Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Phones
  3. Mobile
  4. How tos

iOS 17: How to change the clock font on your iPhone

Add as a preferred source on Google
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro showing the screens.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro (left) and iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

iOS 17 is the latest version of Apple's mobile operating software, and as usual, it's brought with it plenty of new features and changes to get excited about. While not the biggest update around (it's telling when one of the major changes mentioned is the ability to send your contact information by AirDrop), iOS 17 is still worth paying attention to and getting if you have a compatible iPhone.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • An iPhone

  • iOS 16 or iOS 17

There aren't too many changes to the lock screen this time around, with the big changes having come in last year's iOS 16 update. However, it's still worth keeping updated on how to get the most out of your iPhone's new lock screen.

If you're updating from a much older iPhone, then you may have noticed that big changes are afoot on the iPhone's clock. Rather go back to an older version of the lock screen clock? Don't worry, you can do that now, thanks to the ability to customize your lock screen. There are a number of different ways to change your clock's font, color, and thickness. Here's a very quick guide on how to change things up.

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro showing the screens.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro (left) and iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

How to change the clock font on the iOS 17 lock screen

Apple has kept the entire process easy and simple. You don’t have to delve inside your phone’s Settings to search for this feature. Rather, you can bring up the customization menu directly from your phone’s lock screen.

Step 1: Head over to your phone’s lock screen and long-press on any vacant space to launch the customization menu.

Step 2: First, you'll need to select whether you're editing a preset lock screen, an old lock screen, or creating a new one. Swipe left or right until you reach your choice, then select Customize.

Step 3: You can now pick whether to work on your lock screen or your home screen. Select your lock screen by tapping it.

Step 4: Now, open up the clock customization by selecting your Clock widget.

Step 5: A new menu with a bunch of fonts should pop up from the bottom. You can then choose any of them according to your preference. A preview of the font you select appears at the top, and a slider beneath that controls the font size. If you want to change the numerals to other options, then select the blue Globe at the top-left of the menu.

Step 6: You can also change the font’s color from the bottom of your screen. Once you tap on a color, a slider will appear underneath to let you change its intensity.

Step 7: When you finish finding the perfect match of a font and a color for your lock screen, tap the X button on the top-right part of the editing pane, then choose Done.

Hinshal Sharma
Hinshal is a Tech Journalist covering tech news and feature pieces for over four years. Apart from Digital Trends, he has…
iPhone 18 could get a RAM boost, but only a tiny sliver to run AI chores in iOS 27
A new report suggests the extra memory is aimed at keeping Apple Intelligence running smoothly.
Apple iPhone 17 back

Apple's next iPhone may not get a dramatic RAM upgrade, but it could receive just enough extra memory to keep its growing AI ambitions running smoothly. According to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are expected to move from 8GB to 9GB of RAM, primarily to support deeper Apple Intelligence integration in iOS 27.

Just enough RAM to keep Apple Intelligence happy

Read more
This free iPhone app uses soothing haptics to help you calm down
This iOS app skips accounts and subscriptions, relying on touch alone to help you relax.
Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

Most mindfulness apps want you to create an account, buy subscription, and give a chunk of your attention before they help you unwind. Vän, a new iPhone app from Swiss indie developer Adrian Stanco, is built to be the opposite.

I found the app on Reddit, and the pitch alone made me curious enough to try it. Instead of sounds or endless scrolling, it leans entirely on haptics, the tiny vibrations your phone is already capable of producing. The result is a feeling of calm you get by simply holding your smartphone rather than watching the screen.

Read more
In the last hours of Prime Day, I found the best deals to save you the regret of missing out
A few more hours, a lot of good deals, and no time left to overthink it.
Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

Prime Day 2026 officially ends today, and while some deals are already sold out, I've sifted through the entire website to find the best ones that are still live. Below are the picks I'd confidently put my own money on. They include everything from mid-range Android smartphones to flagship foldables, bone-conduction earbuds to Bose, and smartwatches across every price bracket. Act fast, before the clock runs out.

Best Amazon Prime Day deals on smartphones

Read more