iOS 26 public beta: This is your new iPhone lock screen

Now that the iOS 26 public beta has finally launched ahead of the general release in the fall, Apple has made some interesting changes and feature additions, including to the iPhone lock screen, which users can access if they download this version.

Indeed, gaining access to the iOS 26 public beta is possible through your iPhone’s settings, specifically in the General menu, and then the Software Update option, where you select Beta Updates and pick out the ‘iOS 26 Public Beta’ from the checklist, per a report published by MacRumors on July 25.

New iPhone lock screen

As opposed to iOS 18, where the row of widgets on your lock screen is locked into place directly below the clock, iOS 26 features the ‘Customize’ mode that allows users to drag them down to the bottom of the screen, where they can hover just above the two quick actions (if you have them). All you need to do is long-press on your lock screen and tap ‘Customize.’

Another innovation in iOS 26 is the ability to expand the clock on the lock screen to fill more of the display, which you can also experience through ‘Customize’ mode thanks to a new drag handle on the bottom-right corner of the selection frame surrounding the clock. Doing this will allow you to make the digits take up half of the screen, although any widgets will slide down.

Additionally, the lock screen now has a changed Photos selection button in ‘Customize’ mode that appears as a thumbnail of the currently displayed photo, and tapping it lets you ‘Show Photo in Library,’ making it easier to find the picture, or you can simply stick to the existing method and just tap ‘Choose Photo’ to pick another image.

Other features

And that’s not all. The Photos app carries over Apple’s Vision Pro ability to convert 2D images into a 3D Spatial Scene (albeit not for all photos), and makes an interesting view as the image animates upon moving the device. The feature relies on machine learning rather than Apple Intelligence, so it’s available on iPhone 12 and newer devices.

Finally, iOS 26 brings about full-screen animated album art on the iPhone lock screen for select Apple Music tracks, and tapping the album art in the lock screen music player expands and animates the artwork, which is the first time for this existing feature to appear on the lock screen.

Elsewhere, the long-expected iOS 26 public beta launch has arrived following the early release for developers and after an anonymous leaker with a proven track record for genuine information shared multiple build numbers for the fourth developer betas of iOS 26 and more, hinting at an imminent launch.