Since they’ve been woven into almost every aspect of modern life, technology is a very personal thing. You likely have multiple devices — from a smartphone to a laptop, or maybe even a tablet — between your personal and professional routines. Since we spend so much of our time staring at display after display, it’s only natural to want to make them your own.

Customization lets you organize your tech so it’s in the best shape for your habits, but it also lets you pour a little personality into your devices. On iPhones and iPads, you’re probably familiar with changing app colors, light modes, and even wallpapers at this point, but did you know there was a way to make your lock screen 3D? I just turned my iPad’s lock screen into a 3D work of art that responds to all my movements, and you can too.

You don’t need to download any apps, sketchy files, or do anything that compromises your tablet. Here’s how to make your iPad’s lock screen 3D.

Brand

Apple

Storage

128 GB

CPU

A16

Operating System

iPadOS

How to make your iPad’s lock screen 3D

With the right photo and a hidden toggle

You’ll need just one thing to make your iPad’s lock screen appear three-dimensional — the right photograph. To achieve the effect, you have to pick a picture from your camera roll that has a very distinct foreground subject or a crystal clear object that draws your attention. Your iPad must be able to distinguish this object from the background and the rest of the picture.

The crispier the image, the better the effect. I found a gorgeously edited photo of what appears to be a glass strawberry, and decided it would go perfectly with my iPad’s cozy pink aesthetic. Once you have your picture, here’s how to make it your background and apply the 3D effect:

1. Have the picture saved to your camera roll.
2. Go to Settings and choose Wallpaper from the left-side menu.
3. Tap Add New Wallpaper.
4. Choose Photos from the top.
5. Tap the photo you want to make your 3D lock screen.
6. When the preview / edit screen appears, pinch and crop the image how you want to see it. Then, look in the bottom-right corner.
7. There will be three icons — one to choose a different picture from your camera roll, a hexagonal shape with a slash through it, and a three-dot menu. Tap the hexagon with the slash through it.
8. This will generate a spatial scene from the image, which essentially gives it new ‘depth.’ Pick up your iPad and move it around to see the 3D effect.
9. When you’re done customizing (adding widgets, adjusting the clock, etc.), tap Add in the top-right corner. This will add the 3D lock screen to your wallpaper assortment.

Now, every time you pick up your iPad and move it around, your lock screen will react in kind. It’s what the kids would call “trippy” and is a lovely surprise when someone else picks up your device and sees the effect in real time.