Introduction
iOS 26 arrived on September 15, 2025 with a refreshed design language called Liquid Glass that reaches the Lock Screen, Home Screen, and system controls. On the Lock Screen specifically, the time can adapt around your photo subject, music artwork animates with the glass, and new spatial effects add depth — all while keeping readability in focus.
What’s new on the Lock Screen in iOS 26
- Adaptive Time: the clock dynamically adapts to your photo and notifications so your subject stays in view.
- Spatial scenes: certain photos gain a subtle 3D effect that responds as you move your iPhone.
- Animated album art: Now Playing shows immersive artwork that interacts with the glass of the playback controls.
Compatibility
iOS 26 is available for iPhone 11 and newer (including iPhone SE 2nd generation and later). Update via Settings → General → Software Update.
Set a Wallpaper from Settings
- Open Settings and tap Wallpaper.
- Tap Add New Wallpaper or select an existing pair to edit.
- Choose a category such as Photos, Featured, or Collections.
- Pinch to zoom and drag to position. Use options to adjust depth and style where available.
- Tap Add, then choose Set as Wallpaper Pair or customize Lock and Home individually.
Set a Wallpaper from the Lock Screen
- Wake your iPhone and press-and-hold on the lock screen.
- Tap + to add a new wallpaper or Customize to edit the current one.
- Pick a source (Photos, Featured, Collections) and select your image or style.
- Adjust crop, color, and depth as desired, then tap Done.
About the Liquid Glass Design in iOS 26
Liquid Glass combines the optical qualities of glass with a sense of fluidity. It reflects and refracts what’s underneath in real time and dynamically transforms to bring greater focus to your content. Across the system, it appears in buttons, sliders, and tabs — and on the Lock Screen the time is crafted out of Liquid Glass so it can nestle elegantly behind your photo subject.
Try Liquid Glass on your iPhone
- From the Lock Screen, long‑press, tap +, and open Collections.
- Select a Liquid Glass wallpaper and pick a colorway that complements your widgets and time font.
- Use available style controls to fine‑tune contrast and vibrancy, then tap Done.
Design tips
- Prefer images with a clear subject so Adaptive Time can frame it without obscuring key details.
- Test widget and clock readability against busy textures; consider darker tones for OLED battery savings.
- For a cohesive look, match your wallpaper hues with Liquid Glass tints on app icons and widgets.
What Apple is trying to do with Liquid Glass
- Unify design across platforms: the same material language now spans iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
- Prioritize your content: Liquid Glass controls morph and recede so photos, text, and video stay front and center; Adaptive Time keeps the subject of your wallpaper in view.
- Make interfaces feel alive: real‑time rendering with specular highlights that subtly react to motion and context.
- Give developers a path: updated APIs and icon tooling help apps adopt Liquid Glass for a consistent, accessible feel.
Learn more on Apple’s site: New software design with Liquid Glass.
Tips for a Great Result
- Prefer high-resolution images with a clear focal point.
- Test visibility of the clock and widgets against the background.
- Try darker tones for OLED battery savings and improved readability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set different wallpapers for Lock and Home?
Yes. After choosing a wallpaper, select Customize Home Screen to pick a different image, color, or blur.
Where can I find Liquid Glass wallpapers?
Explore the Liquid Glass–optimised packs inside the ON Lock Screen iPhone app.
Which iPhones support iOS 26?
iPhone 11 and newer models (including iPhone SE 2nd generation and later) can install iOS 26.