some tips to really personalise your lock screen:
- Choose high-resolution images stored in your Photos app — preferably in the Apple HEIC/HEIF format for sharp detail.
- Thinking of animated wallpapers? Make sure your iPhone supports Live Photos (the 6s and newer models handle this well).
- In Settings > Wallpaper, toggle “Perspective Zoom” on or off to see how your wallpaper moves with your device.
- If you love Night Mode, consider turning on “Dark Appearance Dims Wallpaper” for better contrast.
- Align your Lock and Home screens for a seamless look: head to Settings > Wallpaper > Customize.
- Control notifications on your lock screen via Settings > Face ID & Passcode or Settings > Notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lock Screen Customisation
Can I set a Live Photo as my lock screen?
Absolutely! If you have an iPhone 6s or newer, you can choose a Live Photo from your Photos app when setting your wallpaper.
Tip: After setting it, press and hold the lock screen to watch it spring to life. Just make sure Live Photos is enabled in Settings > Wallpaper.
Why aren’t dynamic wallpapers showing up?
Dynamic wallpapers are mostly tied to hardware capabilities.
In iOS, find them under Settings > Wallpaper > Choose a New Wallpaper > Dynamic.
Note: Older models than iPhone 6s won’t support dynamic wallpapers — they’re limited to still images.
Can I use images from the web for my lock screen?
No worries! Just tap and hold an image in Safari, select “Add to Photos”, then go to Settings > Wallpaper > Choose a New Wallpaper to pick your saved shot.
Tip: Make sure the image quality is high-res enough for your phone’s display.
Is there a way to change the layout of my lock screen?
The core layout is pretty fixed, but you can tweak notification settings in Settings > Notifications and Settings > Face ID & Passcode to control what appears when the screen is locked.
How do I revert to a wallpaper I’ve used before?
Check your Photos or revisit Settings > Wallpaper. Tap on the image and hit “Set as Lock Screen”.
Pro tip: Keep a little collection of your favourite wallpapers — makes switching back a breeze.
Quick Lock Screen Customisation Checklist
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down to Wallpaper.
- Tap “Choose a New Wallpaper”.
- Select an image that speaks to you.
- Tap “Set”, then pick “Set Lock Screen”.
Remember, changing your lock screen isn’t just about looking good — it’s about making your device feel more like you. A quick refresh can turn a routine unlock into a little moment of joy. Every time you unlock your iPhone, it should feel uniquely yours — so go on, explore those options and have a bit of fun! Your personalised lock screen is just a few taps away.