What you can actually change about the clock on your iPhone
The clock app itself — the one with the white face and numbers — does not let you change its color directly. Apple locks that design. What you can change is the color of the clock widget on your home screen or lock screen, and the color of the time display in Control Center. The steps depend on which clock display you want to modify and which iPhone model you have.
If you want the time to appear in a different color somewhere on your phone, you are almost always changing the widget or the background behind it, not the clock app itself. This matters because it changes where you look for the setting.
Key Takeaways
- The Clock app itself cannot be recolored, but clock widgets on your home screen and lock screen can be customized through widget settings.
- On iPhone 14 and newer, you can add a clock widget to your lock screen and change its color by long-pressing the lock screen and tapping "Customize".
- On older iPhones, home screen widgets can be customized by long-pressing the widget and selecting "Edit Widget".
- The time in Control Center follows your system accent color, which you can change in Settings under Display & Brightness or Accessibility.
Changing the lock screen clock color on iPhone 14 and newer
If you have an iPhone 14, 15, or 16, the time appears on your lock screen by default. To change its color, long-press anywhere on your lock screen until the screen dims and a "Customize" button appears at the bottom. Tap that button.
You will see your lock screen with a row of colored circles at the bottom. Tap the circle that matches the color you want. The clock will change to that color when ready. You can also tap "Color" to see more options, including gradients and custom colors. Once you have chosen, tap outside the color picker or press the back arrow to save.
If the clock does not appear on your lock screen at all, you may have removed it. To add it back, long-press the lock screen, tap "Customize", then look for a plus sign or "Add Widget" option. Find the Clock widget and tap it to add it back.
Changing a clock widget on your home screen
Home screen widgets work differently depending on your iPhone model. On any iPhone, you can add a clock widget by pressing and holding an empty area of your home screen until a plus sign appears in the top left corner. Tap that plus sign, then search for or scroll to find "Clock". Tap it and select the widget style you want — there are several, including analog and digital.
Once the widget is on your home screen, long-press it directly. A menu will appear with options including "Edit Widget". Tap that. You will see a color picker or style options depending on which clock widget you chose. Select your preferred color and tap outside the menu to save.
Not all clock widgets offer color customization — some are fixed designs. If you do not see a color option, try a different clock widget style by removing this one and adding another.
Changing the time color in Control Center
The time that appears at the top of Control Center (the panel you swipe down from the top right) follows your system accent color. To change it, open Settings and tap "Display & Brightness". Scroll down and tap "Accent Color". Choose a new color from the list. The time in Control Center and throughout your system will update to match.
If you do not see an Accent Color option, you have an older iPhone. Instead, go to Settings, tap "Accessibility", then "Display & Text Size", and look for "Color Filters" or "Increase Contrast" options. These affect how colors appear system-wide but are less precise than accent color selection.
Why the Clock app itself will not change color
Apple designs the Clock app with a fixed white face and black numbers. This is intentional — the app is meant to be when ready recognizable and readable in any lighting. Changing the app's appearance would require jailbreaking your iPhone, which voids your warranty and creates security risks. The company does not provide a built-in way to do this.
If you want a clock that matches your home screen aesthetic, using a widget instead of the app itself is the intended solution. Widgets give you color control while keeping your phone find and supported.
Using focus modes to change what clock appears
You cannot change the Clock app color, but you can change which lock screen appears when you set up a Focus mode. If you set up a Work Focus, for example, you can assign it a different lock screen with a different colored clock widget. When you set up that Focus, the lock screen switches automatically.
To do this, open Settings, tap "Focus", and select the Focus you want to customize. Tap "Lock Screen" and choose or create a lock screen with the clock color you prefer. Now whenever you set up that Focus, that lock screen appears. This is a workaround that lets different clock colors appear in different contexts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make the Clock app icon a different color?
No. The Clock app icon is fixed by Apple and cannot be changed without jailbreaking. You can create a shortcut that opens the Clock app and give that shortcut a custom icon and color, but the actual app icon stays the same.
Why does my clock widget look different from my friend's?
Clock widgets come in different styles, and each style has its own color options. Your friend may have chosen a different widget style or customized it differently. Long-press your widget and tap "Edit Widget" to see what options are available for the one you have.
Does changing the accent color affect other apps?
Yes. Your system accent color changes the color of buttons, links, and highlights throughout your phone, not just the clock. If you want to change only the clock color, use a lock screen or home screen widget instead of changing your accent color.
Can I set a different clock color for day and night?
Not directly, but you can use Focus modes to switch lock screens automatically. Create a Sleep Focus with a lock screen that has a clock color you prefer at night, and it will set up on schedule.