[DigitalToday reporter Yoonseo Lee] Apple is expanding lock-screen customisation features for the iPhone in iOS 27.

The IT outlet 9to5Mac reported on Aug. 5 that iOS 27 adds 4 lock-screen features: automatic photo expansion, AI-generated wallpapers, clock position adjustment and the option to hide the Now Playing widget.

The most noticeable change is a photo-enhancement feature for wallpapers. iOS 27 adds Apple Intelligence-based editing tools to the Photos app. It includes revamped Clean Up, Reframe and Extend features. They can be used to adjust aspect ratios, straighten horizons and add space around edges.

The feature also applies during lock-screen setup. If a photo does not match the iPhone screen ratio or its composition looks awkward for a wallpaper, iOS 27 automatically suggests using Extend. It uses AI to fill missing image areas, widening the range of photos that can be used as wallpapers.

A feature to create wallpapers directly is also added. Users can launch Image Playground from the wallpaper picker in Settings or directly from the lock screen. They can create wallpapers in styles such as retro illustrations and animations based on images in their photo library. They can also generate new wallpapers by entering what they want in natural language.

The lock-screen clock can also be placed more freely. iOS 27 supports reducing the clock size further. It also allows moving the clock up to the top area of the screen where widgets are placed. This can secure more space for the wallpaper to show.

The Now Playing widget, which displays information on music or audio currently playing, can also be hidden with a swipe. Music or audio continues to play even if the widget is removed from the screen.

The changes are seen as Apple's strategy to expand the lock screen from a simple space for checking the time and notifications into a personalised display. A key point is that photo editing and generative AI features are linked directly to the wallpaper setup process, allowing users to customise the lock screen without separate editing work.

iOS 27 is currently available to developers and public beta testers. The official version is expected to be released to general users within this year.