Xen HTML was the most flexible iOS 12 lock-screen tweak, while Jellyfish and LockDroid were better for a narrower visual change. That answer is deliberately historical. iOS 12 jailbreak tweaks are legacy software, so this is for someone maintaining a compatible, already-jailbroken device rather than a recommendation to alter a current daily phone.
The distinction matters because availability is no longer guaranteed. A package may be referenced in old screenshots and discussions yet have an offline repository or an incompatible dependency. Apple still publishes iOS 12 update information for older devices, including iOS 12.5.8, but a system update does not make an old jailbreak package safe, supported, or compatible. Back up the device before changing its lock screen, and do not use an old jailbroken phone for banking, work authentication, or sensitive accounts.
Xen HTML: best for real widget layouts
Xen HTML is the clear pick when the goal is a custom widget layout rather than a single redesigned clock. Its own project describes it as a way to display HTML-based widgets on the Lock Screen and Home Screen. The codebase specifically includes an iOS 9-to-12 tweak component, so it is a more defensible historical match for iOS 12 than a random current theme recommendation.
That flexibility is both the attraction and the complication. A Xen HTML setup has a widget, its configuration, and the underlying tweak. A weather panel, calendar, battery display, or stylized clock can be placed on the lock screen, but each live widget can also make the screen busier and potentially use more battery. Start with one simple clock or information widget. Confirm that it appears after a respring, that notifications remain readable, and that the device can still unlock normally before adding another layer.
Use Xen HTML when the wallpaper and information layout matter more than recreating a particular Android or watch-style appearance. It is also the better option for a person who is comfortable adjusting widget settings and removing a conflicting package if the lock screen stops loading cleanly.
Jellyfish: best for a cleaner clock-first look
Jellyfish was widely used as a lock-screen redesign rather than a complete widget framework. Contemporary jailbreak documentation describes its goal as making the lock screen more modern, attractive, and useful, and old iOS 12 tweak lists place it alongside Xen HTML as a lock-screen option. That makes it the sensible choice for a simpler setup: change the visual treatment of the clock and date without designing an entire HTML dashboard.
Keep expectations modest. Jellyfish is not a replacement for a full widget engine, and its old compatibility claims should be checked against the exact firmware and package version visible in the package manager. Install it alone first. If the result overlaps notifications, quick actions, or another tweak’s clock replacement, remove the overlap instead of stacking more layout tweaks to compensate.
A clean theme is usually more durable on old hardware than an ambitious one. Leave readable contrast between the clock and wallpaper, use a static background if the device feels slow, and keep the normal unlock path unobstructed. The point is a glanceable lock screen, not a screen that needs several swipes to reveal the time.
LockDroid: best for an Android-inspired experiment
LockDroid is the specialty option. Historical iOS 12 tweak lists describe it as an Android-style geometry lock-screen customization, and community compatibility posts list it for iOS 12.1.2 and iOS 12.4-era setups. It makes sense only for someone deliberately seeking that visual direction. It is not a general-purpose improvement over the stock lock screen and it is not evidence that all Android lock-screen behaviors can be reproduced safely on every iOS 12 device.
Because it changes interaction and layout more aggressively than a clock tweak, test LockDroid after a backup and with no other lock-screen redesign active. Check passcode entry, Face ID or Touch ID where applicable, notifications, camera and flashlight quick actions, and the behavior after a reboot. If an interaction is unreliable, restore the stock arrangement rather than accepting a lock screen that complicates access to the device.
A fourth option: hide the stock elements
For a wallpaper-first layout, Houdini offers a different idea: its public project says it can hide the lock-screen clock, date, notifications, and selected elements until a tap or hold. It also lists support for Jellyfish among compatible tweaks. That does not establish iOS 12 compatibility for every device or version, but it illustrates a useful design decision: decide whether the stock clock should be restyled, replaced, or hidden before installing a theme.
Choose by the amount you want to change
- Choose Xen HTML for HTML widgets and a custom information layout.
- Choose Jellyfish for a restrained clock-and-date redesign.
- Choose LockDroid for an intentionally Android-influenced legacy look.
- Choose a hiding tweak only when the wallpaper is the priority and the unlock controls remain easy to reach.
Use one main lock-screen tweak at a time. Record the package name and version before installing it, keep a recent backup, and avoid adding packages simply because an old tweak list called them essential. For an iOS 12 device, the best setup is the one that stays readable, unlocks reliably, and can be reversed without drama.