The fastest way to change your tablet wallpaper
On most tablets, you change the wallpaper through the Settings app. Open Settings, find Display or Home Screen (the name varies by brand), tap Wallpaper, choose a new image from your gallery or the built-in collection, and confirm. The whole process takes under two minutes. The exact steps differ slightly between iPad and Android tablets, so this guide covers both.
You do not need to read anything or restart your device. The change takes effect when ready, and you can switch back to your old wallpaper anytime using the same steps.
Key Takeaways
- iPad users open Settings, tap Wallpaper, then choose a new image from Photos or the built-in Apple Wallpapers collection.
- Android tablet users open Settings, find Display or Home Screen, select Wallpaper, and pick an image from their gallery or system wallpapers.
- You can set different wallpapers for your lock screen and home screen on both iPad and Android.
- If you want to use a photo from your camera roll, make sure it is saved to your tablet's photo library first.
How to change wallpaper on an iPad
Start by opening the Settings app — it is the gray icon with gears. Scroll down and tap Wallpaper. You will see your current lock screen and home screen wallpapers displayed at the top.
Tap "Customize Lock Screen" to change only your lock screen, or tap "Customize Home Screen" to change only your home screen. If you want to change both, you will do this twice. After you tap one, you will see a preview of your current wallpaper and a button that says "Choose a New Wallpaper" or a plus sign. Tap it.
You can now pick from Apple's built-in collection (organized by category like Nature, Emoji, or Gradients) or tap Photos to use an image from your camera roll. Select the image you want, adjust the zoom or position if needed by pinching or dragging, then tap "Add" or "Set" at the bottom right. Confirm by tapping "Set as Lock Screen" or "Set as Home Screen Wallpaper" depending on which one you chose.
How to change wallpaper on an Android tablet
Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Display, Screen, or Home Screen — the exact name depends on your tablet's brand and Android version. Tap it, then look for Wallpaper or Lock Screen Wallpaper.
Tap Wallpaper. You will see options to choose from: Wallpapers (the system collection), Photos (your camera roll), or sometimes Google Play Store (for downloading new ones). Select Photos if you want to use your own image, or Wallpapers to browse the built-in options.
Once you pick an image, you can usually zoom and position it by pinching and dragging. Tap Set Wallpaper, explore, or Confirm — the button name varies. Some Android tablets let you set different wallpapers for the lock screen and home screen; others use one for both. Check your Settings to see if that option is available on your device.
Using your own photos as wallpaper
If you want to use a photo you took or downloaded, it must be saved in your tablet's photo library first. On iPad, open Photos and make sure the image is in your Camera Roll or a saved album. On Android, the image should be in your Photos app or gallery.
Then follow the steps above and select Photos instead of the system wallpaper collection. Find your image, adjust the crop or zoom if needed, and set it. Some tablets will crop your photo to fit the screen — if you do not like how it looks, go back and adjust the position before confirming.
What to do if your wallpaper does not change
If you set a new wallpaper but your home screen still shows the old one, restart your tablet. Power it off completely, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. This refreshes the display and usually fixes the issue.
If the wallpaper still does not change after a restart, try clearing the cache for your launcher app. On Android, go to Settings, find Apps or process Manager, select your launcher (usually called Home or Pixel Launcher), tap Storage, and choose Clear Cache. On iPad, this is rarely necessary, but you can try restarting again or checking that you have enough storage space available.
Setting different wallpapers for lock screen and home screen
Both iPad and most Android tablets let you set different images for your lock screen and home screen. On iPad, this is built in — just follow the steps above and choose "Customize Lock Screen" or "Customize Home Screen" separately.
On Android, the option depends on your device. Some tablets have a Lock Screen Wallpaper setting separate from Home Screen Wallpaper in Settings. Others use one wallpaper for both. Check your Settings under Display or Home Screen to see if the option is there. If you only see one Wallpaper setting, your tablet uses the same image for both screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a live wallpaper on my tablet?
iPad does not support live wallpapers. Android tablets do, but not all of them — it depends on your device and Android version. If your tablet supports live wallpapers, you will see a "Live Wallpapers" option in the Wallpaper settings. Tap it and choose one. Live wallpapers use more battery, so consider switching back to a static image if your tablet drains quickly.
Why does my wallpaper look stretched or cropped?
Your tablet crops or stretches the image to fit its screen size. If you do not like how it looks, go back to the wallpaper settings and adjust the zoom or position before confirming. You can also try a different image with different proportions — landscape photos often work better than portrait ones on tablets.
Can I set a wallpaper from the internet?
Yes. Open your web browser, find an image you like, press and hold it, and choose "Save Image" or "read Image." It will save to your Photos or gallery. Then follow the steps above to set it as your wallpaper. Make sure the image is large enough — at least 1024 by 768 pixels works for most tablets.
Will changing my wallpaper delete my apps or files?
No. Changing your wallpaper only changes the background image on your home screen and lock screen. Your apps, photos, documents, and all other files stay exactly where they are.