A lot of iPhone users who recently updated to iOS 26 have noticed that the animated album art on the lock screen has disappeared. Instead of the smooth motion artwork that usually plays behind the playback controls, the lock screen stays static.
This usually isn’t a bug in the Music app itself — it’s often tied to system settings or battery-saving features that disable visual effects.
Quick Fixes to Try
1. Check Animated Album Art Settings
Go to Settings → Apps → Music → Animated Album Art.
Make sure it’s set to On Wi-Fi & Cellular or Always On.
If it’s toggled off, animations won’t appear at all.
2. Turn Off Low Power Mode
When Low Power Mode is on, iOS limits motion effects to save battery.
Go to Settings → Battery → Low Power Mode and turn it off.
Restart Music and lock the screen to test.
3. Disable Reduce Motion
If you previously enabled Reduce Motion for accessibility, it also blocks album art animations.
Head to Settings → Accessibility → Motion → Reduce Motion and make sure it’s turned off.
4. Update Music and iOS
Make sure you’re on the latest build of iOS 26 and update the Music app through the App Store. Apple often pushes minor patches that fix glitches introduced after big updates.
5. Restart Your iPhone
A simple reboot clears cached settings that sometimes interfere with lock-screen artwork.
6. Check Wallpaper or Focus Mode
Some static wallpapers or Focus modes can override the animated lock-screen effect.
Switch to a default wallpaper under Settings → Wallpaper to test if animations return.
Extra Tips
- Make sure you have a stable Wi-Fi or cellular connection — animations sometimes rely on live data.
- If the issue persists, sign out and back into your Apple ID in Settings → Media & Purchases.
- Report persistent bugs via Apple’s Feedback Assistant.
Final Thoughts
In most cases, the missing animation comes down to battery-saving settings or motion restrictions. Once you re-enable the Animated Album Art toggle and turn off Low Power Mode or Reduce Motion, the feature usually comes back instantly.
Enjoy your lock-screen album art moving again on iOS 26.
