Apple launched the fifth public beta of iOS 26 on Aug. 25. The beta introduced a handful of latest options, like the flexibility to display screen incoming calls and a brand new Liquid Glass design, to the iPhones of builders and beta testers. The replace additionally helps you to customise your lock display screen in additional methods than you could possibly with iOS 18.
When Apple launched iOS 18, that replace allow you to take away and alter the controls in your lock display screen. This was nice in case you discovered your self by chance urgent your flashlight management when placing your telephone again in your pocket. And with the iOS 26 beta, you possibly can transfer your lock display screen widgets, improve the dimensions of your clock and provides your lock display screen wallpaper a 3D spatial impact.
This is the right way to deliver these modifications to your lock display screen and what to find out about every.
Do not forget, Apple continues to be beta testing iOS 26. Which means the replace could be buggy for you and your machine’s battery life could also be affected so it is best to maintain these troubles off your main machine. If you wish to check out the beta, I like to recommend downloading it on a secondary machine.
It is also potential that Apple might regulate these lock display screen choices, and different replace options, earlier than the ultimate model of iOS 26 is launched this fall.
Do not miss any of our unbiased tech content material and lab-based evaluations. Add CNET as a most well-liked Google supply.
Change the dimensions of your lock display screen’s clock
The largest change iOS 26 brings to your lock display screen is the flexibility to alter the dimensions of your clock. The expanded clock takes up a few third of my iPhone 16 Professional’s display screen at most, which I really like as a result of if I place my telephone on a desk I can simply see the time, even with out my glasses. However it’s important to allow the larger clock.
This is the right way to increase the clock in your lock display screen.
1. Faucet Settings.
2. Faucet Wallpaper.
3. Faucet Customise underneath the lock display screen you need to regulate.
Your iPhone will present you that lock display screen and all of the adjustable components will probably be outlined. Your clock has a thicker tab within the backside proper nook of its define. Faucet and drag this all the way down to increase your clock to your required measurement.
Then, you possibly can faucet the clock and select whether or not you need the clock to have a Glass or Stable design, and you’ll regulate the colour and thickness of the clock, too. However, after altering the dimensions of the clock, you possibly can’t change the font. Solely the far left clock font will be expanded for now, however perhaps Apple will increase this to different fonts in a future iOS replace.
Your lock display screen’s widget dock can have a brand new house
One other change iOS 26 brings to your lock display screen is the flexibility to maneuver the lock display screen’s widget dock. The replace helps you to place the dock close to the underside of your lock display screen proper above your controls.
To maneuver your lock display screen’s widget dock, go to Settings > Wallpaper and faucet Customise underneath the lock display screen you need to regulate. Then, faucet and drag the widget dock to the underside of your lock display screen.
When you increase your lock display screen’s clock, your widget dock will robotically be positioned close to the underside of the display screen and you’ll’t place it wherever else in your display screen.
Spatial results come to wallpapers
Your lock display screen’s wallpaper additionally will get a enjoyable, 3D impact that Apple calls a spatial scene. When enabled, spatial scenes add depth to components in your wallpaper — and footage — making them appear as if they’re coming out at you. As you progress your iPhone round you, these components will transfer, too.
To show your lock display screen wallpaper right into a spatial scene, go to Settings > Wallpaper and faucet Customise underneath the lock display screen you need to work with. Faucet the hexagon close to the underside proper facet of your display screen, and your iPhone will make the wallpaper a spatial scene.
It is vital to notice spatial scenes solely work with photographs and never the wallpapers Apple supplies, like these underneath the Climate and Emoji collections.
Controls get some colour
A reasonably small change iOS 26 brings to your lock display screen is it modifications the colour of the controls close to the underside of your display screen. This transformation is enabled robotically in iOS 26 so that you simply have so as to add a colourful management, or create your personal, to deliver a pop of colour to your lock display screen.
Make your lock display screen your personal
Apple has slowly loosened its grip in your iPhone’s lock display screen, providing you with extra freedom to customise its look and the way you employ it over time. And iOS 26 isn’t any completely different.
Having the ability to increase your clock, transfer the widget dock to multiple place and with the ability to give your wallpaper a 3D impact are only a few methods iOS 26 helps you to create your personal expertise in your iPhone. These options could possibly be improved upon — like providing you with extra freedom in the place you possibly can place your widget dock — however I anticipate Apple to maintain including methods you possibly can customise your iPhone’s lock display screen sooner or later.
For extra iOS information, listed below are my first impressions of the beta model of iOS 26, the right way to allow name screening within the beta and all of the new options Apple stated it would deliver to your machine later this 12 months. You may get an early view of the upcoming iPhone options with our iOS 26 cheat sheet.
Watch this: Apple Will Reveal the iPhone 17 Quickly. This is What We Need
