How to Customise iPhone Lock Screen Widgets

Your iPhone’s Lock Screen is a powerful information hub that can display far more than just the time and date. Since iOS 16, Apple has allowed users to add small, glanceable Lock Screen Widgets that display live data from your favourite apps without requiring you to unlock your phone or open any application.

You can customise your Lock Screen with widgets that show the current weather forecast, your next calendar appointment, your daily activity ring progress, battery levels, or live sports scores, turning your Lock Screen into a personalised dashboard.

How to Enter Lock Screen Customisation Mode

1. Wake your iPhone by tapping the screen or pressing the Side button. Do not unlock it; stay on the Lock Screen.
2. Press and hold your finger anywhere on the Lock Screen wallpaper for approximately two seconds.
3. If prompted, authenticate with Face ID or your passcode.
4. The Lock Screen will shrink slightly, entering the customisation gallery. You will see a Customise button at the bottom of the screen.
5. Tap Customise.
6. If asked, select Lock Screen (as opposed to Home Screen).

How to Add Widgets Below the Clock

The main widget area is a rectangular strip directly below the large clock display.

1. While in customisation mode, tap the widget area below the clock. A widget picker panel will slide up from the bottom of the screen.
2. Browse the available widgets by scrolling through the list. Widgets are organised by app (Weather, Calendar, Fitness, Reminders, etc.).
3. Tap on a widget to add it to the strip. You can add multiple small widgets or a combination of sizes.
4. To remove a widget, tap the small minus (-) button that appears on its top-left corner.
5. To rearrange widgets, press and drag them left or right within the strip.

How to Add Widgets Above the Clock

There is a smaller, secondary widget slot located directly above the clock, next to the day and date. By default, this displays the day of the week and the date.

1. While in customisation mode, tap on the date line above the clock.
2. A smaller widget picker will appear, showing single-line widget options.
3. Select a widget (for example, a weather condition icon, your next calendar event title, or your activity ring).

This compact widget will now appear in-line with the date at the top of your Lock Screen.

How to Save and Switch Lock Screens

Once you are happy with your widget selection:

1. Tap Done in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Tap Set as Wallpaper Pair (or “Customise Home Screen” if you want a different home screen wallpaper).

You can create multiple customised Lock Screens with different widget layouts. To switch between them at any time, simply press and hold the Lock Screen and swipe left or right to select a different configuration. This allows you to create a “Work” Lock Screen with calendar and email widgets and a “Weekend” Lock Screen with weather and fitness widgets.