What is on your Windows Phone Lockscreen?

By George Ponder
published

With Microsoft updating the Windows Phone Glance Screen, adding support for MSN Weather and Health & Fitness apps, we thought it was time to revisit a popular subject, our Windows Phone lockscreen.

The native lockscreen settings offer a healthy amount of options to customize what information is displayed on your Windows Phone lockscreen. You also have a host of Windows Phone apps that offer lockscreen support as well as lockscreen customizations.

All of which can turn your lockscreen into a wealth of knowledge that is available at a glance.

In-house Customizations

For those not familiar, your Windows Phone lockscreen has the ability to display a photo with the date/time or the information can be expanded to include any new email or messages, stock information, weather forecasts, quotes of the day, and more. All can be found in your Windows Phone Settings.

Lockscreen and Glance Settings

In the lockscreen settings you can:

  • .Choose what application will run in the background
  • .Decide what app will be used for notifications
  • .Set up your quick status icons
  • .Determine how long it takes for the screen to time out
  • .Activate the password protection

Your Windows Phone will automatically identify any apps that have lockscreen support and list them in your background app and notification options. Such apps include Amazing Weather HD, Twitter, Super Calendar, Fhotoroom, Instagram Beta and our own WPCentral App.

Some of these apps include further customizations. For example, Amazing Weather HD allows you to choose your photo background source and the amount of weather information displayed.

Third Party Customization

Along with the native Windows Phone lockscreen settings, there are several third party Windows Phone apps that let you customize the amount and what information is displayed on your lockscreen. These lockscreen apps will cycle through the wallpaper images, display weather forecasts, stock information, news headlines and more.

LockMix, Awesome Lock and Today Widgets

Popular lockscreen customization apps include LockMix, Awesome Lock, Today Widgets and +Lockscreen. Just to name a few.

You also have the Live Lock Screen Beta app that lacks the ability to add custom information to your lockscreen but offers you a handful of layout design options other than the stock layout. However, based on our weekend poll, it doesn't appear many have stuck with Live Lock Screen Beta due to its bugs and glitches (and that's putting it politely).

What is on your Windows Phone Lockscreen?

With all the lockscreen options available, what layout works the best for you? Personally, I tend to keep things simple these days using messaging and email quick status icons, calendar notifications and a photo background. During the Spring and Winter I often add weather to the lockscreen just to keep up on Spring severe weather or freak Southern snow storms.

If Weather (the Bing version) ever gets the ability to use custom images, I will probably move to that as my background app. Then I can take advantage of the Glance support that was recently put into place.

But what say you? Do you go for the minimum layout for your lockscreen or do you go all out and fill your lockscreen with as much information as possible? Let us know in the comments what your layout is and any Windows Phone lockscreen apps you rely on.

George Ponder
George Ponder

George is the Reviews Editor at Windows Central, concentrating on Windows 10 PC and Mobile apps. He's been a supporter of the platform since the days of Windows CE and uses his current Windows 10 Mobile phone daily to keep up with life and enjoy a game during down time.

