New Lock Screen Features in iOS 26: What You Need to Know – MacRumors

When your iPhone is idle, the Lock Screen is often the first thing you see. With the introduction of iOS 26, the Lock Screen has undergone a significant Liquid Glass redesign along with several new features that enhance its visual appeal.

One prominent change is the Liquid Glass theme applied throughout the Lock Screen. This feature is evident in the two customizable control buttons, which now have a larger, floating appearance reminiscent of glass.

The clock also sports a frosted glass look, and users can choose among various clock fonts, applying a colored tint to achieve a personalized glass effect. When tilting the device, light reflects off the clock, creating a lifelike shimmering appearance.

Notifications on the Lock Screen now incorporate this Liquid Glass aesthetic as well, alongside a frosted look that allows the wallpaper to remain visible behind them. Moreover, the time can be resized adaptively, where you can drag it to better match the background, especially with standard Arabic numerals.

The new default wallpaper for iOS 26 showcases multiple shades of blue, enhancing the floating glass effect. Subtle movements of the wallpaper as you shift your iPhone add depth to the experience.

Additionally, the wallpaper selection icons have been updated to align with the Liquid Glass theme. Another significant addition is the Spatial Scenes feature, allowing 2D photographs to transform into 3D images by separating subjects from their backgrounds using depth information.

This feature creates a dynamic feel to the images as they respond to your device’s movements. The widget placement on the Lock Screen has also been improved, allowing them to be positioned at both the top and bottom of the display, ensuring that important subjects in your images remain visible.

Apple Music users will also benefit from a new Lock Screen widget for music search, along with an expanded full-screen Now Playing interface displaying album art dynamically. Overall, iOS 26 offers a fresh and engaging experience on the Lock Screen, blending aesthetics with functionality.