Updated
Updated · Tom's Guide · Aug 9
iOS 27 Adds 4 Lock Screen Tools, Letting Users Move Clock and Generate Wallpapers
Updated
Updated · Tom's Guide · Aug 9

iOS 27 Adds 4 Lock Screen Tools, Letting Users Move Clock and Generate Wallpapers

3 articles · Updated · Tom's Guide · Aug 9

Summary

  • Four new iOS 27 lock-screen options let users generate wallpapers in Settings, expand photos to fit, move or shrink the clock, and dismiss the Now Playing widget.
  • Image Playground now works inside Wallpaper settings, while the new Extend feature uses AI to fill image edges, straighten horizons, and automatically suggest fixes for mismatched photos.
  • Clock controls in Wallpaper customization can shift the time display to the widget row or reduce its size, freeing more space for photos and other wallpaper elements.
  • Now Playing can be swiped away from the Lock Screen without stopping audio, giving users a cleaner screen as Apple broadens customization beyond its previous default-heavy design.

Insights

Will iOS 27’s AI Lock Screen tools finally give iPhone users real personalization, or just smarter ways to stay within Apple’s rules?
How far will Apple’s Extend feature go when fixing awkward photos—and can AI really make cropped Lock Screen images look natural?