IPhone Lock Screen Music: Third-Party App Support
IOS 26 ushers in animated album art for iPhone lock screens, a bold move that expands beyond Apple Music too embrace third-party music apps.This significant update empowers developers wiht a new API, opening doors for dynamic visual experiences during music playback. The forthcoming public release this fall will allow apps in the App Store to fully leverage the new capabilities,with the potential for full-bleed animated art. While the article does not provide exact dates, the fall release suggests a timeframe for users. The big question is: Will Spotify, a key player in the music streaming arena, adopt this feature? News Directory 3 covered the topic. The feature doesn’t limit itself, potentially extending to other audio applications like audiobooks and podcasts. Discover what’s next for your iPhone music experience.
iOS 26 to Feature Animated Album Art for Third-Party Music Apps
Apple’s upcoming iOS 26 will introduce animated album art on the iPhone lock screen, extending the feature beyond apple Music to third-party streaming services. The update provides a visually dynamic experience, displaying artwork in full-screen with playback controls.
The new MPMediaItemAnimatedArtwork API allows developers to integrate animated video clips for lock screen display. This feature is currently available for testing in the developer SDK.
The public release of iOS 26, expected in the fall, will enable third-party apps in the App Store to utilize the new API. This will allow for full-bleed animated art on the lock screen.
Whether Spotify, a major competitor to Apple Music, will adopt the new API remains to be seen. Spotify has previously criticized Apple for gatekeeping but has been hesitant to embrace platform features like airplay 2.
While designed primarily for music streaming,the API could extend to other audio apps,such as those for audiobooks and podcasts,provided video artwork is available.
What’s next
iPhone users can anticipate the rollout of iOS 26 this fall, bringing animated album art and enhanced lock screen visuals to a wider range of music and audio applications.