How to Use Depth Effect on iPhone [2023]

What to know

• Depth Effect means that you can apply wallpaper in your iPhone’s lock display screen in order that it seems to wrap up across the lock display screen clock to present it a surreal look. 
• You can apply the Depth Effect on wallpapers natively accessible in your iPhone and from images you’ve captured or saved in your device. 
• To allow Depth Effect on a local wallpaper, enter your lock display screen’s edit mode by long-pressing on the lock display screen, tapping on Customize > Lock Screen preview > Depth Effect button, and deciding on Depth Effect On.
• On wallpapers you’ve utilized from a picture, you may allow Depth Effect by coming into the lock display screen’s edit mode, tapping on the 3-dots icon, and deciding on Depth Effect. 

If there’s one factor you may pick to be distinct on an iPhone, it’s the variety of customization choices you’ve got on the helm when coping with your iPhone’s lock display screen. Among these choices is the Depth Effect characteristic, which makes it appear to be your wallpaper interacts with the lock display screen clock widget. 

In this submit, we’ll clarify the Depth Effect, when and the place you may apply it, and the way you should use it in your iPhone. 

What is the Depth Effect on the iPhone?

When you add wallpaper with distinct components, your iPhone splits it into a number of layers of depth. To do that, iOS makes use of the built-in neural engine to detect depth info out of your wallpaper to separate topics you need to seem in focus from different components of the chosen background.

This will lead to a cool-looking impact the place the principle topic from the wallpaper covers a part of your lock display screen clock in an overlapping sample whereas the remainder of the wallpaper seems behind the clock. With Depth Effect, your wallpaper interactively wraps across the iOS clock as an alternative of sitting plainly underneath the clock. 

When are you able to apply the Depth Effect in your lock display screen?

Depth Effect basically splits your lock display screen background into a number of layers in order that a part of your wallpaper can seem dominant over the lock display screen clock whereas the remainder of it stays beneath. This impact requires that there are components from a wallpaper that may be clearly distinguished by iOS using depth info. 

Note: Depth Effect can’t be enabled on lock screens with widgets on them. To allow Depth Effect on such lock screens, you might want to take away the widgets on them first to permit Depth Effect to take impact. 

iOS will solely be capable of activate the Depth Effect when a topic is clearly seen from the remainder of your lock display screen background. This background must be utilized in a method that the highest portion of the topic is positioned in and across the backside half of the lock display screen clock.

When the topic is moved too far above the clock, the Depth Effect will probably be inapplicable as the topic might impede the clock from being considered on the lock display screen. The identical will apply if you add widgets to your lock display screen as Depth Effect will probably be robotically disabled. 

What do you might want to use Depth Effect on iPhone?

For Depth Effect to work, crucial factor is that your iPhone runs on iOS 16, iOS 17, or newer variations. You can not use Depth Effect on iOS 15 or some other older variations of iOS; so you might want to make sure that your device is up to date to the most recent model by going to Settings > General > Software Update. 

To absolutely make the most of the Depth Effect characteristic, your iPhone have to be powered by Apple’s A12 Bionic chipset or later. This means you should personal the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or a more recent device to allow Depth Effect on any lock display screen background. 

Although the iPhone X and iPhone 8 don’t use this chipset, it’s possible you’ll use Depth Effect on these gadgets on a restricted foundation. On these gadgets, Depth Effect will solely work on sure default wallpapers supplied by Apple. 

For all different suitable telephones, you could possibly get the Depth Effect to work so long as iOS can detect the depth info from a background and break up it into totally different layers of depth. 

How to make use of Depth Effect in your iPhone lock display screen 

You can activate the Depth Effect in your present wallpaper or a brand new background out of your digital camera roll by following the directions beneath. To allow Depth Effect, unlock your cellphone using Face ID however don’t go to the house display screen but. For this, merely press the Side button, present your face to the iPhone, and let the Lock Screen get unlocked. Now, long-press anyplace on the unlocked lock display screen.

Method #1: Using a brand new lock display screen background

When the lock display screen goes into edit mode, faucet on the + button on the backside proper nook to create one other lock display screen with a brand new background. This method you may keep your present lock display screen background and create a brand new one individually. 

When you faucet on the + button, you’ll attain the Add New Wallpaper display screen. You can both apply a wallpaper from present choices or select a picture out of your iPhone’s Camera roll to use it as your background. In this instance, we’re making use of a brand new background using the latter by deciding on Photos on the high.

On the subsequent display screen, you’ll see all the photographs in your iPhone library. From right here, choose the background you want to add as your new lock display screen wallpaper.

The chosen background will now load onto the lock display screen edit display screen. Since the topic within the image (the beige-colored constructing) is way away from the clock, the Depth Effect will probably be disabled.

To be capable of use the Depth Effect, pinch outwards on the display screen to zoom into the background in order that the topic expands to achieve nearer to the lock display screen clock.

Depth impact must be enabled robotically when iOS detects that some components of the topic are nearer to the clock.

