iPhone 7 Lock Screen: How to Change It
To change the lock screen on an iPhone 7, you replace the wallpaper through Settings, and you can also customize what appears on it (like notifications, camera access, and flashlight). This guide walks you through every method, from setting a new photo to troubleshooting common lock screen issues.
What the iPhone 7 Lock Screen Can and Can’t Do
The lock screen on the iPhone 7 shows the time, date, notifications, and your chosen wallpaper. You can swipe left for the camera, swipe right for widgets (if enabled), and press the home button to unlock with Touch ID. Unlike newer iPhones, the iPhone 7 does not support always-on display, custom lock screen widgets, or changing the clock font—those features arrived with iOS 16 on later models. What you can change: the wallpaper, notification settings, and which shortcuts appear (camera and flashlight on the lock screen).
How to Change the Lock Screen Wallpaper (iOS 10–15)
The iPhone 7 runs iOS 10 through iOS 15. The steps are slightly different depending on your version, but the core process is the same.
- Open Settings > Wallpaper.
- Tap Choose a New Wallpaper.
- Select a category: Dynamic, Stills, or Live (if you have a Live Photo). You can also tap Photos to pick your own image.
- Adjust the image by pinching to zoom or dragging to reposition.
- Tap Set and choose Set Lock Screen, Set Home Screen, or Set Both.
On iOS 15, you can also long-press the lock screen to enter the customization mode, but that feature is only available on iPhone 8 and later. On the iPhone 7, you must use Settings.
Using a Live Photo as Your Lock Screen
The iPhone 7 supports Live Photos—short video-like images that animate when you press and hold the screen. To set one as your lock screen wallpaper:
- Go to Settings > Wallpaper > Choose a New Wallpaper.
- Tap Live or select a Live Photo from your Photos album (look for the LIVE badge).
- After setting it, press and hold the lock screen to see the animation.
Note: Live Photos only animate on the lock screen, not the home screen. Also, they consume more battery.
How to Change Lock Screen Notifications and Shortcuts
You can control what appears on the lock screen without changing the wallpaper.
- Notifications: Go to Settings > Notifications, select an app, and choose Lock Screen (show/hide). You can also set notification grouping and alert styles.
- Camera Shortcut: Swipe left on the lock screen to open the camera. This cannot be disabled, but you can prevent camera access from the lock screen by going to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps and turning off Camera.
- Flashlight: The flashlight toggle on the lock screen (introduced in iOS 11) can be disabled by going to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls and removing Flashlight. However, this also removes it from the Control Center.
- Widgets (iOS 14–15): Swipe right on the lock screen to see the Today View. You can edit it by scrolling to the bottom and tapping Edit.
Common Problems and Fixes
Here are typical lock screen issues and how to resolve them:
- Wallpaper won’t change: Restart your iPhone (press and hold the power and home buttons until the Apple logo appears). If that fails, reset all settings (Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings). This does not delete your data.
- Live Photo not animating: Ensure you are pressing and holding firmly on the lock screen, not just tapping. Also, check that the photo is actually a Live Photo (it will have a LIVE badge in Photos).
- Notifications not showing on lock screen: Go to Settings > Notifications and verify that “Lock Screen� is enabled for the specific app.
- Lock screen appears dim or black: This may be due to auto-brightness or a faulty proximity sensor. Try disabling auto-brightness in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.
Why Your Lock Screen Looks Different After an Update
If you updated your iPhone 7 to iOS 15, you may notice that the lock screen clock is now larger and the notification previews are hidden by default. This is a system change, not a bug. You can restore some previous behavior by going to Settings > Notifications > Show Previews and selecting “Always� to see notification content on the lock screen.
Alternatives to the Stock Lock Screen
If you want more customization, you can use third-party apps that create custom lock screen wallpapers or add widgets. However, these apps cannot replace the actual lock screen interface—they only generate images you can set as wallpaper. Some popular types include:
- Wallpaper apps (e.g., Vellum, Unsplash) that provide high-resolution images.
- Photo editing apps (e.g., Canva, PicsArt) to create custom designs.
- Shortcuts app (iOS 12+) to automate a wallpaper change based on time or location, though this requires unlocking the phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove the flashlight from the lock screen on iPhone 7?
Yes, but only by disabling the Control Center flashlight toggle. Go to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls and tap the minus icon next to Flashlight. This will remove it from both the lock screen and Control Center.
Why can’t I set a Live Photo as my wallpaper?
Make sure the photo is a Live Photo (check for the LIVE badge in Photos). If it is, but it still won’t set, try restarting your iPhone or resetting all settings. Also, ensure you are selecting it from the “Liveâ€� album or the Photos tab in the wallpaper picker.
How do I change the lock screen clock style?
On the iPhone 7, you cannot change the clock font or color. This feature is only available on iPhone X and later with iOS 16 or newer. The only way to alter the clock appearance is to change the wallpaper, which may affect contrast.
Does changing the wallpaper affect battery life?
Live Photos and dynamic wallpapers use more battery than static images because they animate. If battery life is a concern, use a still image. Also, dark wallpapers can help on OLED screens, but the iPhone 7 has an LCD, so there is no battery benefit from dark colors.
Can I set a different wallpaper for the lock screen and home screen?
Yes. When you set a wallpaper, choose “Set Lock Screen� or “Set Home Screen� instead of “Set Both.� You can also go back and set a different one for the other screen later.
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