Tech

iOS 16: How To Move Notifications To Top Of Lock Screen

This guide explains how to move notifications to top in iOS 16.

After rumours, speculation, and a closed beta, iOS 16 has arrived. iPhone users can now get their hands on the latest version of Apple’s iOS operating system.

iOS 16 brings with it a plethora of new features designed to enhance the iPhone user experience. From the revamped lock screen to the streamlined Focus tool, iOS 16 moves Apple’s mobile operating system forward in many ways.

However, with any big update comes a learning curve. Even the most seasoned of iPhone users will find themselves asking questions about how certain things work in iOS 16.

As always, Apple has done a fairly good job of explaining what you need to know when you go into apps or new settings for the first time. But if you don’t even know where to start, you might find yourself feeling a bit lost.

At one point or another, we’ve all wasted time scrolling through settings trying to activate a new feature that we’ve read about.

iOS 16 How To Move Notifications To Top Of Lock Screen
Notifications appear at the bottom of the lock screen on iOS 16.

The first thing many users will notice about iOS 16 is the redesigned lock screen which, among other things, has changed how notifications are displayed.

Previously, notifications appeared at the top of the screen, just below the date and time, and were ordered in a sequential list.

In iOS 16, notifications appear at the bottom of the screen and are stacked on top of one another. For many users, this change has been jarring and many are asking how to move notifications to the top of the screen as they were before.

So, let’s go over if it’s even possible and how to move notifications to the top of the lock screen in iOS 16…

How To Move Notifications To Top in iOS 16

iOS 16 has brought a plethora of new features to the iPhone user experience. Perhaps the most exciting are the new lock screen widgets.

Lock screen widgets are useful utilities like live weather and news that can be moved and customised. They appear below the time and date. As a result, notifications have been moved down to the bottom of the screen to create space for them.

iOS 16 How To Move Notifications To Top Of Lock Screen
First, go into Notifications settings.

Even with Apple’s design considerations in mind, the repositioning of notifications is something iPhone users are struggling to get used to in iOS 16.

Thankfully, there is something of a work around to get notifications almost back to how they were.

This is how to move notifications to the top in iOS 16:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. In Settings, select Notifications.
  3. Under ‘Display As’, select the ‘List’ option.
iOS 16 How To Move Notifications To Top Of Lock Screen
Select ‘List’ under ‘Display As’.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a perfect fix. Notifications will still appear at the bottom of the screen. However, they will expand upwards in a list as more come through.

So, for users wanting notifications back at the top of the lock screen in iOS 16, it’s bad news. That said, the List option is the best way of moving notifications towards the top right now. It just isn’t perfect.

Hopefully Apple address this in future updates. Maybe they will provide a better solution for those asking how to move notifications to the top in iOS 16.

Did you find this iOS 16 guide useful? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other Tech articles…

Joe Harby

About Author

Joe is one of the editors and founders of Downtime Bros and an accredited critic. He has more than a decade of experience in journalism and communications. He is passionate about everything in the worlds of gaming, movies, and TV, as demonstrated by the countless words he has written about them. He is overly proud of his Bloodborne platinum trophy and plays too much Call of Duty. Follow him on Twitter and check out his reviews on OpenCritic.

1 Comment

  1. Rick G

    22 September 2022 16:22 BST

    The large fonts for the Time – Apple must think their customers are blind! No way to change that apparently. So add 2-problems to IOS 16 and counting!!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *