Make lock screen time digits smaller in ios 26

You can enlarge them. You can make them more narrow. You can't make them smaller.

The options are as follows:

Tap your iPhone to open the lock screen and press on the lock screen.

Tap Customize, then tap the box which appears around the time.

You can drag that box from the bottom right hand corner to make the numbers bigger.

You can use the slider below to make them narrower.

But you can't make them take up less space on the lock screen.

Do note, the clock size change requires you to make a new custom lock screen.

It does not work on existing lock screens you may have, as the handle on the clock does not appear on those.

With that said, as lobster ghost mentioned the clock cannot be made smaller than the base size.

Phil0124 wrote:

Do note, the clock size change requires you to make a new custom lock screen.

It does not work on existing lock screens you may have, as the handle on the clock does not appear on those.

With that said, as lobster ghost mentioned the clock cannot be made smaller than the base size.

FWIW My wifes lock screen clock worked straight away on existing wallpaper. You simply need to use the left most font of the available set.

Changing from the font on the left to the next font over changed the time font on my lock screen to the smaller size that I had before I upgraded to iOS 26. Now the time font on my phone no longer covers the faces in my lock screen pictures. I am able to do this on the same lock screen (with photos on shuffle) that I had before I updated. So it is incorrect that you have to make a new lock screen. I'm using the same lock screen that I was using before the update. And I can see the adjustment handles on the font size and color on my pre-existing lock screen images.

Try using one of the fonts other than the leftmost font and it will default the time to smallest size.

Only the leftmost font is adjustable!

lobsterghost1 wrote:

LD150 wrote:

Phil0124 wrote:

Do note, the clock size change requires you to make a new custom lock screen.

It does not work on existing lock screens you may have, as the handle on the clock does not appear on those.

With that said, as lobster ghost mentioned the clock cannot be made smaller than the base size.

FWIW My wifes lock screen clock worked straight away on existing wallpaper. You simply need to use the left most font of the available set.

I had not issue adjusting my existing wallpaper either.

I get no handle on existing wallpapers:

New ones will offer the handle.

[Edited by Moderator]

It's the font. The font on the left gives the enlarged font size for the time on the lockscreen. I tried a different font and I was able to use my old lock screen images and I can adjust font size and color. I did not have to make a new lock screen. (I thought I did at first, but a little investigation showed me that wasn't the case.)

I'm seeing the font size and color controller (the drag thing) on all the fonts on my phone when I go to customize the wallpaper.

LD150 wrote:

Phil0124 wrote:

Do note, the clock size change requires you to make a new custom lock screen.

It does not work on existing lock screens you may have, as the handle on the clock does not appear on those.

With that said, as lobster ghost mentioned the clock cannot be made smaller than the base size.

FWIW My wifes lock screen clock worked straight away on existing wallpaper. You simply need to use the left most font of the available set.

I had not issue adjusting my existing wallpaper either.

I IOS26. If you hold your finger on the time widget you should see a small kidney shape in the lower right corner. Touch it and hold your finger on it and drag to the size you want. I did have to create a new lock screen.

“New ones will offer the handle.”

So did my wife’s old one, it must be the photo you used or the widgets position, or something like that. I don’t think it is a general rule that the wallpaper must be fresh.

darlet11 wrote:

How do I make the numbers on the time disappear entirely. On the cover

That is not currently an option. You must have time showing. The date can be swapped for another widget.

You could find a wallpaper color the same color as the digits I guess.

I updated to IOS26 so that I could connect my new watch. I have repeatedly changed the size of the time on the lock screen. I find the handle, change the size and save. Sometimes it lasts for an hour before it reverts to the big size (that I hate), or sometimes it lasts for a day or two. Frustrating. This needs a fix.

MacMom wrote:

It's the font. The font on the left gives the enlarged font size for the time on the lockscreen. I tried a different font and I was able to use my old lock screen images and I can adjust font size and color. I did not have to make a new lock screen. (I thought I did at first, but a little investigation showed me that wasn't the case.)

Pretty sure that's what I said depending on which post you are responding to.

Always quote the post you are answering. Like I just did.