What Spotlight Image does and why you might want to change it
Spotlight Image is a feature on Apple devices that shows you a full-screen photo when you unlock your phone or tablet, usually pulled from Apple's curated collection or your own photo library. The feature is on by default, and Apple uses it to learn which images you interact with — which ones you swipe past, which ones you tap to see more about, and how long you look at each one.
If you arrived here from the device settings guide, you already know the trade-off: Spotlight Image makes your lock screen visually interesting, but it also means Apple collects data about your visual preferences. Some people are fine with that. Others find it intrusive or straightforward prefer a static image they chose themselves. This section walks you through the actual steps to turn it off or limit what it shows.
Key Takeaways
- Spotlight Image is turned on by default on iPhones and iPads running iOS 16 or later, and it sends interaction data to Apple.
- You can turn off Spotlight Image entirely in Settings > Lock Screen, or keep it but disable the data collection piece.
- If you want a lock screen image without Spotlight, you can set a custom photo or use a static wallpaper instead.
- Disabling Spotlight Image does not affect Spotlight Search, which is the search tool you access by swiping down from the home screen.
How to turn off Spotlight Image on iPhone or iPad
Open Settings on your device. Scroll down and tap Lock Screen. Look for the section labeled Wallpaper or Lock Screen Style — the exact name varies by iOS version.
If you see Spotlight Image listed as an option, tap it. You will see a toggle or switch at the top of the screen. Turn it off. Once you do, your lock screen will revert to whatever static wallpaper you had set before, or to Apple's default if you never chose one.
If you do not see Spotlight Image as an option, your device either does not support it (older iPhones and iPads running iOS 15 or earlier do not have this feature) or it is already disabled.
The difference between turning off Spotlight and limiting what it shows
Apple gives you two separate controls. One turns off Spotlight Image entirely. The other keeps the feature but limits the types of images it shows you and reduces the data it collects about your choices.
To find the second control, go to Settings > Privacy > Apple Advertising. Look for an option called Personalized Ads or Personalized Apple Advertising. Turn it off. This tells Apple not to use your Spotlight Image interactions to build a profile of your visual interests for ad targeting.
Turning off personalized ads does not disable Spotlight Image itself — you will still see photos on your lock screen. But Apple will show you images based on broader categories rather than your individual behavior. The feature still collects some data (Apple needs to know which images you see), but it does not use that data to refine ads shown elsewhere on your device.
Setting a custom lock screen image instead
If you want a lock screen photo but do not want Spotlight's automatic rotation or data collection, you can set a single image of your choice. Go to Settings > Lock Screen > Wallpaper. Tap Add New Wallpaper or the plus icon. Choose Photos from the menu.
Select the photo you want. You can crop it if needed. Tap Add or Set as Lock Screen. The image will now appear every time you unlock your device, and no data about your interaction with it is sent to Apple.
You can also choose from Apple's built-in wallpaper collections — Emoji, Solid Colors, Gradients, or Collections — without enabling Spotlight Image. These are static images that do not change and do not collect interaction data.
Why Apple collects Spotlight Image data and what it is used for
Apple says it uses Spotlight Image interactions to improve the feature — to learn which types of images people find interesting and to show you more of them. The company also uses this data for ad targeting within Apple News, Apple Maps, and the App Store, though it says the data is tied to an advertising identifier rather than your name or account.
If you turn off personalized ads in the Privacy settings, Apple still sees which Spotlight images you interact with, but it does not connect that behavior to your advertising profile. If you turn off Spotlight Image entirely, Apple does not collect this data at all.
What happens to Spotlight Search when you turn off Spotlight Image
Turning off Spotlight Image does not affect Spotlight Search, which is the search tool you use to find apps, contacts, and information on your device. Spotlight Search is accessed by swiping down from the top of your home screen or lock screen, and it remains fully functional whether or not Spotlight Image is enabled.
These are two separate features with similar names. Disabling one does not disable the other. If you want to control what Spotlight Search shows you, that is a different set of settings found under Settings > Siri & Search.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off Spotlight Image save battery life?
Not significantly. Spotlight Image uses very little power — the main cost is the data sent to Apple's servers when you interact with it. If battery life is your concern, disabling location services or reducing screen brightness will have a much larger effect than turning off Spotlight Image.
Can I turn off Spotlight Image on just my lock screen but keep it on my home screen?
No. Spotlight Image is a lock screen feature only. If you turn it off, it disappears from your lock screen. Your home screen wallpaper is controlled separately in Settings > Wallpaper and is not affected by Spotlight Image settings.
Will I lose my photos if I turn off Spotlight Image?
No. Turning off Spotlight Image does not delete any photos from your device or your iCloud library. It only stops the feature from displaying images on your lock screen and stops Apple from collecting data about which images you interact with.
What if I change my mind and want Spotlight Image back?
Go back to Settings > Lock Screen > Wallpaper and select Spotlight Image from the available options. You can turn it back on at any time. If you had turned off personalized ads, you can re-enable that separately in Settings > Privacy > Apple Advertising.