In case it’s not enabled by itself, faucet on the 3-dots icon on the backside proper nook.

From the overflow menu, choose Depth Effect till a tick mark seems on its left.

You will now see that the topic (the constructing) now covers a part of the clock to get you the specified Depth Effect.

You can additional zoom in/out of the background (by dragging with two fingers) to reposition the topic relative to the clock nevertheless you need. When you’re achieved enhancing your lock display screen, faucet on Add on the high proper nook to avoid wasting adjustments.

iOS will now preview your new lock display screen and residential display screen in a field on the backside. If you’re glad with each appears to be like, faucet on Set as Wallpaper Pair. 

Your new lock display screen with Depth Effect will now be previewed on the Customize display screen. To activate it, faucet on this new lock display screen.

You will now see the brand new lock display screen enabled with Depth Effect in your iPhone.

Method #2: On an present lock display screen wallpaper

When the lock display screen goes into edit mode, faucet on Customize on the backside to allow Depth Effect in your present lock display screen wallpaper.

On the subsequent display screen, faucet on the Lock Screen preview on the left-hand aspect. 

You will now enter the Customize display screen the place all the weather on the high of your lock display screen will seem inside bins. Before enabling the Depth Effect characteristic, be sure you take away all present widgets from this display screen. Depth Effect can’t be utilized on lock screens with widgets added to them. 

For the wallpaper I’ve set, iOS can not clearly detect the topic to superimpose it over the clock.

The Depth Effect stays disabled as a result of the topic (the tall tower) seems comparatively near different components of the background.

To make the topic detectable by iOS, you may pinch outwards on the display screen to zoom into the background as you probably did within the earlier part, in order that the topic expands to achieve nearer to the lock display screen clock.

If Depth Effect doesn’t get robotically enabled, you may manually flip it on by tapping on the 3-dots icon on the backside proper nook.

In the overflow menu that seems, choose Depth Effect till a tick mark exhibits up on its left.

You’ll now see that the topic (the tower) seems on high of the lock display screen clock.

You can additional zoom in/out of the background (by dragging with two fingers) to reposition the topic relative to the clock nevertheless you need. When you’re achieved enhancing your lock display screen, faucet on Done on the high proper nook to avoid wasting adjustments.

Your new lock display screen with Depth Effect will now be previewed on the Customize display screen. To activate it, faucet on the brand new lock display screen.

You will now see your lock display screen enabled with Depth Effect in your iPhone.

Tips to make use of Depth Effect on iPhone

Once you’ve enabled Depth Effect in your wallpaper, you may customise the look of your lock display screen to your required method by testing the following tips. 

Reposition how topics seem on the lock display screen

Even after you apply a lock display screen, you may change its look in a method that the topic in focus is viewable more clearly or at a distinct place relative to the lock display screen clock. To do this, you’ll have to get to your lock display screen’s edit mode by unlocking your iPhone, long-pressing on the lock display screen, and tapping on Customize on the backside. 

Inside the edit mode, it’s best to see a “Pinch to Crop” label on the backside that signifies which signifies that the wallpaper may be zoomed in and cropped for a more customized look. 

If the topic is just too small, you should use any two fingers to pinch outwards on the display screen to zoom in on the image. While doing so, you might want to zoom into the topic so you understand how a lot of it seems on the high of your lock display screen. Let’s say, you need the Buddha statue on the next screenshot to cowl a bigger space in your lock display screen; for that, you’ll need to pinch outwards along with your fingers to zoom into the image in such a method that the statue takes the middle spot. 

Similarly, you may drag the background with two fingers to reposition the wallpaper to your required view. When you’re within the strategy of relocating the topic, you might want to place it in such a method that its essential portion reaches someplace in the course of the clock’s peak. Take a take a look at the next screenshot to see how we repositioned the Buddha statue from earlier to take up the bulk portion of the display screen. 

When you’re glad with the look, faucet on Done or Add on the high proper nook to avoid wasting adjustments. 

The modified background will now be utilized to your lock display screen.  

Remove widgets to activate the Depth Effect

As we’ve defined above, the Depth Effect can’t be used alongside lock display screen widgets on iPhone. If you’ve got widgets added to your lock display screen, you’ll have to manually take away them in order that the topic in your wallpaper can seem on high of the lock display screen clock. 

To take away a lock display screen widget, long-press in your unlocked lock display screen and faucet on Customize on the backside. 

On the subsequent display screen, faucet on the Lock Screen preview on the left because you’re right here to edit your lock display screen. 

When the lock display screen goes into edit mode, faucet on the widget field beneath the clock. 

This ought to spotlight the widgets you’ve added to the lock display screen. Since any of those widgets will stop the Depth Effect from working in your iPhone, faucet on the minus (-) icon on the high left nook of every of the widgets to take away them. You might have to repeat this step when you’ve got a number of widgets in your lock display screen.

Once you’ve eliminated each single widget from right here, faucet on Done on the high proper nook to avoid wasting adjustments.

You will now return to your lock display screen and if the background is about appropriately, Depth Effect ought to get activated by itself. 

