Android Lock Screen Customization: Everything You Need to Know

Choose what's on your lock screen and how it unlocks

By
Jerri Ledford
Jerri Ledford
Jerri Ledford
Editorial Director
  • Western Kentucky University
  • Gulf Coast Community College
Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others.
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Published on March 16, 2025
A person's finger resting on a smartphone screen

Tatiana Maksimova / Moment / Getty Images

What to Know

  • Add text: Settings > Display & touch > Lock screen > Add text on lock screen.
  • Edit shortcuts: Settings > Display & touch > Lock screen > Shortcuts.
  • Change how you unlock it: Search Settings for Screen lock and then pick a different unlock method.

This article explains how to customize the lock screen on your Android device.

Choose an Unlock Method and Lock Screen Options

Android devices have several unlock options. Follow these directions to set or change some of your lock screen options:

  1. Go to Settings > Display & touch > Lock screen > Add text on lock screen to add custom text to your device's lock screen. This might include contact information if you lose your phone. 

    Android's 'add text on lock screen' option in Settings

  2. You can also customize Android lock screen shortcuts via Settings > Display & touch > Lock screen. Select Shortcuts, and then pick a function—such as Camera or Flashlight—for the left and/or right shortcut.

    Android lock screen shortcut options

  3. To choose a new unlock method, open Settings to Security & privacy > Device unlock > Screen lock, or Security and privacy > Lock screen > Screen lock on some Androids.

    Confirm your current unlock method (e.g., enter the PIN or pattern) if you have one. Then, select None to erase the screen lock type, or pick from the other options: Swipe, Pattern, PIN, or Password.

    Screen lock type options for Android on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone

    Some Androids include a fingerprint reader that lets you unlock the device by scanning your fingerprint. This is often faster than these other unlock methods, and you can even add multiple fingerprints to give other trusted users access.

Lock Your Phone With 'Find My Device'

Enabling Google Find My Device (formerly Android Device Manager) is a smart move. If your phone is lost or stolen, you can track it, ring it, lock it, or erase it.

  1. Open the Settings app to Security & privacy.

  2. Tap Device finders > Find My Device.

  3. Turn on the Use Find My Device toggle.

    Find My Device toggle on Android

    To find a lost phone, location services must be turned on before the phone is lost.

  4. Visit google.com/android/find and select your device from the list.

  5. Tap Secure device to lock it. Also available from this page are options to play a sound (if you lost it nearby) or wipe everything and reset it.

    Google Find My Device website showing the map and other remote access options

Use a Third-Party Lock Screen

If the built-in options aren't enough to truly customize your Android lock screen the way you want, there are many third-party apps to choose from, such as Solo Locker.

Apps like this one offer alternate ways of locking and unlocking a phone, viewing notifications, and the ability to customize background images and themes. This particular app can use your photos as a passcode, and you can design a lock screen interface.

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