Personalizing your iPhone is one of the first things many users love to do, and changing your lock screen photo is a fantastic way to add a personal touch. Whether you want to showcase a cherished memory, display stunning scenery, or simply refresh your device’s look, setting a new lock screen photo is quick and easy. This guide will walk you through all the methods to change your iPhone lock screen photo, ensuring you can customize your device to perfectly match your style.
Setting a New Lock Screen Wallpaper
The most straightforward way to change your lock screen photo is through the Settings app. This method allows you to choose from Apple’s suggested wallpapers or select any photo from your own library. Here’s how to do it:
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Open Settings: Locate and tap the “Settings” app icon on your iPhone Home Screen.
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Navigate to Wallpaper: Scroll down and tap on “Wallpaper”.
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Add New Wallpaper: Tap the “Add New Wallpaper” option. This will take you to the wallpaper selection screen.
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Choose Your Wallpaper Source: You’ll see various options to select your new wallpaper.
- Photos: Choose any photo from your albums, including screenshots, selfies, or downloaded images.
- People: Quickly select photos featuring people from your library.
- Photo Shuffle: Set up a rotating selection of photos that change periodically.
- Live Photo: Use a Live Photo for a dynamic lock screen.
- Categories: Explore pre-designed wallpapers from categories like “Weather & Astronomy,” “Emoji,” or solid “Color” backgrounds.
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Customize (Optional): After selecting a wallpaper, you can further customize it. Swipe left or right to apply different filters and styles. For photos, you can pinch and zoom to adjust its position. Tap “Add” once you are satisfied.
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Set as Lock Screen or Wallpaper Pair: You’ll be prompted to “Set as Wallpaper Pair” to apply the same image to both your Lock Screen and Home Screen, or “Customize Home Screen” to choose a different image for your Home Screen. Select your preference.
Changing Wallpaper Directly from the Lock Screen
For even quicker access, you can change your lock screen wallpaper directly from the Lock Screen itself. This is a convenient method when you want to switch wallpapers on the fly.
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Access Wallpaper Gallery: On your Lock Screen, firmly touch and hold the screen. After a moment, the wallpaper gallery will appear.
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Browse Existing or Add New: Swipe left or right to browse through wallpapers you’ve already created and saved. To set a new wallpaper, tap the “+” Add button, which will take you to the same wallpaper selection screen as in the Settings app method.
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Select and Customize: Choose a new wallpaper source, select an image, customize it if desired, and tap “Add.”
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Set Wallpaper: Choose to “Set as Wallpaper Pair” or “Customize Home Screen” as described before.
From the Lock Screen wallpaper gallery, you can also customize current wallpapers by tapping “Customize” below the selected wallpaper, or delete a wallpaper by swiping up on it and tapping the trash icon. This direct access makes managing your lock screen aesthetics incredibly efficient.
iPhone lock screen wallpaper gallery showing options to customize and change wallpaper, with Focus mode linking feature highlighted.
Customizing Your Lock Screen Wallpaper: Widgets, Styles, and More
iOS offers rich customization options for your lock screen, going beyond just changing the photo. You can add widgets, change fonts, and apply styles to create a truly personalized experience.
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Enter Customization Mode: Go to Settings > Wallpaper. Under the preview of your current Lock Screen, tap “Customize.” Alternatively, access the wallpaper gallery from the Lock Screen and tap “Customize” below the wallpaper you wish to edit.
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Add Widgets: Tap the boxes above and below the time to add widgets. You can choose from various widgets like Calendar, Clock, Weather, Fitness, Reminders, and more. Widgets provide at-a-glance information directly on your lock screen.
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Change Font and Color: Tap on the time display to customize the font style and color. Select a font that complements your wallpaper and adjust the color for readability and visual appeal.
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Apply Photo Styles: Swipe left or right on the wallpaper image to try different photo styles like “Black & White” or “Duotone.” Tap the “More” button (three dots icon) for additional options like “Depth Effect.” Depth Effect layers the subject of your photo slightly in front of the time and widgets, creating a visually engaging 3D effect. Note that Depth Effect may not be available for all wallpapers, especially those with widgets that might interfere with the layering.
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Adjust Image Position: Pinch and drag your photo to crop it or adjust its position within the wallpaper frame.
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Customize Lock Screen Controls (iOS 18 and later): In iOS 18, you can customize the controls at the bottom of the Lock Screen. Tap the minus button on current controls to remove them, and then tap the plus button to add new controls like Flashlight, Camera, Ping My Watch, or Quick Note for quick access to frequently used features.
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Wallpaper Options: Tap the “Depth Effect” button to toggle this feature on or off. The “Dark Mode” button lets you set your wallpaper to automatically switch between light and dark appearances based on your system settings or remain in a fixed light or dark mode.
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Save Changes: Once you’re done customizing, tap “Done” in the top right corner to save your customized lock screen wallpaper.
Rotating Multiple Photos with Photo Shuffle
For those who can’t decide on just one photo, the Photo Shuffle feature is perfect. It allows your lock screen wallpaper to automatically rotate through a selection of your favorite images.
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Start New Wallpaper Creation: Go to Settings > Wallpaper and tap “Add New Wallpaper.”
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Select Photo Shuffle: Choose “Photo Shuffle” from the options at the top of the screen.
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Set Frequency: On the Photo Shuffle screen, choose how often you want your wallpaper to change:
- On Tap: Wallpaper changes each time you tap the Lock Screen.
- On Lock: Wallpaper changes every time you lock and unlock your iPhone.
- Hourly: Wallpaper changes every hour.
- Daily: Wallpaper changes once per day.
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Choose Photos: Select the photos you want to include in the shuffle. You can choose from “People,” “Places,” “Albums,” or manually select up to 50 photos.
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Preview and Done: Preview your Photo Shuffle wallpaper setup. Tap “Done” to finalize and set it as your Lock Screen.
Changing your lock screen photo on your iPhone is more than just a cosmetic tweak; it’s a way to make your device feel more personal and engaging. With these comprehensive steps, you can easily switch up your wallpaper whenever you like and explore the myriad of customization options iOS offers to truly make your iPhone your own.
