With the introduction of the heavily customisable Lock Screen in modern iOS versions, Apple quietly added one of the most visually stunning features to the iPhone: a dynamic, animated Weather wallpaper. Instead of a static image, this wallpaper constantly updates in real-time to reflect the exact weather conditions occurring outside your window.
If it is raining in your location, heavy raindrops will splash across your screen. If there is a thunderstorm, lightning flashes will illuminate your notifications. If it is a clear night, you will see stars. It is beautiful, immersive, and highly practical, but it is somewhat hidden within the wallpaper gallery.
How to Set the Dynamic Weather Wallpaper
You can apply this dynamic background directly from your Lock Screen.
- Wake your iPhone so you are looking at your Lock Screen, but do not swipe up to unlock it completely (ensure the padlock icon at the top unlocks via Face ID).
- Press and hold your finger anywhere on the empty space of the Lock Screen.
- The screen will zoom out into the customisation gallery. Swipe all the way to the right and tap the blue + (Add New) button.
- A menu will slide up showing “Add New Wallpaper”. Look at the row of circular icons at the very top of this menu and tap Weather.
- The dynamic weather wallpaper will instantly load, showing the current conditions.
- Tap Add in the top right corner.
- A pop-up will ask how you want to set it. Tap Set as Wallpaper Pair (this ensures both your Lock Screen and Home Screen display the dynamic weather).
Troubleshooting: Why is the screen just blue?
In order for the dynamic weather wallpaper to function, the Apple Weather app requires constant access to your exact GPS location. If you have disabled location services for the Weather app to save battery, the wallpaper will break and simply display a static, generic blue sky.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on Privacy & Security.
- Tap Location Services at the top.
- Scroll down the list of apps and tap on Weather.
- Under “Allow Location Access”, change the setting to While Using the App or Widgets.
Once location access is granted, the wallpaper will instantly begin animating with your local weather conditions.