Apple to Let Third-Party Music Apps Display Animated Lock Screen Artwork on iPhones

Apple is reportedly enabling third-party music apps to showcase animated artwork on the iPhone lock screen, a feature previously exclusive to Apple Music. According to a 9to5Mac report, the change is tied to updates in the Now Playing interface introduced in iOS 17.

Developers will soon be able to leverage a new API expected to roll out with iOS 18, allowing their apps to display dynamic visuals when media is played. This brings third-party apps like Spotify and YouTube Music closer to parity with Apple’s own offering in terms of visual experience.

Until now, the lock screen animation feature had been inaccessible to external apps, even though iOS 16 laid the foundation for such customizations. The upcoming enhancement is seen as part of Apple's broader efforts to open up its ecosystem amidst growing regulatory pressure worldwide.
*This news has been published on Gadgets 360 on 16th June 2025

 

 

 

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