Choose a clock fashion that fits your background

While this setting has nothing to do with the Depth Effect, you may customise the looks of the clock to fit your Depth Effect wallpaper in your iPhone. You can change the clock color and style by first attending to your lock display screen’s edit mode as defined above. Once you’re in edit mode, faucet on the clock widget from the highest half of the display screen. 

Inside the Font & Color menu that seems, select your clock fashion from the highest row, regulate the clock measurement from the center slider, and apply a desired colour for the clock from the underside row that fits your lock display screen. 

After you’re achieved making the required adjustments, faucet on Done on the high proper nook to avoid wasting the look. 

You can try our in-depth information on altering the clock font on iPhone within the submit linked beneath. 

▶︎ How to Change Clock Font on iPhone

Turn off the Depth Effect

Depth Effect is an non-obligatory characteristic when setting wallpapers in your lock display screen. If you don’t want to use the Depth Effect on a background, you may disable it in your present lock display screen. To do this, get to your lock display screen’s edit mode as defined above.

Method 1: For wallpapers utilized from a photograph

If your iPhone lock display screen was created from a picture you added out of your Photos library, you may disable the Depth Effect on it by tapping on the 3-dots icon on the backside proper nook inside your lock display screen’s edit mode. 

In the overflow menu that seems, faucet on Depth Effect to take away the tick mark on its left-hand aspect.

This ought to deliver the clock to in entrance of the present lock display screen wallpaper. To save adjustments, faucet on Done on the high proper nook. 

The Depth Effect ought to now be disabled in your lock display screen. 

Method 2: For present iOS wallpapers

If the wallpaper you need to flip off Depth Effect on is already accessible in your iPhone and wasn’t utilized from a photograph, you may disable Depth Effect on it by coming into the lock display screen’s edit mode using the above directions. Inside the edit mode, faucet on the Depth Effect button (the one indicated by two plates stacked one above the opposite). 

From the overflow menu that seems, choose Depth Effect Off.

This ought to deliver the clock to in entrance of the present lock display screen wallpaper. To save adjustments, faucet on Done on the high proper nook. 

The Depth Effect ought to now be disabled in your lock display screen.

Which iPhones help the Depth Effect?

To detect depth info from photos, Depth Effect makes use of your iPhone’s Neural Engine which distinguishes the topic from a picture to let it seem on high of the clock. This requires your iPhone to be powered by Apple’s A12 Bionic chipset or later. Due to this motive, you’ll solely be capable of use the Depth Effect to its fullest potential on the next gadgets:

• iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max
• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE 2nd era (2020) and third era (2022)
• iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max

If you personal an iPhone X or iPhone 8, Depth Effect will work on a restricted foundation. This is as a result of the iPhone X and iPhone 8 are powered by Apple’s A11 Bionic chip which can not have the assets to detect depth info from a background. However, you’ll nonetheless be capable of use Depth Effect on default wallpapers which can be supplied to you by Apple itself. You can use 3 wallpapers from Collections and a pair of wallpapers from Weather & Astronomy to allow the Depth Effect on the iPhone X and iPhone 8. 

If you want to use Depth Effect on iPhone X and iPhone 8, you may try the submit within the hyperlink beneath. 

► How to Do Depth Effect on iPhone X

Can you utilize Depth Effect with lock display screen widgets?

No. Depth Effect in your lock display screen gained’t be enabled if you add a number of widgets to your iPhone’s lock display screen. When there are widgets in your iPhone lock display screen, the wallpaper and its topics will transfer to the background whereas the clock and widgets seem above them, thus disabling the Depth Effect immediately. 

What wallpapers can you utilize to get the Depth Effect in your lock display screen?

If you’re using an iPhone X or iPhone 8, you should use any of the next default wallpapers to get the Depth Effect.

Since the iPhone X and iPhone 8 are powered by the A11 Bionic chipset, they don’t help the Depth Effect on photos out of your library. If you’re using an iPhone XR/XS or later, Depth Effect ought to work on any image you apply as your lock display screen wallpaper. We’ve compiled an inventory of actually cool backgrounds that you should use to get your required Depth Effect on iPhone which you’ll be able to entry by testing the submit linked beneath. 

▶︎ Cool Depth Wallpapers for Your iPhone’s Lock Screen

Depth Effect on iPhone not working? What it’s best to do

There are a whole lot of the explanation why it’s possible you’ll be unable to make use of the Depth Effect in your iPhone’s lock display screen. 

• You could possibly be using an unsupported iPhone. 
• The wallpaper you selected doesn’t help the Depth Effect. 
• Depth Effect was beforehand disabled in your lock display screen.
• There are widgets current in your lock display screen. 
• The topic isn’t getting detected by iOS for Depth Effect to work. 

If you want to get this resolved, you may try the fixes we’ve defined in depth within the submit linked beneath.

▶︎ Depth Effect Not Working on iPhone? 7 Ways to Fix

That’s all you might want to learn about using Depth Effect in your iPhone lock display screen.