Quick Start
A lock screen to-do list means you read your tasks without unlocking or opening an app. On iPhone there are two mechanisms: widgets (small, tappable, from Apple or other apps) and wallpaper (large, read-only, rendered as an image). Pick based on whether you want a small live view that opens its app, or a longer list that simply stays in view.
Short on time? NoteWall (App Store name "Lock Screen Notes: NoteWall", iPhone only) is the wallpaper option. It had a 4.4 out of 5 rating from 109 ratings on the US App Store as of October 8, 2026. A subscription is required; the App Store shows the plans and terms before you pay. View on the App Store.
Widget or wallpaper: what actually differs
Since iOS 16 you can add widgets to the Lock Screen, and apps like Apple Reminders offer one. Apple's "Create a custom iPhone Lock Screen" article in the iPhone User Guide covers the steps: touch and hold, tap Customize, then Add Widgets. A wallpaper is different: it is just an image behind the clock, so it can hold much more text, but you cannot tap anything on it.
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Glance size. A widget shows a few short lines. A wallpaper can show a whole list in readable type.
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Interaction. A widget is live: it updates from its app, and tapping it takes you straight into that app. A wallpaper is read-only; you edit the source and refresh it.
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Upkeep. A widget updates itself from its app. A wallpaper made from a screenshot goes stale until you redo it; an app that renders it shortens that step but does not remove it.
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Privacy. Both are visible to anyone who picks up your phone. Keep medical, financial or work-sensitive items off a lock screen list, whichever method you use.
The widely cited figure from Gloria Mark's research on workplace interruptions at the University of California, Irvine.
Why not open the app instead?
Opening a task app to check a list is a small detour, and detours add up. Gloria Mark's interruption research at UC Irvine looked at work switches rather than phone checks, but the logic carries over: a list that is already on the screen you wake up means fewer trips away from what you were doing just to remember what comes next.
Setting up the wallpaper route with NoteWall
The friction people hit here is the Shortcut. iOS does not let apps change your wallpaper directly, so NoteWall relies on an Apple Shortcut named "Set NoteWall Wallpaper". According to the site FAQ, first-time setup takes about 2 minutes, though the Shortcut step can take a second attempt the first time through.
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Download NoteWall from the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6755601996?pt=128303795&ct=nw-web-blog&mt=8
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Install the "Set NoteWall Wallpaper" Shortcut when the app prompts you.
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Type your notes. Typically 3 to 8 fit on the wallpaper, depending on length.
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Choose a background: black or gray presets, a gradient, or your own photo.
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Allow Photos access when asked, then apply the wallpaper.
Afterwards, changing your list means editing your notes and tapping "Update Wallpaper", which opens the Shortcut and applies it in about 5 seconds per the FAQ. There is also a setting that shifts notes so they do not sit under lock screen widgets, and you can swipe a note to mark it done (shown as strikethrough).
If something is not working
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Wallpaper does not change. Run the update again from the app's Update Wallpaper button and let the Shortcut finish before you leave it.
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Photos error. If you denied access, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos → Lock Screen Notes: NoteWall and choose Full Access.
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Text hidden behind the clock or widgets. Turn on the setting that shifts notes so they do not overlap widgets, or keep the list to fewer lines.
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Widget not showing (Apple Reminders or others). Touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, and check the widget was added and that there is room for it.
Advanced: combine both
The two approaches are not exclusive. A common split is a wallpaper for "the three things I must do today" and a Reminders widget for the next dated item. Any Shortcut can also be assigned to the Action Button on supported iPhones, which is a general Apple feature you can use to launch a Shortcut of your choice. For more on that side, see iPhone shortcuts automation tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a widget or a wallpaper better for a lock screen to-do list?
Use a widget if you want a small live view that stays in sync with Apple Reminders and opens the app with a tap. Use a wallpaper if you want more text visible at once and are fine with it being read-only, refreshed whenever your list changes.
Can NoteWall tick tasks off on the lock screen?
No. The lock screen shows a wallpaper image. You mark a note done in the app with a swipe, then tap Update Wallpaper to refresh it.
Which devices does NoteWall run on?
iPhone only. As of October 8, 2026 the App Store listing for Lock Screen Notes: NoteWall shows no iPad, Mac, Apple Watch or web version, so the list lives on your iPhone lock screen and nowhere else.
Does NoteWall cost anything?
Yes. A subscription is required to use NoteWall, and the App Store shows the plans and terms before you pay. The widget route in this guide uses Apple Reminders, which is built into iPhone and costs nothing extra.
Keep Reading: If you found this helpful, check out these related guides:
Custom wallpapers with your notes
A simple to-do list on your lock screen
For a comprehensive overview, visit our Lock Screen Productivity Guide.
Want your list readable without opening anything?
NoteWall puts the notes you type onto your lock screen wallpaper. Setup takes about 2 minutes, and later updates about 5 seconds. A subscription is required; the App Store shows the plans and terms before you pay.
Download NoteWall
Founder of NoteWall. Building tools that turn your lock screen into a productivity system. About →
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