Apple has introduced a new feature for the lock screen on iOS 26, allowing animated artwork to be displayed when music is playing. With playback controls resting on a liquid glass surface, users can now enjoy an immersive experience.
The new feature is available in the Apple Music app and can also be adopted by third-party developers through a new API called MPMediaItemAnimatedArtwork. This means that apps like Spotify will be able to provide animated video clips for display on the lock screen.
Although the feature requires iOS 26’s public release, users can test it now using the developer SDK. The capability is intended for media playback, but other audio apps could also use it to provide video artwork when available.
A public rollout of iOS 26 will be announced in the fall, and all iPhone users will receive it for free. However, it remains unclear whether Spotify or Apple Music’s biggest rival will adopt this feature.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2025/06/15/iphone-apple-music-lock-screen-animated-artwork-third-party-apps