When Apple released iOS 17.1, it included a new Lock Screen personalization option for iPhones. Here's how to make your Lock Screen wallpaper shuffle through photos from a specific album in your photo library.

shuffle photos lock screen
In recent versions of iOS, Apple has made it possible for users to customize the Lock Screen in ways that were simply not possible in earlier versions of its mobile software, and one feature in particular that has proven popular is the ability to shuffle photos on your Lock Screen wallpaper at specific intervals or whenever you wake or tap the screen.

In iOS 17.1 and later, Apple has extended this feature so that you can now shuffle pictures from a specific album from your photo library, rather than having to manually select individual photos or rely on Apple's preset options of People, Pets, Nature, and Cities. The following steps show you how it's done.

  1. Wake your iPhone and use Face ID to unlock it, but don't swipe up on the Lock Screen.
  2. Press and hold on the Lock Screen until the wallpaper gallery appears, then tap the blue + button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
  3. Select Photo Shuffle from the wallpaper menu.
    Lock Screen

  4. Tap the new Album option, then choose the album of photos from your library that you'd like to shuffle between.
  5. Next, choose a Shuffle Frequency: Daily, Hourly, On Lock, or On Tap.

  6. Tap Use Album to move on.
    shuffle

  7. Tap the screen to preview the photos in your chosen album as they will appear on your Lock Screen, and tap the clock to adjust the font style and color so that the time, date, and any widgets remain legible against all of your pictures.
  8. Tap Done in the top-right corner to finish, then choose either Set as Wallpaper Pair to finish or Customize Home Screen to tweak its look separately, then tap Done.
    photo shuffle

Tap your new album-specific photo shuffle wallpaper in the gallery to make it live. Then you can tap or wake your iPhone's screen to change the photo, or wait for it to change automatically, depending on your chosen option.

Top Rated Comments

ned1 Avatar
29 months ago
I foretell …….17.1 users experience battery drain…..Apple’s response - turn off photo shuffle to optimise battery life between charges!?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
darngooddesign Avatar
29 months ago

I left my bride at the altar for nothing.
You got out of marriage so not for nothing. ?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
antiprotest Avatar
29 months ago

Daaaang.... I took a day off, ordered pizza, opened a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, lit some candles and yet the iOS 17.1 didn't show up ?‍?
I left my bride at the altar for nothing.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Martin Schlender Avatar
29 months ago
The problem is that our only cycles through 16 pictures of the album. I tried it with a 70 picture album and it only shows the same 16 and starts over. So no use in my opinion. The same on iPad by the way
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tomas1988 Avatar
29 months ago
Hello battery drain ???
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
freezah Avatar
29 months ago
Daaaang.... I took a day off, ordered pizza, opened a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, lit some candles and yet the iOS 17.1 didn't show up ?‍?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
apple intelligence black

Report: Apple's AI Strategy Could Finally Pay Off in 2026

Tuesday December 30, 2025 9:01 am PST by
Apple's restrained artificial intelligence strategy may pay off in 2026 amid the arrival of a revamped Siri and concerns around the AI market "bubble" bursting, The Information argues. The speculative report notes that Apple has taken a restrained approach with AI innovations compared with peers such as OpenAI, Google, and Meta, which are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in data...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
apple fitness 2026 1

Apple Teases 'Something Big' Coming Soon to Apple Fitness+

Tuesday December 30, 2025 2:11 pm PST by
The Apple Fitness+ Instagram account today teased that the service has "big plans" for 2026. In a video, several Apple Fitness+ trainers are shown holding up newspapers with headlines related to Apple Fitness+. What's Apple Fitness+ Planning for the New Year? Something Big is Coming to Apple Fitness+ The Countdown Begins. Apple Fitness+ 2026 is Almost Here 2026 Plans Still Under ...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...