What the standby screen is and why you might want to change it

The standby screen on an iPhone is what appears on your lock screen when your phone is sitting idle — the display that shows the time, date, and any notifications. Starting with iOS 17, Apple lets you customize this screen with different clock styles, colors, and background images instead of using the default look. You can have multiple standby screens and swipe between them, or set one to appear automatically at certain times of day.

Changing your standby screen is useful if you want your phone to match your mood or your space, or if you want quick access to information like weather or calendar events without unlocking your phone. It takes a few minutes to set up and you can change it back anytime.

Key Takeaways

  • You need iOS 17 or later to use standby screen customization; check your iOS version in Settings > General > About.
  • The fastest way to create a new standby screen is to long-press your current lock screen, tap the plus icon, and choose a clock style and background.
  • You can add widgets to show weather, calendar, or other information, and set different standby screens to appear at different times of day.
  • Standby screens use more battery power than the default lock screen, so consider turning off the feature if your phone drains quickly.

Check your iOS version first

Standby screen customization only works on iOS 17 and later. To check your version, open Settings, tap General, then tap About. Look for the "Software Version" line — if it says 17.0 or higher, you can proceed. If it says 16 or lower, you will need to update your phone first.

To update, go to Settings > General > Software Update. Your phone will check for available updates and walk you through the installation. This usually takes 10 to 20 minutes and requires a Wi-Fi connection and at least 50 percent battery.

Create a new standby screen from your lock screen

The quickest way to make a standby screen is to start from your lock screen. Press and hold anywhere on your current lock screen until a menu appears at the bottom. Tap the plus icon (it looks like a circle with a plus sign inside). Your phone will show you a list of clock styles to choose from — Gradient, Typographic, Modular, Modular Compact, and others.

Tap the clock style you want. Your phone will then ask you to choose a background. You can pick a solid color, a photo from your library, or one of Apple's built-in images. Tap the image or color you want, then tap "Add" at the bottom right. The new standby screen is now saved and will appear when your phone is idle.

Add widgets to show useful information

Widgets let you see information like the weather, your calendar, or your fitness rings without unlocking your phone. To add a widget to your standby screen, long-press your lock screen again and tap the plus icon. Choose the clock style and background as before, but this time, after you tap "Add," the screen will show your new standby screen with a small plus icon in the corner.

Tap that plus icon to add a widget. Your phone will show you a list of available widgets — Weather, Calendar, Reminders, Fitness, News, and others depending on what apps you have installed. Tap the widget you want, choose its size if options are available, then tap "Add Widget." You can add up to four widgets to a single standby screen.

Set different standby screens for different times

If you want a work-focused standby screen in the morning and a relaxing one in the evening, you can set your phone to switch automatically. Long-press your lock screen, tap the plus icon, and create a new standby screen as usual. After you tap "Add," your phone will ask "Use as Standby." Tap "Schedule" instead of "Always."

Your phone will show you time slots — Morning, Afternoon, Evening, and Night. Tap the time slot you want this standby screen to appear in, then tap "Set." You can create a different standby screen for each time slot. Your phone will switch between them automatically based on the time of day.

Switch between your standby screens

If you have more than one standby screen, you can swipe left or right on your lock screen to move between them. The standby screen you are currently viewing will appear when your phone is idle. If you set standby screens to different times of day, your phone will switch to the correct one automatically — but you can still swipe to see the others anytime.

To delete a standby screen you no longer want, long-press your lock screen, find the screen you want to remove, swipe left on it, and tap the trash icon. You cannot delete your last standby screen, so you will always have at least one.

Turn off standby screen customization if battery drains quickly

Standby screens use more battery power than the standard lock screen because they keep the display more active and refresh widgets regularly. If you notice your phone drains faster than usual, you can turn off the feature. Long-press your lock screen, tap the three dots in the corner, and tap "Customize Lock Screen." Toggle off "Standby" at the bottom of the menu.

Your phone will return to the default lock screen, and your custom standby screens will be saved — you can turn the feature back on anytime without losing them. If you want to keep standby screens but reduce battery drain, try removing widgets or choosing a darker background image.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo from my camera roll as a standby screen background?

Yes. When you choose a background, tap "Photos" at the bottom of the menu, then select any image from your library. Your phone will crop it to fit the screen. You can adjust the crop by pinching and dragging before you tap "Add."

What happens to my standby screens if I update my iPhone?

Your standby screens and their settings are saved to your phone and will stay after an update. If you back up your phone to iCloud, your standby screens will also restore if you set up a new iPhone from that backup.

Can I use standby screens on an older iPhone model?

Standby screen customization requires iOS 17, which works on iPhone XS and later. If you have an older model, you cannot use this feature even if you update the software.

Why does my standby screen look different than my friend's, even though we chose the same clock style?

Different iPhone models have different screen sizes and shapes, so the same clock style may look slightly different on each phone. Also, your background image, widgets, and color choices will make your standby screen unique to you.

Can I set a video or animated GIF as a standby screen background?

No. Standby screens only support still images, solid colors, or Apple's built-in designs. Videos and animated files are not supported.