Make lock screen time digits smaller in ios 26

I upgraded my phone to iOS 26 this morning and have watched videos as well as using AI to search for how to make the time digits on the lock screen smaller. Everywhere they talk about being able to either "pinch" or select a location on the digits themselves and this would allow on to "drag" the digits to make them longer or shorter. I have an iPhone 11 and one of two possibilities seems reasonable. Either that feature is not available for the iPhone 11, or Apple left that feature out of the initial release of iOS 26.

If anyone has a better description of how to change the clock digits size I'm all ears, as what I've been trying now is not working. Thank you.

iPhone 11, iOS 26

Posted on Sep 16, 2025 11:56 AM

Top-ranking reply

lobsterghost1

Community+ 2025

Level 10

183,913 points

Posted on Sep 16, 2025 12:04 PM

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.

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19 replies

MacMom

Level 2

304 points

Dec 9, 2025 3:53 PM in response to LD150

LD150 wrote:

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.

Noted for future reference. :)

I looked back and I honestly can't remember which post I was responding to, sorry. :)

I do see the one where you said use a different font from the leftmost one and I'm pretty sure that's not the one I was responding to. I thought it was a longer post, but I can't find it.

darlet11

Level 1

65 points

Oct 19, 2025 1:08 PM in response to MargeHomer

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

Nov 10, 2025 7:06 AM in response to MargeHomer

I have iPhone 15 pro and same exact issue. I cannot change the time how it shows up on lock screen. All explanation below does not exist on my phone. Where do I go from there now?

Nov 18, 2025 2:25 PM in response to Lexington206

This exactly! It’s maddening. I hate the huge numbers on my lock screen!!

Make lock screen time digits smaller in ios 26