How to Put Contact Info on Your iOS Lock Screen Wallpaper
If you have an iPhone, iPod or iPad, it's a good idea to add your contact information to your lock screen wallpaper so that if your device gets lost and someone finds it, they have a way to contact you! You may have already set a passcode on your iOS device's lock screen for added security, but it actually makes it harder for someone who finds your device to contact you since they cannot unlock the device to get your contact information.
I have provided these templates to help you with proper placement of the text for your contact information on each of the Apple devices available now.
The templates shows the rectangular area where it is safe to place your text so that it won’t be covered up by the built-in lock screen graphics and text.
iOS has several apps to help you do this, but I have not been happy with the ones I've used. They are either too limited in the images you can use, don't offer a nice selection of fonts, or restrict the type of information you can include. I find it much easier to use these templates in the graphics app of my choice or on my desktop software so that I have the freedom to use my own selection of wallpaper, fonts, and information to include.
If you use Android there is already an option in the system settings to put your contact information on the lock screen, so I have not included templates for Android devices.
The templates are provided as PNG files and Photoshop PSD files. If you are using Photoshop or Photoshop Elements on your desktop or Photoshop Touch on iOS, you will want to open the template file, and add your text as a new layer within the marked "safe zone." Then import your chosen wallpaper and place it as another layer below the text layer. Hide all the other layers and then save the wallpaper for use on your device.
If you are using another app, you can open the PNG file and use the markings to properly position your text, then replace the template image with your wallpaper image and save it out with the text included. The app I like to use for this on iOS is Over ($1.99, app store). It will allow you to add text separate from a photo, and then change out the photo without affecting the text placement. I'm sure there are many apps you can use for this, but I haven't found anything as simple as Over, which also offers a nice selection of beautiful fonts.
Note: I have not had any luck finding a FREE iOS app with a text tool and background swapping that will work with these templates. If you know of one, please suggest it in the comments here.
iPad Wallpaper Template - Add Contact info to Your Lock Screen
Download Photoshop PSD | Download PNG
(Right click and save link or save target.)
The iPad requires a square wallpaper because the lock screen rotates to landscape or portrait orientation. Depending on how your screen is rotated, parts of the wallpaper will be cropped on the lock screen. This template is sized at 2048 x 2048 pixels for the Retina iPads (3, 4, Air, mini 2). If you have a iPad 1 or 2, or original mini you can use the same template and just scale it down to 50% (1024 x 1024 pixels) for the lower resolution screen.
Or use it as-is, and it will resize when you set it as your wallpaper.
See the introduction for instructions on how to use the template.
iPhone 5 Wallpaper Template - Add Contact info to Your Lock Screen
Download Photoshop PSD | Download PNG
(Right click and save link or save target.)
The iPhone 5 Retina screen resolution is 640 x 1136 pixels. This template will work with iPhone 5, 5s, 5c, and later iPhones with the 640 x 1136 pixel resolution.
See the introduction for instructions on how to use the template.
iPhone 4 Wallpaper Template - Add Contact info to Your Lock Screen
Download Photoshop PSD | Download PNG
(Right click and save link or save target.)
The iPhone 4 Retina screen resolution is 640 x 960 pixels. This template will work with iPhone 4 and 4s. If you have an older iPhone without the Retina screen you can use the same template and just scale it down to 50% (320 x 480 pixels)Â for the lower resolution screen. Or use it as-is, and it will resize when you set it as your wallpaper.
See the introduction for instructions on how to use the template.
Step-by-step instructions for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements:
Instructions for Over app:
If you have an iPhone, iPod or iPad, it's a good idea to add your contact information to your lock screen wallpaper so that if your device gets lost and someone finds it, they have a way to contact you! You may have already set a passcode on your iOS device's lock screen for added security, but it actually makes it harder for someone who finds your device to contact you since they cannot unlock the device to get your contact information.
I have provided these templates to help you with proper placement of the text for your contact information on each of the Apple devices available now.
The templates shows the rectangular area where it is safe to place your text so that it won’t be covered up by the built-in lock screen graphics and text.
iOS has several apps to help you do this, but I have not been happy with the ones I've used. They are either too limited in the images you can use, don't offer a nice selection of fonts, or restrict the type of information you can include. I find it much easier to use these templates in the graphics app of my choice or on my desktop software so that I have the freedom to use my own selection of wallpaper, fonts, and information to include.
Tip: If you are creating a customized wallpaper for your phone, remember to put an alternate contact phone number other than the one that will ring your phone! On my phone I put my home landline phone number and my husband's cellphone number.
If you use Android there is already an option in the system settings to put your contact information on the lock screen, so I have not included templates for Android devices.
The templates are provided as PNG files and Photoshop PSD files. If you are using Photoshop or Photoshop Elements on your desktop or Photoshop Touch on iOS, you will want to open the template file, and add your text as a new layer within the marked "safe zone." Then import your chosen wallpaper and place it as another layer below the text layer. Hide all the other layers and then save the wallpaper for use on your device.
