iOS 26 Lock Screen Upgrades

In iOS 26 Apple made some fun and genuinely useful improvements to the lock screen — the screen you see before you unlock your iPhone. In this guide I’ll walk you step-by-step through the five biggest changes and show you how to try them on your own iPhone.

Quick overview

• Liquid Glass Clock — a new glass-style clock appearance.
• Movable widgets — drag widgets closer to the bottom for easier reach.
• Bigger clock numbers — enlarge the clock for easier reading.
• Spatial scenes — 3D-style wallpapers that add depth to photos.
• Animated album art — tappable animated art when music is playing.

How to open Lock Screen customization

Before we dive in, here’s the quick way to get to these settings:

1. On the lock screen, push and hold anywhere on the wallpaper until the customization options appear.
2. Tap Customize to edit the current lock screen.
3. Tap the clock, widgets, or wallpaper area to access specific controls.

1. Liquid Glass Clock — a refreshed, elegant look

Apple replaced the old solid clock with a new option called the Liquid Glass Clock. The numbers look like water or crystal — slightly transparent and modern. You can also change the color and style once you select it.

To try it:

1. Push and hold the lock screen and tap Customize.
2. Tap the clock area.
3. At the bottom pick Glass instead of Solid, then choose color or style if you like.
4. Tap Done when finished.

It’s simple and it makes your lock screen look more modern and elegant.

2. Move widgets down — easier reach for smaller hands

Widgets (weather, calendar, battery, etc.) can now be moved lower on the lock screen so they’re easier to reach without stretching your thumb. This is especially helpful if you use one-handed gestures or have smaller hands.

How to move widgets:

1. Push and hold the lock screen and tap Customize.
2. Tap the widget area under the clock and drag the widget box down toward the bottom.
3. Release to set the new position and tap Done.

If you’re new to lock screen widgets or want to add/remove widgets, I have a separate walkthrough that goes into detail about which widgets are available and how to add them.

3. Bigger clock numbers — easier to read at a glance

Finally — Apple lets us make the clock larger. If you prefer large, easy-to-read numbers, look for a small handle in the corner of the clock while editing and drag it to increase the size.

Notes:

• If your wallpaper has a face or subject tucked into the top of the image, the handle might not appear. Try a different photo if the option is unavailable.
• Increasing the clock makes the lock screen much easier to read for many seniors and anyone who prefers bigger text.

4. Spatial scenes — 3D-style wallpapers with depth

Spatial scenes use smart processing to turn regular photos into wallpapers with a 3D feel. When you tilt or move your iPhone the picture gently shifts as if it has depth.

How to enable spatial scenes:

1. Push and hold the lock screen and tap Customize.
2. Choose a wallpaper photo. Apple will suggest photos that work best, or you can pick one yourself.
3. If available, toggle the Spatial option. Move your iPhone to see the subtle 3D effect.

Compatibility: Spatial scenes work on iPhone 12 and newer — so you don’t need the very latest model to enjoy this feature.

5. Animated album art — immersive music on the lock screen

When music is playing, you’ll see a small square of album art on the lock screen. Tap that square and the album art can expand and animate, making listening feel more immersive. Right now this works best with Apple Music; other apps like Spotify are expected to add support.

Quick tips for animated album art:

• To access the lock screen while music is playing, swipe down from the top middle of the screen to reveal the music square.
• Tap the album art square to expand and animate it. Tap again (or anywhere on the animation) to return to the regular lock screen.
• Not every song will have an animation, but when it does it adds a nice visual touch.

Troubleshooting & helpful reminders

• Some lock screen options depend on the photo you use. If a feature (like larger clock or spatial scene) isn’t available, try a different photo.
• In the Photos app you can mark pictures as spatial by tapping the option under the three dots — that makes them available for spatial scenes.
• After updating to iOS 26 your iPhone may run a little warm or the battery might dip for a few days while the system finishes setup — this is normal.
• Animated music support will expand over time; don’t worry if your favorite songs don’t animate yet.

Which feature should you try first?

For many seniors I recommend starting with the bigger clock and moving widgets down — these two changes immediately improve readability and ease of use. If you enjoy personalization, try the Liquid Glass Clock and spatial scenes to give your lock screen a fresh, modern look. And if you listen to music often, tap the album art the next time a song plays to see if an animation is available.

I hope this guide helps you customize your lock screen in iOS 26. If you tried any of these tips, I’d love to hear which one you tried first and how it worked for you.

Thanks for reading — see you next time!

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