Image credits: 9to5Mac

Apple’s next big software update could give Apple Music listeners a more immersive visual experience, expected as part of the upcoming announcements at WWDC 2025.

What is expected at Apple’s WWDC 25?

With Apple’s WWDC 2025 just around the corner, rumours are swirling about what updates could be coming to Apple’s operating systems. 

When it comes to the biggest rumoured changes: Apple is reportedly preparing to rename its entire lineup of operating systems for greater consistency. Moving away from its existing naming systems such as iOS 18, watchOS 12, and visionOS 2, all platforms are set to be aligned under the same version number based on the upcoming release season. This will see operating systems synchronized with the same number (in this case 26) to reflect the September 2025 to September 2026 release window, e.g. iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and visionOS 26.

Image credits: MacRumors

While much of the focus has been on these design changes and cross-platform consistency, one small but potentially exciting update has caught the eye of music fans: full-screen animated album art for Apple Music on the Lock Screen.

A lock screen upgrade for Apple Music

According to reports from 9to5Mac, Apple has been preparing a slew of improvements to everyday apps which have so far gone unnoticed… with a nice little addition for Apple Music users. 

Apple is expected to introduce animated album artwork to appear full-screen on the Lock Screen when a song is playing via Apple Music. Currently, users see static album art that fills the screen with a matching background tint. This change would see Apple Music lifting its dynamic animations that are already supported within the app itself, and applying it to the Lock Screen for a full-screen experience. 

Of course, only select albums feature this animated artwork and so this wouldn’t apply for every track. But for those that do, it could offer a more engaging and visual experience for Apple Music listeners.

While this doesn’t mark a significant update, it does enable a new format for artist branding and fan engagement. It represents a chance for musicians to consider how their visuals translate to their fans, ensuring that they can blend their audio with compelling visuals.

What else to expect from Apple

Other small changes noted by 9to5Mac, include:

  • Messages upgrades: An AI-powered translation feature will automatically translate any messages, alongside a new ability to create polls in chats.
  • Notes export addition: Users will finally be able to export Notes in Markdown- something that many have requested as competitors have supported it for years.
  • CarPlay UI redesign: CarPlay is set to get a visual refresh that aligns with the new OS design coming to Apple’s operating systems.
Apple WWDC 2025: What to expect

Takeaway 

As always with rumours, these features are yet to be confirmed yet and must be taken with a grain of salt. Regardless, as WWDC 2025 approaches, it will be interesting to see how any software changes may reshape how fans experience music. As an Apple Music user myself, the rumoured animated album artwork for my Lock Screen would certainly be a welcome addition.

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