You can change your iPhone clock color through the Lock Screen customization menu

The clock on your iPhone lock screen can be customized to match your wallpaper or personal style. Apple lets you adjust the color directly in the Lock Screen settings, and the change applies to both the time display and the date below it. The process takes about two minutes and works on any iPhone running iOS 16 or later.

The clock color you set on your lock screen is separate from the clock in Control Center — you can customize that one too, but it's a different setting. Both changes happen in the same menu, so you can adjust them together if you want.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then Lock Screen to find the clock color option.
  • Tap the clock preview at the top of the Lock Screen settings to open the color picker.
  • You can choose from preset colors or create a custom color by adjusting the hue, saturation, and brightness sliders.
  • The clock color change appears immediately on your lock screen once you confirm your selection.
  • If you have multiple lock screen designs saved, each one can have its own clock color.

How to change the lock screen clock color

Start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Display & Brightness, then select Lock Screen from the menu that appears. You'll see a preview of your current lock screen at the top of the screen.

Tap directly on the clock in the preview — the time display at the center of your lock screen. This opens the color customization menu. You'll see a row of preset color options at the bottom of the screen, ranging from white and gray to more vibrant colors like red, blue, and green. Tap any preset color to apply it immediately to your clock.

If you want more control over the exact shade, tap the Color Picker button (it looks like a circle with a gradient). This opens sliders that let you adjust the hue, saturation, and brightness of your clock color. Drag the hue slider left and right to change the base color, use the saturation slider to make it more or less vivid, and adjust brightness to make it lighter or darker. The preview updates as you move each slider, so you can see the result before you confirm.

Once you're happy with the color, tap outside the color picker or swipe down to close it. Your new clock color is now active on your lock screen.

Changing the Control Center clock color separately

The clock that appears in Control Center — the panel you pull down from the top-right corner of your screen — can have a different color than your lock screen clock. To change it, go back to Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then Lock Screen.

Look for the Analog or Digital clock widget preview in the Lock Screen settings (depending on which style you use). Tap on that clock preview to open its color menu. The process is identical to changing the lock screen clock: choose a preset color or use the color picker to create a custom shade.

This setting controls the clock appearance in Control Center, not on your lock screen. If you want both clocks to match, you'll need to set them to the same color manually — there's no option to sync them automatically.

What to do if the color picker doesn't appear

If you tap the clock and only see preset colors with no color picker option, make sure you're running iOS 16 or later. Tap Settings, then General, then About to check your iOS version. If you're on an older version, you won't have access to the custom color picker — you can only choose from the preset colors available.

If you're on iOS 16 or later and the color picker still doesn't show up, try closing Settings completely and reopening it. Sometimes the menu needs to refresh. You can also try restarting your iPhone: hold down the power button and volume button together, slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on.

Resetting the clock color to default

If you want to go back to the original white or default clock color, open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then Lock Screen. Tap the clock preview and select white from the preset color options. This resets the clock to its standard appearance.

There's no "reset all" button that undoes your customization in one tap — you have to manually select the color you want. If you've customized multiple lock screen designs and want to reset them all, you'll need to go through this process for each one.

Clock color changes on different lock screens

If you have multiple lock screen designs saved — for example, one with a photo and one with a minimal design — each lock screen can have its own clock color. When you switch between lock screens, the clock color changes with it.

To set a different color for another lock screen, swipe left on your current lock screen in the Lock Screen settings to see your other designs. Tap the one you want to customize, then tap its clock preview and choose a new color. This way you can have a white clock on one lock screen and a blue clock on another, and they'll switch automatically when you change designs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the color of the date below the clock?

The date color is tied to the clock color — when you change the clock color, the date changes with it. You can't set them to different colors independently. Both use the same color setting you choose in the Lock Screen customization menu.

Will changing the clock color affect the time display in other apps?

No. The clock color change only affects the lock screen and Control Center. The time display in your status bar at the top of the screen, and the clocks in Calendar, Clock, and other apps, remain unchanged. Each part of your iPhone has its own time display that doesn't connect to the lock screen customization.

What if my chosen color is hard to read against my wallpaper?

Try adjusting the brightness slider in the color picker to make the clock lighter or darker. You can also choose a color that contrasts more with your wallpaper — for example, if your wallpaper is dark, pick a light color for the clock. If you're still having trouble, the preset white or black options usually work well with most wallpapers.

Do I need to restart my iPhone after changing the clock color?

No. The clock color change takes effect immediately once you close the Settings menu. You don't need to restart your phone or do anything else — just lock your screen and you'll see the new color right away.