Lately, I’ve been noticing a lot of fun, creative iPhone lock screens. Different fonts, bold colors, playful photos — clearly people are experimenting more than they used to. A big reason for that is iOS 26. It gave the lock screen more flexibility, which makes it easier and more fun to play around with how your phone looks.
There are plenty of third-party apps out there that take lock screen customization even further, but that’s not what this post is about. Everything you’ll see here uses options already built into the iPhone — no apps to download, no commitment, just a few easy ways to have a little fun and change things back whenever you want.
Playing With Fonts, Colors and Clock Size
One of the easiest ways to change the look of your lock screen in iOS 26 is by playing with the font and color and size of the time. Small changes here can make a big difference, even if you don’t touch anything else.
This is also where the lock screen feels the most flexible. You can try different font styles, experiment with colors, and even adjust the size of the clock to see how it changes the overall balance of the screen — all without changing your photo or widgets.
A larger clock can feel bold and playful, especially with bright colors. A smaller clock can make everything feel calmer and leave more breathing room. Even with the same background image, these small adjustments can give your lock screen a completely different feel.
If you’re just experimenting, try combinations you wouldn’t normally keep:
- A bold font with a bright color
- A softer color with a smaller clock
- A high-contrast look just to see how it feels
Some combinations will work. Others won’t — and that’s okay. This is one of the easiest things to change back.
If nothing else, this is a reminder that your lock screen doesn’t have to stay the same just because it always has.
How to Change Lock Screen Fonts, Colors and Clock in iOS 26
If you’ve never changed your lock screen before, here’s the simple way to try different fonts, colors and resize the clock.
- Lock your iPhone, then press and hold on the lock screen.
- Tap Customize on the lock screen you want to change.
- Tap on the time to use the side handle to resize the clock.
- Tap again to open the font and color options.
- Swipe through the different font styles and colors to preview how they look.
- When you find something you like or want to try, tap Done.
That’s it. Nothing is permanent — you can repeat these steps anytime to change it again or switch back.
Playful Lock Screen Photos
When people think about lock screen photos, they often think they need to pick the perfect picture. But one of the fun things about iOS 26 is that it makes less-than-perfect photos work surprisingly well.
This is where you can stop being serious.
Some ideas that work especially well on the lock screen:
- Close-up pet photos (the closer, the better)
- Cropped or zoomed-in shots that would never work as a wallpaper
- Accidental photos that make you laugh
- Seasonal photos you wouldn’t normally keep long-term
Because the lock screen layout is more flexible now, photos can be cropped in different ways to make the same photo look totally different.
This is also a good place to remind yourself that a lock screen photo doesn’t have to tell a story or look polished. It just has to make you smile when you pick up your phone.
And if you try something and hate it? You can switch it back just as easily.
How to Change Your Lock Screen Photo in iOS 26
If you want to try a different photo — especially something playful or temporary — iOS 26 makes it easy to create a new lock screen without affecting anything else.
- Lock your iPhone, then press and hold on the lock screen.
- Tap the + (Add New) button.
- Choose Photos and select the image you want to use.
- Adjust the crop or position to give it a different look.
- Resize the clock to fit around the photo.
- Tap Add.
- Choose Set as Lock Screen (or pair it with a Home Screen if you want).
You’ll now have a separate lock screen you can switch to anytime by swiping between them.
Creating a new lock screen doesn’t delete your old one. You can keep multiple lock screens and switch back whenever you like.
Widgets for Looks, Not Usefulness
Widgets don’t always have to earn their place by being productive. One of the fun things about iOS 26 lock screens is that widgets can be part of the design, not just there to give you information.
You might already know the weather. You might never tap your calendar widget. And that’s okay.
Some people use widgets simply because they:
- balance the layout
- add symmetry
- fill space nicely
- or just look good with a certain photo
This is a great place to experiment without overthinking it. A widget can be there purely because it looks right — not because you plan to use it.
And if it feels cluttered? You can remove it just as easily.
How to Add or Remove Lock Screen Widgets in iOS 26
If you haven’t played with lock screen widgets before, here’s the simple way to try them.
- Lock your iPhone, then press and hold on the lock screen.
- Tap Customize on the lock screen you want to edit.
- Tap the widget area under the time.
- Choose a widget and add it to see how it looks.
- To remove one, tap the minus (–) button.
- You can also remove or replace the camera and flashlight widgets.
- Tap Done when you’re finished.
You can repeat this as many times as you want — nothing is permanent.
Not every widget has to be useful. If it makes your lock screen feel more “you,” that’s reason enough.
Surprisingly Fun: iOS 26 Lock Screen Presets
Before you start building a lock screen from scratch, it’s worth spending a minute looking through the built-in presets. iOS 26 includes several preset styles that are surprisingly fun — and they’re meant to be customized.
One of my favorites is Kaleidoscope. It subtly shifts and changes every time you look at your phone, which makes your lock screen feel a little different throughout the day without you doing anything at all. It’s one of those options you might scroll past quickly, but once you try it, it’s kind of mesmerizing.
What I like about the presets is that they give you a starting point. You can:
- pick a preset you like
- then change the font
- adjust the colors
- size the clock
- add or remove widgets
So even if you don’t want to design something from scratch, you can still make a preset feel personal.
If you’re just looking to experiment, this is an easy place to start. Try one, live with it for a bit, then tweak it — or move on to something completely different.
Wrapping Up
Lock screen customization in iOS 26 doesn’t have to be practical, productive, or permanent. It’s simply another place where Apple made it easier to experiment — and that’s what makes it fun.
You don’t have to redesign anything, and you don’t have to keep what you try. Change it for a day, a week, or five minutes. If you like it, great. If not, switch it back just as easily.
Sometimes it’s nice to remember that your iPhone doesn’t always have to be about getting things done. It can just be something you enjoy looking at.
Related Reading
If you’re curious about what else changed in iOS 26 — and why things feel a little different overall — you might also like:
- iOS 26: What Changed and Why It Feels So Different
- iOS 26 Moved the Search Bar — and It Actually Makes Sense
If you’ve enjoyed this post, stick around! I share new iPhone guides, tricks, and step-by-step tips every week. Subscribe below and follow me on Facebook and Instagram so you never miss out.
Gail Kerr
IT Professional and Technical WriterTechnology has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have over 28 years of experience providing computer support in large corporations and small businesses. I went back to school in 2009 to get an Associate Certificate in Technical Writing so I could take my love of tech and become proficient at writing clear and easy to understand documents for people of all levels. I’ve become the go to person for family and friends whenever they have tech questions or challenges.