279 Comments
  • Bing image of the day.
  • +930
  • Or in my case, +HTC One M8 for Windows.
  • I guess Microsoft has some influence when HTC gave that name to the Phone LOL
  • No
  • +520
  • Just a pic i got from a cute girl :3
  • +925
  • A picture of my money... That I found in my couch cushion today. $47 million
  • Same. Bing.
  • +925
  • I use live lock screen beta
  • I had Bing image of the day but now I use lock buster.
  • +8.1.1
  • Same. Wish Cortana would still use the Bing daily image too.
  • +520
  • +1520
  • +930
  • Bing weather
  • Mee too. Bing weather after the last update to glance screen...
  • MSN Weather (correction)
  • Same after the latest glance update. Previously I was using the lockscreen beta app with no issues. I am hoping they can enable the weather for just glance as I do like the lockscreen app and prefer it over the weather for my lockscreen background.
  • same here i love the first live lockscreen layout, but, having weather on my glance screen was jsut to useful to keep the fancy lockscreen, alos.. I jsut learned today that song artist lockscreen backgrounds while playying music work again.. which the live lockscreen also hides, i lvoe its concept.. but it really needs to not be a tradeoff for it to be worth it )=
  • Same here
  • I use the LockMix app so I can see my next 5 appointments and the next four days worth of weather. It's an easy way to check my calendar with a simple double dap!
  • +830
  • Besides appointments and weather, I also have my contact details available via QR code. LockMix combined with the built-in notifications works best for me.
  • Lockmix is the best! Gets all the right info.
  • My bae's pic (using 1320)
    Also my gf has mine picture on her phone (also 1320)
  • Don't way bae
  • My girlfriend is on mine as well!
  • How about putting that extra b in bae to make it babe? Not too hard...just a tap...sounds waay sweeter
  • How about those inbreds
  • +920 bae without the B sounds...immature.
  • Weather
  • Lockmix with Bing image of the day and weather. Love it!
  • +830 I put my appointments and weather along with Bing pictures. Love lockmix
  • +620, I also have a battery meter, but I might remove it. Given the delay in upating the lockscreen it can be up to 15 minutes out of date, or even worse if updates are disabled due to low battery.
  • I have a picture of my girlfriend ^.^
  • Dude, what's a girlfriend?
  • I have a picture of your girlfriend too!!! Crazy
  • MSN Weather. ❤
  • Same here, the new glance update made the app worth it
  • +920 plus my baby daughter on Glance Background ^_^
  • I have a simple picture that I like :)
  • Feelings
  • ICE details Emergency Lock, always good as suffer from seizures and diabetes.
  • I like to keep it simple with a daily shuffle Bing images
  • I'd rather not say.
  • Seriously? You had to tell us you weren't going to tell us?
  • Good, I didn't care. /s
  • After last Glance update, it's Microsoft Weather.
  • Weather Flow
  • THIS. Plus bing image of the day in Portugal.
  • Used to, but kinda got bored, MSN supports glance..
  • I like to keep a theme going with my phone, so work my Lumia 635 and the optional cases for it I have the cover for Harley Quinn 10 I think...to match my start background image of the joker, trading between green and orange covers =P
  • I use lockmix and put my appointments and weather on it
  • Msn weather to use with glace. Previously use Bing image.
  • I use coolLockScreen..
  • I'm a minimalist. On my 920 and 925, I have a picture of me and my boyfriend that was taken last year with my mother's 620. I only have the date, time and calendar events along with that. On my 810, it's the same except that I'm using a picture of my cat. ;-)
  • MSN Weather so that glance can show the same :)
  • I use Lock Buster. It lets you create a constantly changing collage of your own photos, which seems like the most personalized a lock screen can get.
  • Lockscreener! With over 100 pics that randomly cycle. Mostly comic book art lol.
  • I use that too! Pretty cool :D
  • Bing+ notifications
  • I use Live LockScreen =) No lags on 930.
  • I guess that MS, again, asked WP Central to ask something, just to know if is worth to keep "making" the Live Locscreen app...
  • I using msn Weather on lock screen cause I need glance to showing weather, glance with weather is amazing on my 920...I had uninstall live lock screen cause lag and bug make my phone always resuming...
  • All I want is that I could use MSN Weather with the Bing Daily Image. Is ask too much Microsoft???
  • Sorry, the requested feature is not available in Brazil. :P :D
  • Weather Flow + custom image
  • Awesome Lock!
  • I use AwesomeLock too. Weather and upcoming appointments with Bing image of the day. (Black 920)
