Apple released iOS26 in September, and the update introduces a handful of new features to your iPhone such as call screening, new ringtones And more. The update also brings more customization options to your lock screen.
When the tech giant released iOS 18 In 2024, the update added the ability to remove or change your lock screen controls – a welcome improvement if you’ve ever accidentally turned on your flashlight while pocketing your phone.
With iOS 26, you can move your lock screen widgets, increase the size of your clock, and give your lock screen wallpaper a 3D spatial effect.
Here’s how to make these changes to your lock screen and what to know about each one.
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Change the size of your lock screen clock
The biggest change iOS 26 brings to your lock screen is the ability to change the size of your clock. The extended clock takes up about a third of the screen on my iPhone 16 Pro at most, which I love because if I place my phone on a table, I can easily see the time, even without my glasses. But you have to activate what I like to call a big clock.
Here’s how to extend the clock on your lock screen.
1. Faucet Settings.
2. Faucet Wallpaper.
3. Faucet Personalize under the lock screen you want to set.
Your iPhone will show you this lock screen and all the adjustable items will be described. Your clock has a thicker tab in the lower right corner of its surround. Tap and drag down to enlarge your clock to the size you want.
Then you can tap on the clock and choose whether you want it to have a glass or solid design, and you can also adjust the color and thickness of the clock. But after changing the clock size, you cannot change the font. Only the leftmost clock font can be extended at the moment, but perhaps Apple will expand it to other fonts in a future iOS update.
Your lock screen widget dock may have a new home
Another change iOS 26 brings to your lock screen is the ability to move the lock screen widget dock. The update lets you place the dock at the bottom of your lock screen, right above your controls.
To move the widget dock from your lock screen, go to Settings > Wallpaper and press Personalize under the lock screen you want to set. Next, tap and drag the widget dock to the bottom of your lock screen.
If you make your lock screen clock larger, your widget dock will automatically be placed near the bottom of the screen and you won’t be able to place it anywhere else on your screen.
Space effects are coming to wallpapers
Your lock screen wallpaper also gets a fun 3D effect that Apple calls a space scene. When enabled, space scenes add depth to your wallpaper elements – and images – making them appear as if they’re jumping out at you. As you move your iPhone around, these items move as well.
To turn your lock screen wallpaper into a space scene, go to Settings > Wallpaper and press Personalize under the lock screen you want to work with. Tap the hexagon at the bottom right of your screen and your iPhone will make the wallpaper a space scene.
It’s important to note that space scenes only work with photos and not with wallpapers provided by Apple, like those in the Weather and Emoji collections.
Orders take on color
One small change that iOS 26 makes to your lock screen is that it changes the color of the controls at the bottom of your screen. This change is enabled automatically in iOS 26, so all you need to do is add a colored control, or create your ownto bring a touch of color to your lock screen.
Personalize your lock screen
Apple has slowly loosened its grip on your iPhone’s lock screen, giving you more freedom to customize how it looks and how you use it over the years. And iOS 26 is no different.
Being able to extend your clock, move the widget dock to multiple positions, and being able to give your wallpaper a 3D effect are just some of the ways iOS 26 lets you create your own experience on your iPhone. These features could be improved, such as giving you more freedom over where you can place your widget dock, but I expect Apple to continue adding ways to personalize your iPhone’s lock screen in the future.
To learn more about iOS 26, here my opinion on the operating systemhow to reduce the effects of Liquid Glass in the update and how to activate call And text screening on your iPhone. You can also view our iOS 26 Cheat Sheet.
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