Apple’s iOS 16 update brought several new features to the iPhone, but the redesigned lock screen with its support for Depth Effect takes the cake. When it works, it improves the appearance of your wallpaper.
However, you may wonder why the depth effect doesn’t work when choosing a wallpaper. This guide will show you how to fix the depth effect if your iPhone’s lock screen isn’t working.
What is the depth effect on iOS 16 lock screen?
To differentiate between the subject and the background, your iPhone with iOS 16 uses AI-based image processing. As a result, the lock screen has a multi-layered effect.
The primary subject moves to the foreground, and the clock moves between the foreground and background, making the subject appear different. However, depending on the placement of the theme, a small portion of the lock screen clock is cropped.
For example, if you choose a wallpaper with you in the foreground and a glitter background, the lock screen clock will be between you and the background.
Requirements for lock screen depth effect on iPhone
Before troubleshooting the depth effect on your iPhone, make sure you have met the prerequisites.
The depth effect relies on the A12 Bionic or the new iPhone processor to separate the foreground and background from the wallpaper. So, if you don’t have a supported iPhone, the depth effect won’t work.
Troubleshooting Tips to fix Depth Effect not working on iOS Lock Screen
The depth effect feature primarily requires an iPhone with the A12 Bionic processor. If you’ve met all of Depth Effect’s requirements and can’t get it to work, try these troubleshooting tips to make sure it’s working again.
1. Update Your iPhone
Since the depth effect is a software feature, it may be buggy in the initial stages. Sometimes, Apple releases fixes for these bugs with the latest iOS update, which is one of the reasons why you need to update iOS on your iPhone.
Wait for it to finish and select Install once the update is downloaded. Your iPhone will restart and install the latest iOS update. Once restarted, check whether the depth effect is working or not.
If there is no new update available on your iPhone, try the following fixes.
2. Enable depth effect on lock screen
You must have disabled the depth effect option even if you have set the appropriate wallpaper on your lock screen. If you have disabled the option, the depth effect will not work.
The depth effect should work on your iPhone’s lock screen wallpaper if you disabled it earlier.
3. Remove Lock Screen Widget
Lock screen widgets are also a part of the new features in iOS 16. If you have a widget on your lock screen, the depth effect will not work. It seems many iOS 16 users make this mistake.
Removing the lock screen widget should automatically enable the Depth Effect feature. If not, then enable the Allow depth effect option from the lock screen.
4. Try a different lock screen wallpaper
You will need a wallpaper with a theme that can access the clock on the lock screen. Also, the wallpaper must have an acceptable resolution for the depth effect feature to work.
Some wallpapers, even with a prominent and clear foreground subject, may not work with the depth effect. In such cases, it is best to switch to a different wallpaper.
However, if you want to stick with your current wallpaper, you’ll need to make some changes. You can use online tools to blur parts of the image, especially the background, to make the foreground stand out more.
Try setting the edited wallpaper, and the depth effect should now start working. If not, you should switch to a different wallpaper.
Alternatively, you can search Google for some amazing depth effect wallpapers. However, check out the r/Depth Effect Wallpapers Reddit community for some fixed-shot wallpapers that work with Depth Effects.
5. Change location of wallpaper theme
After selecting the appropriate Wallpaper the wallpaper should automatically change to Depth Effect . However, it doesn’t always work like that. iOS may fail to separate foreground from background, given that it’s an AI algorithm.
Sometimes, you’ll need to carefully change the wallpaper for the depth effect to work.
5. Change location of wallpaper theme
After selecting the appropriate Wallpaper the wallpaper should automatically change to Depth Effect . However, it doesn’t always work like that. iOS may fail to separate foreground from background, given that it’s an AI algorithm.
Sometimes, you’ll need to carefully change the wallpaper for the depth effect to work.