iOS 16: How to Make Your iPhone Switch Lock Screens Based on Time or Location

The ability to link a custom Lock Screen to a specific Focus mode is one of the improvements that has been introduced in the new version of the software. Lock Screens can now be tailored to better reflect your focus thanks to the wealth of personalization options.

One of the great things aboutiOS 16 is that you can make the Lock Screens more functional and informative, and then switch to your preferred one when you need to. When you're at the office, you might have a Lock Screen with a work focused Widget and a family photo. In the evening when you're winding down before bed, you might prefer a minimal Lock Screen with fewer features.

If you link a Lock Screen to a Focus mode, you can make the switch to your custom Lock Screen at any time you want. You can link Lock Screens to existing Focus modes by tapping the Focus button that appears in the Lock Screen gallery, which is accessed from your phone's currently active Lock Screen.

You can create a new focus mode by selecting a lock screen in the settings. Here's how it works in the upcoming version of Apple's mobile operating system.

Creating a Scheduled Focus With a Custom Lock Screen

In this example, we've already created a Lock Screen that we want to use when the work day is done, and now we're going to create a focus mode to link it to by following the steps below.

1. On iPhone, go to Settings -> Focus, and tap the + icon in the top-right corner of the screen to create a new Focus.
2. Tap Custom in the next screen, proceed to give your Focus a name and related icon, then tap Next.

   

3. Set any notification silence options for people and apps when your Focus is active, then under "Customize Screens," choose the Lock Screen option.
4. Create a New Lock Screen from the gallery, or Choose From Existing Lock Screens.
5. With your Lock Screen linked, tap Add Automation under "Turn on Automatically."

   

6. In the New Automation screen, select Time.
7. Toggle on Schedule and choose the time that you want your Focus to become active and on which days of the week.

   

Your Lock Screen will become active at the same time as your new focus mode is scheduled.

In order to give Apple time to address any bugs, and to allow developers to prepare their apps, the current version of the operating system is currently undergoing a series of tests. There will be a public release in the fall.