All the iPhone Lock Screen changes you might have missed in iOS 26

Apple released iOS 26 in September, and in addition to new features such as telephone inspectionThe update also brought more customization options to you of the iPhone lock screen.

When the technology giant is released iOS 18 back in 2024, you were given the ability to remove or change the controls on your lock screen – 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 a 3D lock screen image.

Here’s how to bring these changes to your lock screen and what to know about each one.

Change the size of your lock screen clock

The biggest change that iOS 26 brings to your lock screen is the ability to change the size of your clock. The extended clock takes up almost a third of the iPhone 16 Pro screen, which I like because when I put my phone on the table, I can easily see the time, even without my glasses. But you have to enable what I like to call the big clock.

Here’s how to enlarge the clock on your lock screen.

1. Tap Settings.
2. Tap Wallpaper.
3. Tap Do it yourself under the screen lock you want to change.

Your iPhone will show you that key, and everything that can be changed will be explained. Your watch has a thick bar in the lower right corner of its schedule. Tap and drag this down to enlarge your clock to the size you want.

Then tap the clock to select Glass or Solid Design, and adjust the color and thickness. But after changing the clock size, you cannot change the font. Only the farthest clock font is expandable at the moment, but Apple will likely expand this to other fonts in a future iOS update.

Your lock screen widget dock can have a new home

Another change that iOS 26 brings to your lock screen is the ability to move the lock screen port. The update lets you place the port near the bottom of your keyboard, above your controls.

To change the port of your lock screen, go to Settings > Wallpaper then tap Do it yourself under the lock screen you want to change. Then tap and drag the widget dock to the bottom of your lock screen.

If you maximize your lock screen clock, the widget dock will automatically be placed near the bottom of the screen, and you can’t 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 space. When enabled, placeholders add depth to the elements on your paper — and images — making them stand out to you. When you move your iPhone, those features will move too.

To change your screen lock to a location, go to Settings > Wallpaper, then tap Do it yourself for the key you want to work with. Tap the hexagon near the bottom-right corner of your screen, and your iPhone will change the wallpaper to a placeholder.

It’s important to note that location icons only work with photos, not Apple-supplied wallpapers, such as those in the Weather and Emoji collections.

Controls get a specific color

A small change that iOS 26 brings to your lock screen changes the color of the controls near the bottom of your screen. This change is automatically enabled in iOS 26, so you just have to add a colorful control, or make your ownto bring a pop of color to your lock screen.

Create your own password

Apple has gradually reduced the lock screen of your iPhone, giving you more freedom to customize its appearance and the way you use it over the years. And iOS 26 is no different.

Being able to enlarge your clock, moving the widget dock to more than one location and being able to give your wallpaper a 3D effect are just a few of the iOS 26 features that allow you to customize the experience on your iPhone. These features could be improved — like giving you more freedom in where to place your widget dock — but I expect Apple to keep adding ways to customize the iPhone’s lock screen in the future.

For more iOS news, here’s everything you need to know iOS 26.4 and iOS 26.3. You can also check us out iOS 26 cheat sheet.