  • Awesome lock is great for personalized info. Mine rotates Facebook pictures, has my wife's phone number in case someone finds my phone, shows my next three appointments, and my latest email. Great app.
  • A picture of my shih tzu looking all regal and a few mail notifications. Nice and simple :)
  • just an pic off megan fox :D
  • Same as 1st images of your article.
  • Photostream app
  • Weather
  • Facebook
  • Nasa image of the day app renders lovely shots of the universe and shots of earth from above.
  • On my L1020 I use my Instagram feed, on the L1520 I used to use the Live LockScreen with the daily Bing image and I had no problems with it. But, after the glance update I'm using MSN Weather - I live in the mountains so it's important to keep on top of the weather :)
  • Awesome lock with weather and calendar.
  • FaceBook beta images. It's set to a few of my albums, so my screen is one of several dozen pics of me and my family, randomly chosen by the app.  I reallllly wanted to use the new weather details on my Glance screen, but what a shame that it needs to use Weather as your lockscreen image. I don't want to look at pictures of the sky... I like seeing my kids and wife.  :( 
  • If Bing or now MSN weather supported Bing image...
  • Amazing weather HD
  • My fiancé. She's so hot.
  • Bing images looks good to me.
  • Regular photos
  • Yup. I cycle through a random bunch of normal pictures. No app.
    I have messaging as my detailed status with phone, messaging, fb messenger, 6snap and skype as my quick status.
  • AwesomeLock to view the appointments for the next day or so and the weather.
  • Nothing else but background images that changes every 30 minutes. I like it minimalistic. Tends to be a bit messy with weather or something else.
  • MSN Weather --the new forecast display is really nicely designed. However, I've noticed that it doesn't keep up to date and sometimes shows the temperature and background image from hours ago. Example, it's 10 am and it is still showing a moon image and the overnight low temp. :( Calendar
    Email alerts
    Time
  • Accuweather, cos have some nice photo along with it
  • Accuweather doesn'tsupport lock screen
  • Dude, it does support lock screen after their latest update about couple a months ago
  • I installed the latest update of accu weather and i select it as alockscreen it shows no image or something related to accuweather . It shows the image of marbles (normal image)
  • Astronomy Picture of the Day!!!
  • Wpcentral bae
  • Amazing Weather HD with a custom image.
  • MSN Weather as well. 
  • msn weather of course , it makes my glance screen more beautiful
  • Just the Bing and nothing else.
  • MSN Weather
  • Nothing just a backgroundpic with name, adres and housephonenumber.
    Just in case i lose it and some honest person finds it. Posted via the WPC App for Android!
  • A picture of lupine with a dewdrop on the leaves, and the standard notifications. Glance and screen unlock beta wreck my phone.
  • Barclays' premiere league widgets and OS x Yosemite wallpaper.
  • I keep going back to the Amazing Weather lockscreen. You can add your own photos and it has several different weather display options. The lockscreen is pretty much the main reason I use the Amazing Weather app.
  • ...would love to know how to keep the lock screen visible. Am I supposed to disable the glance screen? Anybody....?
  • I don't quite understand what you mean
  • Pretty sure you can't do that. Without glance the screen just goes off... Would eat your battery otherwise if screen was permanently on. There's definitely a slight conflict of interest between lock and glance screens... Glance pretty much negates the need for a lock screen... Would be cool if you could turn it off completely. Or at the very least display different app info on both screens...
  • I agree with MSN Weather and custom images. I hate not being able to use my own :/
  • I'm using the Forecast. It shows weather for my location and lets me choose the background pic.
  • Me too. It's the most reliable forecast for my location, I wish it had more lock screen options though.
  • WP central app pic
  • MSN Weather for lock screen app, Calendar for notifications, and Quick Status icons for Phone, Messaging, Outlook, WP Central, and the battery icon from Tile Me.
  • I just use the default picture that my Lumia 930 came with. The feather on water is actually quite nice
  • Since I reset my icon same thing till I get the original pic I was using
  • Lockbuster!
  • WPC for lockscreen this month
  • Awesome Lock App with bing image.
  • Just a Pokémon OR/AS fanart from pixiv. ☺
  • WP Central lock screen, always up to date on news for windows phone.
  • I put photos of iphone 6
  • SWAMISM
  • I have a picture of my cat on my lockscreen.
  • Stormtrooper on white L920.
  • Accuweather.
  • Weather flow. All I need.
  • Bing....errrr...MSN Weather
  • Glance + MS Weather is draining my battery very fast
     
