Ever left your phone somewhere? It’s super frustrating and sometimes even scary. Find My is a great app for locating your phone., but wouldn’t it be awesome if your Lock Screen had your name and a contact number for whoever finds it? I’m here to show you how to set that up! Just follow these steps to personalize and identify your phone. This is something you can do right now. It doesn’t require iOS 18. You can follow the same steps for your iPad, too!
Add a Custom Focus Mode
There are two ways to add your name to your phone’s lock screen. The first method uses Focus mode. Focus is a newer feature that lets you customize notifications based on your activities. Perhaps we’ll delve into Focus some other time. For now, we’ll use it to add text to the bottom of your lock screen.
Here’s how to do it:
- First, you’ll need to access the Control Center on your iPhone. For an iPhone with Face ID (no Home Button): Swipe down from the top right corner of your screen. For an iPhone with a Home Button: Swipe up from the bottom edge of your screen. And that’s it! The Control Center gives you quick access to settings and controls like WiFi, Bluetooth, brightness, volume and more. To learn more about the Control Center, go here.
2. Your Control Center might look slightly different than mine. You should see the Focus icon in the middle of your screen. Tap on it. The next screen should look similar to this:
3. . Now, tap on the Plus sign to add a New Focus. Then select Custom.
3. Next you will “Name Your Focus“. Select the color of your choice and just type in your name.
You will also need to add one of the icons shown, then tap Next. I like using a star or something like a Smiley Face.
4. Congrats! You’ve created a custom Focus with your name. Now just tap on Customize Focus at the bottom of the screen to save it.
You do not need to do anything on the next screen shown above. No need to limit notifications or set a schedule here. Your name at the bottom of the Lock Screen is all you want here. We’re almost done!
5. Now go back to the Control Center. For an iPhone with Face ID (no Home Button), swipe down from the top right corner of your screen. For an iPhone with a Home Button, swipe up from the bottom edge of your screen to open the Control Center.
Tap on the Focus icon, and you should see your new custom focus with your name on it.
6. Tap on your name to turn it on and Voila! When you return to your Lock Screen, your name is proudly shown at the bottom of the screen. How cool is that! Everyone will now know this phone belongs to you!
The only problem I have with this method is that the font is pretty small. If you have a detailed image on your screen, it could be hard to read. So, let’s look at method 2.
Add Widgets with Text
For this one, you’ll need to add a free app called “Any Text”.
Here’s how to get and download the app:
- Open the App Store: Tap the blue “App Store” icon on your Home Screen. (Image below on the left)
- Find and Select the App: Use the search bar at the top of the screen to type in “any text”. In the results, tap on “any text-widgets”.
3. Get the App: Since the app is free there is no price, just tap on the “Get” icon.
4. Authenticate the Purchase: Double-tap on the Side Button to approve and the app will automatically download and install. (Or follow other directions shown for your iPhone model. You may need to enter your Apple ID Password to continue. Just follow the directions on the screen to proceed.)
Now your new app is ready to use!
Using Any Text as a Widget
- Get Started: Tap on the Any Text icon from your Home Screen and this screen will appear. Don’t worry about remembering the steps at the top, we’ll go through those later on. Right now just tap on “Get Started“.
2. Customize Widget 1 with your name: Type your name on the blank screen for the next step. You can change the font by tapping on the Gear icon on the top right (middle screen below). Tap on Custom Font and choose the one you wish to use.
3. Complete Widget 1: When you’re finished typing, go back to the previous screen by tapping Any Text with the arrow at the top left of the screen. Your name will now be listed for Widget 1. And you are ready to customize Widget 2.
4. Customize Widget 2 with your contact information: Tap on Widget 2. On the blank screen, type in a message, such as ” If found call”. Then, enter the phone number of your spouse or other family you want for your emergency contact.
5. Complete Widget 2 : When you’re finished tap Done and the following screen will appear:
Swipe up or Tap the Home Button to close the app. Only a few more steps now!
Customize your Lock Screen
Here’s how to customize your iPhone Lock Screen directly from the screen:
- Wake your iPhone: Press the side button or tap the screen to wake your iPhone.
- Access the Lock Screen: When you see your Lock Screen, press and hold the screen.
- Enter Customization Mode: Tap “Customize” at the bottom of the screen. Then tap “Lock Screen”.
If you are having any difficulties with accessing the Lock Screen go to my Troubleshooting Tips here.
4. Add and Select Widgets: After selecting your Lock Screen, you’ll see a rectangular area below the clock. It is labeled “Add Widgets”. Tap on it. A widget selector will appear. You can scroll through the list to find the widgets you want to add. Your list will depend on the apps and widgets you have installed. For this example, find Any Text and tap on it.
5. Adjust Widget Placement: The next screen will show two versions of Widget 1 with “your name.” I recommend selecting the larger one. Tap on it and your name will appear in the rectangle below the clock.
6. Add Widget 2: Now tap inside the rectangle to the right of your name to add another widget. Scroll down again to select the Any Text app. You will first see Widget 1 with your name. Scroll to the right to find Widget 2 with your contact phone number. Choose the style you prefer and Bingo! Your emergency contact number pops up on your Lock Screen next to your name..
I like this method the best, as I think it’s much easier to see and read.
Pat yourself on the back if you followed all of these steps to customize your screen!
Now that you know these steps, you can customize your Lock Screen in many other ways. With your name and emergency contact in the widgets, you can add another message using the Focus Mode at the bottom. It could be a seasonal greeting or to cheer on your favorite sports team. Write your ideas and your questions in the comments.
Want to know more about Widgets or other particular topics? Let me hear from you in the comments or send me an email.
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