With the release of iOS 16, your iPhone’s lock screen has become more than just a list of notifications and a clock. Now, you have the ability to customize the first screen you see every time you pick up or wake your iPhone. You can choose the font and color of the clock, and even add widgets for quick access to apps and information. It’s an exciting and fun feature that you don’t want to miss out on. Here’s how you can make the most of your new lock screen:
1. Set a Custom Interactive Wallpaper
The first step to customizing your lock screen is selecting a wallpaper that you love. Start by waking up your phone and unlocking it with FaceID or TouchID. Instead of swiping up or pressing the home button, long-press on the lock screen. You’ll see a thumbnail preview of your current lock screen. Tap the “Customize” button at the bottom of the screen to customize any of the existing collections or tap the “+” sign to create a new collection.
You’ll be presented with various wallpaper options to choose from. Browse through Apple’s curated wallpapers or explore the Suggested Photos or Photo Shuffle sections. You can also select specific categories like People, Pets, Nature, Cities, Weather & Astronomy, Emoji, Collections, or Color. Once you find a wallpaper you like, tap “Add” at the top of the screen. You can use it as a wallpaper pair or customize your home screen with a different image.
2. Customize the Clock
After selecting a wallpaper, go back to the edit overview by long-pressing on your lock screen and tapping “Customize” below the wallpaper you want to edit. Tap on the time to choose from eight different fonts. Preview each font with your selected wallpaper. You can also experiment with different colors by adjusting the slider. Once you’re satisfied, tap anywhere on the wallpaper to save the changes.
3. Add Lock Screen Widgets
Lock screen widgets are a great way to access glanceable information without having to unlock your iPhone. To add widgets, enter the customization menu the same way you did for changing the wallpaper or customizing the clock. Tap “Customize” at the bottom of the screen for the lock screen creation you want to edit. There are two locations for widgets – the slim box above the clock and the larger rectangle below the time.
Tap on either box to bring up a menu of available widgets. The top widget area is suitable for apps that display information in a single line of text. The bottom widget area has more room, allowing you to have up to four 1×1 square widgets or a combination of wider and smaller widgets. You can rearrange widgets by dragging and dropping them or delete them by tapping the “-” sign in the top left corner.
4. Customize Widget Information
You can further customize the information displayed by a widget. Tap on a widget once it’s added to the lock screen to access its settings. For example, the calendar app will show all your upcoming appointments by default. However, if you tap on it and select a specific calendar, it will only display appointments from that calendar. Not all widgets offer this level of customization, but you can explore each one to see what options are available.
With these steps, you’ll be able to make the most out of your iPhone’s new lock screen in iOS 16. Enjoy the customization options and have fun personalizing your device!
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