  • Live lockscreen app
  • Awesome Lock rules!!!
  • MSN weather
  • Lockscreen wallpapers plus GlanceData to show the percentage of battery charged/discharged last hour and the percentage of cellular data available.
     
  • Awesome Lock with weather, calendar views
  • I share your sentiments. I'd love to use MSN Weather so I can have weather on my Glance screen, but the lack of custom images and/or Bing Photo of the Day is killing me. The second they add support for that: I'll switch for the sake of weather on my Glance Screen. More ideally, they'll open up this functionality to third-party developers, so that way third party apps can also display stuff on the Glance screen.
  • I've removed anything branded "MSN" from my devices.
  • I agree the MSN branding is stupid, but doesn't make the apps any less pretty and/or functional.
  • I use Forecast bc it lets me choose a pic of my choice as a background.
  • Had bing for a longe time, then when this glance screen update came had weather for a while and now I currently have readit with F1Porn subreddit images. Bliss!
  • bing images...
  • Still using the Glance Background beta on my 1020 :)
  • App called cool lock screen. Ir just random images.
  • instagram beta lock screen love it, and thats the only reason i have it installed, for everything else 6tag
  • I use LockMix. The weather icons are great and I can choose photos from all my albums for background. Wanted to use the live , but so far it is just a useless gimmick. My 939 doesn't support Glance, but I had turned out off even on my 920.
  • Photostream puts naked ladies on my lap xl screen each dsy
  • MSN weather so that I can have that cool glance screen :) all I need now is ability to have custom wallpaper along with weather widget. Microsoft you listening?
  • Weather(Bing) with customizable background would be my favorite :)
  • Try the Forecast, it lets you choose your own picture as a background.
  • I choose Weather(Bing/MSN) because of the New Glance Screen update ;)
  • which weather app are you using in the first picture George? the one with the sand dunes. thanks    
  • I don't allow any third party lock screen customization.  I use the stock features.  Background is set by Bing, and if I'm playing music I have the artist feature turned on.  The notifications that get shown are phone, text, two different email notifications and WhatsApp.
  • Bing with Dilbert using awesome lock
  • I was using "Awesome Lock" until I stumbled across Lockie (by Zendios). I find Lockie to be a bit better - bing image of the day, weather updates once an hour and it shows my calendar for the day. Highly recommended.
  • Your mom.
  • Best and most mature reply ever... /s
  • I use Awesome Lock.. Works great!
  • Using an app called lockie.. Uses Bing Dailey image with RSS feed of wpcentral with days weather..
  • I have a picture of Sabretooth (the mascot for the Buffalo Sabres) looking at one of my book Andrew and the Pirates at my last book signing.
  • I use Awesome Lock...its been great adding features like "my teams" weather layout is cool too
  • Bing Picture of the day + live lock screen beta
  • I use the Ffffound.com app to display a new image and just the basic Calendar info and call, text and voicemail alerts.
  • Using the excellent and customizable Lockmix app. On my screen I got rotating fav saved images/photos for each day. Birthday countdown, anniversary countdown, calendar 1 week ahead schedule(from Chronos Calendar and internal app) And 'If found call ..... on .........' message. All the usual msg, phone, email..etc still show with time and date as on normal internal Lockscreen too!
  • Awesome Lock all the way!
  • Map Wallpaper weather radar
  • Guess I'm the minority here... Instagram! :p
  • i dont want pictures of other peoples food on my phone lock screen :D
  • depends on who you follow, i love instagram lock screen, i wish fb and twitter lock screen was like that..
  • A custom Subreddit group in Baconit that consists of various wallpaper and photography subreddits. It alternates every 30min
  • Amazing weather hd with Bing image of the day.
  • Amazing Weather HD and bing of the day...
  • Live lock screen beta!!
  • I recently switched from Bing image to Weather for the Glance screen support. I used to use Weatherflow on my lockscreen but disabled it throughout the summer months. I was using Lockscreen customizer apps but some seem to drain my battery - I have not tried them in quite a while.
  • Bing. But it would be nice if the health and Fitness app supports steps as detailed information
  • Just add the option for customizable image for msn weather then it would be perfect
  • Try the Forecast
  • They want MSN Weather because of the Glance screen support.
  • Lockmix for me...
  • I use a photo for lock screen. If I want specific info I check weather app or whatever.
