The fastest way to change your Mac lock screen
Open System Settings, go to Lock Screen, and choose a new wallpaper or photo from the options shown. You can also drag a photo from your computer directly into the preview area. The change takes effect immediately — the next time your Mac locks, you'll see the new background.
If you want more control over what appears on your lock screen (like the time format, notifications, or widgets), those settings are in the same Lock Screen panel. You don't need to restart your Mac or log out; everything updates as soon you close the settings window.
Key Takeaways
- System Settings > Lock Screen is where you change the wallpaper, and the change appears the next time your Mac locks.
- You can use Apple's built-in wallpapers, photos from your library, or drag any image file directly onto the preview to set it as your lock screen.
- The same Lock Screen panel controls what shows on your lock screen — the time, date, notifications, and whether widgets appear.
- Lock screen changes are separate from your desktop wallpaper, so you can have different images for each.
Opening System Settings and finding Lock Screen
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. On the left sidebar, scroll down and click Lock Screen. You'll see a preview of your current lock screen in the center of the window, with options below it.
If you don't see Lock Screen in the sidebar, make sure you're in System Settings and not System Preferences (older Macs use Preferences instead). On newer Macs running macOS Ventura or later, Lock Screen is a separate panel. On older versions, lock screen options may be under Desktop & Screen Saver or Security & Privacy.
Choosing a wallpaper from Apple's collection
Below the preview, you'll see a row of thumbnail images. These are Apple's built-in wallpapers organized by category — Dynamic, Still, Landscapes, Solid Colors, and others depending on your macOS version. Click any thumbnail to see a larger preview, then click it again to set it as your lock screen.
Dynamic wallpapers change throughout the day to match the time of day. Still wallpapers stay the same. If you want a simple, clean look, Solid Colors offers plain backgrounds in various shades. Each category has multiple options, so you can browse through them without leaving System Settings.
Using your own photos as a lock screen
To use a photo from your computer, click the plus (+) button or "Add" option in the Lock Screen panel (the exact label varies by macOS version). A file browser opens where you can navigate to any folder and select an image. Common formats like JPG, PNG, and HEIC all work.
Alternatively, you can drag a photo directly from Finder or Photos into the preview area at the top of the Lock Screen panel. Drop it onto the preview and it becomes your lock screen immediately. This method is faster if you already know which photo you want.
Once you've added a photo, you can adjust how it appears — some versions of macOS let you choose whether the image fills the screen or fits within it, and whether text (time, date, notifications) appears over the image or in a separate area.
Controlling what else shows on your lock screen
Below the wallpaper options, you'll find toggles and menus for lock screen content. These let you decide whether the date and time appear, which widgets show up (like weather or calendar), and whether notifications display on the lock screen itself.
Click "Customize" or look for individual toggles to turn widgets on or off. You can add up to four widgets to your lock screen — these are small, at-a-glance displays of information like the weather, your next calendar event, or battery levels of your devices. Click the plus button next to "Widgets" to add them, or drag existing widgets to reorder them.
These settings don't affect your desktop wallpaper or what appears when you're logged in — they only control what you see when your Mac is locked.
Syncing lock screen across your Apple devices
If you use multiple Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac), you can sync your lock screen wallpaper across them through iCloud. This happens automatically if you're signed into the same Apple ID on all devices and have iCloud Keychain enabled in System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
When you change your lock screen on one device, the wallpaper syncs to your other devices within a few minutes. However, the layout and widgets may differ slightly because each device has different screen sizes and capabilities. You can always override the synced wallpaper on any device by choosing a different one locally.
Troubleshooting lock screen changes that don't appear
If you've changed your lock screen but don't see the new wallpaper when your Mac locks, try locking your Mac manually to confirm the change took effect. Press Control + Command + Q to lock your Mac immediately, or go to the Apple menu and select Lock Screen.
If the old wallpaper still appears, close System Settings completely and reopen it, then try selecting a different wallpaper. On rare occasions, restarting your Mac clears a stuck lock screen image. If you're using a photo you just added, make sure the file hasn't been moved or deleted from its original location — if the file is no longer there, your Mac may revert to the previous wallpaper.
Lock screen versus desktop wallpaper
Your Mac has two separate backgrounds: the lock screen (what you see when your Mac is locked) and the desktop wallpaper (what you see after you log in). Changing one does not change the other. This means you can have a professional photo on your lock screen and a different image on your desktop, or vice versa.
If you want the same image on both, you'll need to set it in two places. Go to System Settings > Wallpaper to change your desktop background, and System Settings > Lock Screen to change your lock screen. Both panels work the same way — you can choose from Apple's collection or add your own photos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a video or animated image as my lock screen?
No, lock screens only support still images or Apple's built-in dynamic wallpapers. If you want animation, choose one of Apple's Dynamic wallpapers, which shift throughout the day. Custom videos or GIFs won't work as lock screen backgrounds.
Will my lock screen wallpaper change if I update macOS?
No, your chosen wallpaper stays the same after a macOS update. However, if you were using an older version of macOS and upgrade to a much newer one, the Lock Screen panel may look different and offer new options, but your current wallpaper won't be removed.
How do I remove widgets from my lock screen?
Open System Settings > Lock Screen, find the Widgets section, and click the minus (−) button next to any widget you want to remove. You can also click "Customize" and toggle widgets off individually. Your lock screen will update immediately.
Can I set different lock screens for different user accounts on the same Mac?
Yes, each user account has its own lock screen settings. When you switch users or log out, each account displays its own chosen wallpaper and widgets. Changes you make in System Settings only affect the account you're currently logged into.
What image formats work for custom lock screen photos?
JPG, PNG, HEIC, and TIFF files all work. Most photos from your Mac's Photos library or camera are already in one of these formats. If you have an image in a different format, you can convert it using Preview or a free online tool before adding it to your lock screen.