The major update with iOS 16 is the ability to create custom lock screens. From new widgets, fonts, images, wallpapers and more, follow along for a hands-on look at how to create a custom iOS 16 lock screen on iPhone.
The next major version of the iPhone software includes a bunch of useful features for Messages, Notifications, Photos, Mail, Safari, and more.
However, what will likely get the most attention is the new lock screen feature dedicated to iOS 16. It’s the largest customization support we’ve seen from Apple with the iPhone, based on all the work it did with iOS 14 when it first came out on widgets Plus some stylish Apple Watch faces.
iOS 16 is currently available as a free or paid beta for developers. Learn more about installing iOS 16 in our complete guide.
iOS 16 Lock Screen: How to Customize iPhone
- After installing iOS 16, Long press on your lock screen
- If you are using an old wallpaper, you will need to create a new wallpaper to make a custom lock screen
- Click on blue + icon In the lower right corner
- Choose a wallpaper from the top categories or swipe below to view all options
- Click on + icon under time to select widgets
- Recommended tools at the top, more options by category below
- Click on It’s time to customize the font and color
- Click the date to add a widget at the top
- Options include calendar, clock, fitness, reminders, inventory, and weather
Here’s a practical look at the process:
If you click the Customize button on an old wallpaper, you will be prompted to Add New to continue.
Photos can look really sharp with the new lock screen and you can even set it to rotate your photos with “Photo Shuffle” background.
You can add up to 4 small widgets, 2 small and 1 medium, or 2 medium widgets in the bottom lock screen space.
The quickest way to add widgets is to click on them, but you can drag and drop them if you want to be more specific about placement.
Press the time to customize the font and color. Swipe from right to left to reveal more color options as well as the full color palette for a completely customized color gradient.
You can also add one widget to the top of the Day/Date section, click it to make a selection.
Tap the three-dot icon at the bottom right to enable perspective zoom and Faucet he did in the upper right corner when finished.
Back on the lock screen customization homepage, you can also tap to focus at the bottom to link a specific one to the specific lock screen.
How do lock screen widgets work?
Once you place the widgets on your lock screen, you will get live data provided whenever you take a look. However, like the home screen widgets, they are not directly interactive, so when you click on them, you will be taken to the corresponding application (calendar, weather, reminders, etc.).
How many iOS 16 lock screens can you make?
At any time, you can click Customize to edit the lock screen or click the blue + icon to create a new screen.
It’s not entirely clear how many lock screens you can create, but so far I’ve created 21 😅.
How to switch lock screens
Similar to Apple Watch faces, once you have multiple lock screens, it’s easy to switch between them by long-pressing your lock screen and swiping to select a different screen.
How to delete custom lock screens
To remove custom lock screens, press and hold on one of them and select “Delete wallpaper” at the bottom.
Lock screens and battery life?
The new Weather and Astronomy wallpapers in iOS 16 are really cool, but keep in mind that they will require access to the location (which can be updated every 15 minutes) which can affect your iPhone battery life.
How are you looking forward to use the new iOS 16 lock screen? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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