App icon fills entire lock screen

I explained what you're seeing and it's built into iOS, which you don't own, nor can you change. The media player controls will appear as you see them on your Lock Screen, whether you like or not if you have something playing, like Apple Music. You may not like it, but you cannot change it. So getting snarky with us, your fellow users isn't appreciated. I never suggested what you should want. I suggested what is and what you can't change.

Since you suggest you don't know what a media player is, it offers the ability to play, pause, skip back or forward with whatever song you've got cued up to play. Of course if you fully close Apple Music or whatever you're streaming from it won't appear.

And LD150 is completely correct. This was implemented after years of people asking for this feature from the Lock Screen, which is for many a nice convenience. Apple does listen to feedback if offered the right way, via the right channel, so feel free to let Apple know your thoughts via the link offered.

That's the media player, which does appear on your lock screen so you don't have to open your home screen to play or pause something. Honestly, how long do you tend to have your lock screen appear on your iPhone. The lock screen is not your home screen and usually either appears briefly before you swipe up to open your home screen, or if you don't do anything, your lock screen goes black. But I don't believe what you're not happy with can be changed if you are using a media app, like Music or Videos, etc.

That is how it now works following customer feedback. Long for the old days and complain here https://apple.com/feedback

I realize that I can quit the app to do this, but I don't always want to because I like it to automatically continue playing when I get back in my vehicle. I can't find a setting to specify what I want.

Thanks, but I know what the media player is. Also, surprisingly, I do know the difference between my lock screen and my home screen. And I don't need to be told what I need or want, lol. However, since you apparently don't understand that people's needs differ, I will explain: I am a teacher in a Title I district. The clocks in my classroom do not work. So it's helpful to glance at my phone, which I keep on my desk while teaching, to keep tabs on the time. The "always on" feature was a godsend, since the time is always displayed in large numerals on the lock screen; i.e., it does not go black. So I can glance at the time without picking up my phone. The fullscreen app icon reduces the time to tiny numerals so I need to look closer at my phone to see the time. This is not helpful. Hence the reason for my post.

You also may not realize that the ability to stop/play or go back/forward does not require the app to occupy the entire lock screen. Only the smaller (inset) window is needed (see attached image), which sometimes, seemingly at random, appears on the lock screen by itself. This is what I want to happen all the time. But if you can't help me, I'm not sure why you replied other than to criticize.

What do you mean by fills the entire lock screen?

[Edited by Moderator]

Any ideas on how to fix this?

One of you experts must have a suggestion for me? No?

I updated the image to clarify what I mean. The media player SOMETIMES appears like the left-hand image, which is what I want all the time. Is there a user option for this?