If you are using another app, you can open the PNG file and use the markings to properly position your text, then replace the template image with your wallpaper image and save it out with the text included. The app I like to use for this on iOS is Over ($1.99, app store). It will allow you to add text separate from a photo, and then change out the photo without affecting the text placement. I'm sure there are many apps you can use for this, but I haven't found anything as simple as Over, which also offers a nice selection of beautiful fonts.
Note: I have not had any luck finding a FREE iOS app with a text tool and background swapping that will work with these templates. If you know of one, please suggest it in the comments here.
Choose your device from the following pages to download the templates:
Tip: Visit Vladstudio for some of the finest wallpapers you will find. Vladstudio offers free wallpapers sized for all devices including desktop monitors, dual monitors, tablets, and phones.
iPad Wallpaper Template - Add Contact info to Your Lock Screen
Download Photoshop PSD | Download PNG
(Right click and save link or save target.)
The iPad requires a square wallpaper because the lock screen rotates to landscape or portrait orientation. Depending on how your screen is rotated, parts of the wallpaper will be cropped on the lock screen. This template is sized at 2048 x 2048 pixels for the Retina iPads (3, 4, Air, mini 2). If you have a iPad 1 or 2, or original mini you can use the same template and just scale it down to 50% (1024 x 1024 pixels) for the lower resolution screen.
Or use it as-is, and it will resize when you set it as your wallpaper.
See the introduction for instructions on how to use the template.
Tip: Visit Vladstudio for some of the finest wallpapers you will find. Vladstudio offers free wallpapers sized for all devices including desktop monitors, dual monitors, tablets, and phones.
iPhone 5 Wallpaper Template - Add Contact info to Your Lock Screen
Download Photoshop PSD | Download PNG
(Right click and save link or save target.)
The iPhone 5 Retina screen resolution is 640 x 1136 pixels. This template will work with iPhone 5, 5s, 5c, and later iPhones with the 640 x 1136 pixel resolution.
See the introduction for instructions on how to use the template.
Tip: Visit Vladstudio for some of the finest wallpapers you will find. Vladstudio offers free wallpapers sized for all devices including desktop monitors, dual monitors, tablets, and phones.
iPhone 4 Wallpaper Template - Add Contact info to Your Lock Screen
Download Photoshop PSD | Download PNG
(Right click and save link or save target.)
The iPhone 4 Retina screen resolution is 640 x 960 pixels. This template will work with iPhone 4 and 4s. If you have an older iPhone without the Retina screen you can use the same template and just scale it down to 50% (320 x 480 pixels)Â for the lower resolution screen. Or use it as-is, and it will resize when you set it as your wallpaper.
See the introduction for instructions on how to use the template.
Tip: Visit Vladstudio for some of the finest wallpapers you will find. Vladstudio offers free wallpapers sized for all devices including desktop monitors, dual monitors, tablets, and phones.
Step-by-step instructions for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements:
- Open the PSD wallpaper template file for your device in Photoshop. (If you get a dialog asking you about compatibility, choose "Keep layers.")
- Also open the wallpaper image you'd like to use.
- If the layers panel is not showing, go to Window > Layers.
- In the template file, Double click on the "T" thumbnail in the layers panel to select the default text.
- Type your contact info, replacing the default text.
- Size and scale the replacement text as desired, making sure to keep it inside the gray rectangular "safe zone." Change the font, if desired.
- Save the template file with your own contact info under a new name for future use.
- Switch to the open wallpaper file.
- In the layer's panel, right click on the background layer of your wallpaper file, and choose "Duplicate layer."
- In the duplicate layer dialog, choose the template file as the destination document.
- Switch back to the template file, and drag the wallpaper layer below the text layer in the layers panel.
- If desired, adjust the text color to compliment your wallpaper design.
- Save the image as a PNG and transfer it to your iPad or iPhone to use as wallpaper.
Instructions for Over app:
- Save the PNG template and your wallpaper to your device's camera roll.
- Open Over.
- When Over first opens it will show you all the photos in your camera roll. Choose the wallpaper template file.
- Tap ADD TEXT.
- A cursor and color selector will appear with the keyboard.
- Type your contact info, choose a color, and tap DONE.
- To reposition text, tap and hold on the text for a moment, then drag to move it.
- If you click the yellow arrow on the right side of the screen, you can slide the menu wheel and tap EDIT for more options such as size, opacity, tint, justification, line spacing, etc.
- If you click the yellow arrow on the right side of the screen, you can slide the menu wheel and tap FONT to change the typeface.
- Make sure all your text stays inside the "safe zone" rectangle of the template.
- When you are happy with the text and positioning, click the yellow arrow, and choose photos from the menu wheel.
- Tap on the wallpaper photo you would like to use. It will replace the template file and your text will stay in the same place.
- Tap the yellow arrow once again and choose SAVE from the menu. The wallpaper will be ready to use in the camera roll.