Customize the appearance of notifications on the Lock screen
The display of notifications on the iOS lock screen has always been determined by Apple. For a long time, notifications were shown in a long list from top to bottom, whether you wanted them to or not. That has changed since iOS 16. Previously, your iPhone notifications were at the top, but now they always come from the bottom. There are some settings that you can adjust. This way you can choose whether you always see your notifications, whether you only see a few or whether you only see how many notifications there are. The choice is yours and we’ll show you how to customize the appearance of notifications on your iPhone’s Lock screen.
- What can you choose?
- Steps
- Notifications at the top
What notification styles can you choose?
There are three views you can choose. Here they are:
- Count: Only shows a short text with the number of unseen notifications without further information. Tap them to expand them.
- Stack (default): Shows notifications from the three most recent apps you’ve received notifications from. Swipe up to use them.
- List: the more classic view with notifications from all apps one at a time.
From left to right: Quantity, Stack, List
By default, the Stack view is selected. This is the way Apple now thinks you should best show your notifications. A disadvantage is that with this setting you have to tap more often to expand or open notifications. The list view is most similar to how it was in iOS 15 and older. However, if you get a lot of notifications, it might be nice to choose Number. This way your access screen (also called a lockscreen) remains quiet and your wallpaper remains visible. If you have an iPhone 14 Pro (Max), this setting also applies to what you see when the Always-on lock screen is active.
This way you can adjust the notification display on your lock screen
You can adjust how notifications are shown in the Settings app:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Notifications and review the options under the Show as heading.
- Choose between Quantity, Stack and List.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to base this setting on which Focus you are using. You also cannot customize the display of notifications per lock screen setting. Your chosen setting therefore applies to all access screens you may have created, if you have several and regularly switch between them.
Show iPhone notifications at the top
Keep in mind that this setting doesn’t change where your notifications arrive. Since iOS 16, notifications always arrive from the bottom of the Lock screen on your iPhone, regardless of the view you choose. You can’t change the view so that notifications appear from top to bottom on the screen. If you want notifications at the top on your iPhone, there is unfortunately no setting for that.
The selected setting has no further effect on the notification center. You open this by swiping up on the lock screen or by swiping all the way from top to bottom after unlocking (for example from the home screen or when using an app).