  • I use Lockmix, with a varrying amount of pics of my kids, mixed with weather, and calendar appts.
  • amazing weather.
  • Readit: Actual top /r/spaceporn subreddit image and my notifications. That's all
  • MSN weather...love the new extended forecast on the lock screen
  • I use WP Lockscreen, to change background every day with my photos
  • I use Bing image of the day. Love the images and the resolution.
  • Accuweather App
  • Glance with MSN Weather
  • My Own Pic.... With Text "Love Yourself" ;)
  • Seems a bit hands in the pants now doesn't it??? :P
  • LOL :D :P
  • I use the awesome Weather Hound. it has a nice weather overview on top of bing picture of the day.
  • Bing
  • instgram lockscreen
  • I use desImage for lock screen background. I wish it would work/integrate with MSN Weather so I have weather info on glance screen.
  • The Universe
  • NBA Game time app. They really need to bring support back and to the US.
  • msn weather. all the time ! think a change is long over due.
  • Awesome Lock is just too useful with all of the different things you can display. Also using Bing images for the background.
  • Bing
  • Most times I use a single picture, often same as background. At the moment I'm trying Weather Lock/Glance combo, which works fine.
  • Live Lockscreen Beta with a edited picture of my homescreen. Still love it
  • Ditto
  • Actually, I use the Live Lock Screen Beta (it's buggy but looks cool) and an epic photo of Shadow the Hedgehog :P
  • Amazing Weather HD with metro hourly forecast.
  • I use the "Lost Phone Screen" app.  It let's me add text to a favorite picture and also displays the date, time, next calendar item as well as noticifation icons for voice mail and different email accounts.   The text that I use offers a reward if the phone is found and returned as well as my home phone, my wife's mobile number and my home email address.    
  • Lock Screen Beta, with a homemade, architecture-inspired background. I'll live with the rare glitch and don't need much info on my lock screen...
  • msn weather , because I like to see it on the my glance screen .
    but I do not particularly like the weather background image , which can not use Bing daily image , unfortunately .
  • My own image, and just the time and date.
  • I use lockmix
  • Chelsea jilligan?
  • I used to use Bing pictures, now I'm uploading my photos
  • I use images from digitalblasphemy.com and have icons for mail, phone stuff, and Skype. I'd replace the Skype indicator with SteamChat, if the latter app allowed it.
  • im currently using Weather on Glace screen, however that does take away the ability to use Bing's photo of the day as my background, which is frustrating. Im really liking having the Weather on Glance as i dont even have to touch my phone to see what i need to prepare for.
  • My pictures are on my lock screen and change it every 30 minutes with Lock Screen Changer.... :3
  • Awesome Lock was and is best lock screen app. I love the stocks and sports integration.
  • I have a normal lockscreen to show the original beauty of the Windows Phone
  • Amazing weather with the Bing image of the day. Hoping it gets glance support.
  • I got:
    - Paper Shuffle for background (Dev needs to up the limit from 300 pictures lol).
    - Email for the Main Notification slot..
    - Missed Calls \ Emails \ Twitter \ WhatsApp \ WPCentral for the small slots.
  • I'm deelpy in love with Amazing Weather, so i have this app showing the current weather and temperature and the forecast+ temperature for the next 12 hours (3 hours intervals). The cool fact of the app is that you can use Bing Daily to change the image, so for me it's the perfect deal
  • I used Amazing Weather HD with daily Bing Image, but now switched to MSN Weather after the Glance update. When Amazing Weather HD adds support for Glance (hopefully) I'll definitely go back for it.
  • Bing weather...
  • Lockie with Bing daily photo, weather, then an RSS feed for WPCentral.
  • MSN weather, that's the only way to have a fancy glance screen
  • Weather on my 1520
  • Bing weather, calendar, ph/txt/mail notif. and battery
  • Live lock screen with a pic of me and my best buds..
  • Lockscreener! I created lots of themes, apply them filters and stick some stickers :D
  • Lock screen changer PRO
  • A pictue of Cortana
  • Amazing Weather HD
  • I have msn weather as lock screen
  • i currently have msn weather, but i wish it was just for glance screen since i rather have my dark bleak background behind it, also the 5 notification icons and hour/date, no extended alert inf on glance, seems too crowded, even the date sometimes seems odd, the weather info goes away after a while and only comes back when you wave your hand over the phone, it should do the same with the date below the clock
  • Calender+ Bing image
  • Whatever Bing UK puts there.
     
