iOS 26 brings one of the biggest updates yet to the iPhone Lock Screen, adding new customization tools, advanced wallpaper effects, and smarter adaptive layouts. These improvements make it easier to create a Lock Screen that reflects your personal style while keeping essential information visible at a glance.
This guide covers every new Lock Screen feature in iOS 26, how to use them, and which iPhone models support them.
Liquid Glass design on the Lock Screen
The new Liquid Glass design language gives the Lock Screen a sleek, translucent glass-like appearance that dynamically reflects and refracts content. This effect is applied systemwide in iOS 26 and is visible on all wallpapers and clock styles.
For users who want the effect to stand out more, there is a new “Glass” clock style in the customization options. This style uses bold, transparent numerals with stronger refraction and color adaptation, making the Liquid Glass effect more prominent.
How to select the Glass clock style:
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Touch and hold the Lock Screen.
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Tap Customize > Lock Screen.
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Tap the clock to open style options.
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Swipe to find and select Glass.
Spatial Scene wallpapers with 3D effect
Spatial Scene wallpapers turn your photos into subtle 3D-like environments that shift as you move your iPhone. Subjects in the image appear to float in and out of the screen, creating a sense of depth without overwhelming the interface.
How to set a Spatial Scene wallpaper:
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Go to Settings > Wallpaper.
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Tap Choose a New Wallpaper and select a photo.
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Toggle on Spatial Scene before applying it.
Compatibility: Requires iPhone 12 or later. This feature will not appear on older models, even if they run iOS 26.
Flexible widget placement
Widgets can now be placed above the clock, not just below it. This allows more flexibility in designing your Lock Screen layout and prioritizing key information.
How to move widgets above the clock:
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Touch and hold the Lock Screen.
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Select Customize > Lock Screen.
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Drag widgets into the top or bottom positions.
Adaptive clock behavior
The clock now dynamically resizes and moves depending on your wallpaper and the presence of notifications. This ensures the layout remains clean and functional in all scenarios.
A more personal Lock Screen experience
With iOS 26, Apple has transformed the Lock Screen into a more customizable, visually dynamic, and practical part of the iPhone experience. Whether you want an immersive wallpaper, better widget placement, or a cleaner clock layout, these features give you the tools to make the Lock Screen truly yours as long as your device supports them.
