The Difference Between Home Screen and Lock Screen on iPhone

Have you ever wondered what the different screens on your iPhone are called? Do you know the difference between the home screen and lock screen? In this article, we will explore the meaning and distinctions between these two essential screens on your iPhone.

What Is Home Screen on iPhone

The home screen is like a portal or gateway to your iPhone. It is the primary screen from which you can access all the apps installed on your phone. In addition to app icons, the home screen can also contain widgets, website shortcuts, and wallpaper. You can switch between different home screen pages by swiping right or left.

Previously, all the installed apps would show directly on the home screen. However, with the introduction of the App Library, they are now grouped there. The App Library is the last or right-most screen of the home screen. On the far-left side, you will find the Today screen, which houses various widgets. You can create multiple home screen pages on your iPhone, but each page should have at least one app. If you delete all the apps from a page, the page will be automatically deleted. However, you can still access the apps from the App Library.

What Is Lock Screen on iPhone

The lock screen is the first screen you see when you wake up, turn on, or start your iPhone. It displays the big clock and recent notifications. After you unlock your phone, the home screen appears. The lock screen serves as a gatekeeper to your iPhone, protecting it from unauthorized access. If a passcode or any other authentication method is enabled, you cannot go beyond the lock screen without entering the correct code.

Apart from securing your private content, the lock screen also acts as a mini assistant. From the lock screen, you can view your notifications, get useful information from apps, open the Control Center or Camera app, and even control media playback.

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Difference Between Home Screen and Lock Screen on iPhone

Here are the key differences between the home screen and lock screen on your iPhone:

Functionality

The lock screen protects your iPhone from unauthorized users and allows you to view notifications, time, and other useful information. However, you cannot access all the apps or your personal data from the lock screen. You need to go beyond the lock screen to have full access to your iPhone.

On the home screen, you have full access to your phone. You can view and open installed apps, access data in different apps, open websites using shortcuts, open contacts, and access widgets.

Gestures

The lock screen is a single screen, but you can perform various actions using gestures. For example, you can swipe left on the lock screen to open the Camera app, swipe right to open the Today View, or swipe up to view notifications. On the home screen, you can swipe left or right to switch between different pages, swipe down to access the notification center, and swipe up to open the Control Center.

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Number of Screens

You can have multiple home screen pages on your iPhone. You can hide home screen pages by long-pressing the dots at the bottom of the screen. However, you can have only one lock screen at a time. Although you can change its wallpaper or add widgets, you cannot switch between different lock screen pages.

Customization

Both the home screen and lock screen can be customized on your iPhone. You can change the lock screen wallpaper, add or remove widgets like weather or battery percentage, and customize the lock screen's font, style, and color. Similarly, you can change the home screen wallpaper, customize app icons, create folders to group apps, and move apps between different home screen pages. You can also add or remove widgets and create widget stacks.

Access

To go to the home screen, press the physical Home button or swipe up from any app. To go to the lock screen, press the Power button.

Deletion

You can remove or hide individual home screen pages, but you cannot delete all the home screen pages. Your iPhone must have at least one home screen page. Similarly, you cannot remove the lock screen completely. Although you can disable authentication features like a passcode or Face ID, the lock screen will still be present on your iPhone.

Now that you know the differences between the home screen and lock screen on your iPhone, you can make the most out of these essential features. Customize your screens, access your apps, and enjoy the convenience and security offered by your iPhone.