  • Lockmix as background. I love the Chuck Norris jokes!! Then WhatsApp as detailed and WhatsApp, messages, phone, email and 6tag quick status icons
  • A windows 7 logo.. Feels ultimate
  • I wish I could find a good ICE lock screen.  Right now I use a picture with Lock screen text app showing my ICE contacts.
  • Instagram
  • +Same, would like to use weather along with custom image, it shouldn't be a big deal to implement
  • Try Forecast
  • Forecast gives me weather info of my current location, and a background image of my choice.
  • Earthporn images updated every 5 hours from Baconit with standard notifications.
  • Wp central
  • MSN Weather. All 3d-party apps lack style and "metro".
  • Amazing Weather HD. Clean and simple weather lockscreen.
  • Personally I prefer a Lock Manager. It's very customizable, stable and offers great look. You can set wallpaper slideshow changing every hour, add different weather widgets, and view tasks from all your calendars.
  • Was a screenshot before I reset my icon now its just the default image for now as I need to reload the image.
    For notifications its the Calendar for detailed, the phone, messeges, games(dont know why I have it as I dont think there is anything that supports it), & bbm
  • Was using live beta screen but after glance update I've gone back to use that with the weather
  • No glance for 521:(
  • My latest CAD design project.
  • Awesome Lock is the One and only app in my lockscreen ... So many options and great customization ...
  • I use a combination of Awesome Lock and the Bing picture of the day.
  • For me it's simple with my designs, minimal wallpapers, 500px, Bing image of the day and photos of my dear ones. I'd like to see a picture slideshow option, the one introduced in Windows 8.1
  • amazing weather HD
  • Bing image and calender tasks.
  • My only Grandson. Gawd I love ❤ that lil man.
  • I'm not be able to see weather app in list when i try to add it as lock screen app. uninstalling and reinstalling, restarting i tried but same. any suggestions ?
  • Wpc lockscreen background
  • What's the middle widget app?! With the basketball and soccer scores! SOMEONE HELPP
  • I prefer a clean look. A nice, quiet pic with date and time only.
  • Weather
  • Daily Bing picture
  • Well, I use Bing.
  • Awesome lock
  • It is great.. Date& time, weather, map, notifications in one glance.. Sadly L520 doesn't have this!
  • Post It Wall.
  • An assortment of pictures of my favorite Suicide Girls. Usually either Carrina, Radeo, Katherine or Chad.
  • What app is in the lead image? With Birmingham Alabama
  • Amazing Weather HD, because "Bing Weather" is sooo inaccurate... Without Bing image of the day, I got bored of that...
  • WPcentral
  • Amazing Weather HD with a custom background.  plus typical apps showing status, mostly calender.
  • simple picture from my camera roll, but after the new version of glance MSN weather.
  • Nothing, I just put plain black image, and some notification like Message, Phone & BBM.
  • Bing image of the day + Amazing Weather. Haven't found any lockscreen app with weather features I like better! :)
  • Amazing weather HD with my selected photos, sometimes switch to live radar lock screen when weather is bad and just switched to msn weather with glance. If live radar had forecast on screen that would be cool or as stated before msn weather let you choose your own photos with glance screen. Glance update does not seem to be current with MSN weather.
  • http://forums.wpcentral.com/windows-phone-8-1/315588-video-game-live-loc...
  • I'm using Forecast with custom photo plus INI Reader in detailed status and phone, message, calendar in quick status.