The quickest way to change your wallpaper
Changing your tablet's wallpaper takes less than a minute on both iPad and Android tablets. You access the wallpaper settings through your device's main settings menu, choose a built-in image or upload your own photo, and confirm your choice. The exact steps differ slightly between iPad and Android, but both follow the same basic path: Settings > Display or Home Screen > Wallpaper > Select and Save.
Your wallpaper is the background image you see on your home screen and lock screen. Most tablets come with several pre-loaded wallpapers you can use when ready, or you can use any photo stored on your device.
Key Takeaways
- iPad wallpapers are changed through Settings > Wallpaper > Customize, where you can set different images for your lock screen and home screen separately.
- Android tablets use Settings > Display > Wallpaper or Settings > Home Screen > Wallpaper, depending on your manufacturer.
- You can use any photo from your tablet's photo library, or choose from the pre-loaded wallpapers that came with your device.
- Both iPad and Android let you set different wallpapers for your lock screen (the screen you see when your tablet is locked) and your home screen (the screen with your apps).
Changing wallpaper on an iPad
Open the Settings app on your home screen — it looks like a gray gear icon. Scroll down and tap Wallpaper, then tap Customize. You will see two options: Lock Screen and Home Screen. Tap whichever one you want to change first.
A gallery of built-in wallpapers will appear. Scroll through and tap the image you want. A preview will show how it looks on your screen. If you want to use a photo from your photo library instead, tap Photos at the bottom of the screen, find your photo, and tap it. Once you have chosen your image, tap Add in the bottom right corner, then tap Set as Wallpaper to confirm.
If you want different wallpapers for your lock screen and home screen, repeat these steps for the second option. If you want them to match, you can set the same image for both.
Changing wallpaper on an Android tablet
The exact path depends on your tablet's manufacturer — Samsung tablets, Google Pixel tablets, and others have slightly different menu names. Start by opening Settings. Look for either Display or Home Screen in the main menu. If you see Home Screen, tap it and look for Wallpaper. If you see Display, tap it and scroll down to find Wallpaper.
Tap Wallpaper. You will see options for Lock Screen Wallpaper and Home Screen Wallpaper. Tap whichever one you want to change. A gallery of built-in wallpapers will open. Scroll through and tap the one you want. To use a photo from your library instead, look for a button labeled Gallery, Photos, or My Files and tap it, then find your photo.
After you select an image, a preview will appear. Tap Set Wallpaper, explore, or Save — the exact button name varies by manufacturer. The wallpaper will change when ready.
Using your own photos as wallpaper
Both iPad and Android let you set any photo stored on your device as your wallpaper. The photo should be at least as wide and tall as your screen resolution — most modern photos are, but very old or heavily cropped photos may look stretched or blurry.
When you choose a photo from your library, your tablet will usually let you crop or zoom the image before you set it. Use your fingers to pinch and drag until the part of the photo you want is centered on the screen. This is helpful if your photo has important details (like a face) that you want to keep visible and not cut off by the clock or app icons.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common mistake is setting a wallpaper that is too dark or too busy. If your wallpaper is very dark, the text and icons on your home screen become hard to read. If it has a lot of detail or bright colors, it can make app names and notifications difficult to see. Test your wallpaper by looking at your home screen after you set it — if you cannot read the app names clearly, choose a different image.
Another mistake is forgetting that you have two separate wallpapers: lock screen and home screen. Many people set one and think they have changed both. If you want them to match, you need to set the same image for each one separately. If you want different images, remember which one you set first so you do not accidentally overwrite it.
On Android tablets, if you cannot find the Wallpaper option, check whether your tablet manufacturer has a separate app for this. Some Samsung tablets, for example, have a dedicated Wallpaper app in your app drawer instead of in Settings.
Reverting to a default wallpaper
If you want to go back to one of your tablet's original wallpapers, follow the same steps you used to change it. Open Settings, go to Wallpaper, and choose one of the pre-loaded images instead of a photo from your library. You can switch between built-in wallpapers as many times as you want without losing anything.
If you have set a custom photo and want to remove it completely, choose any of the built-in wallpapers and set it. Your custom photo will not be deleted from your photo library — it will just no longer be your wallpaper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a live wallpaper or animated wallpaper on my tablet?
iPad does not support animated wallpapers, only still images. Some Android tablets do support live wallpapers — check your Wallpaper settings to see if a "Live Wallpapers" or "Motion" option appears. If it does, you can tap it to see animated options. Not all Android tablets have this feature.
Why does my wallpaper look different on my lock screen than on my home screen?
Your lock screen and home screen are separate, and your tablet may crop or zoom your wallpaper differently on each one depending on the screen layout and where the clock appears. This is normal. If you do not like how it looks, try adjusting the crop or zoom when you set the wallpaper, or choose a different image.
What happens to my wallpaper if I restart my tablet?
Your wallpaper stays the same. Restarting your tablet does not change any of your settings or wallpapers. The wallpaper you set will remain until you change it again.
Can I set a different wallpaper for different home screen pages?
No. Both iPad and Android set one wallpaper for your entire home screen, regardless of how many pages of apps you have. All pages show the same background image.