The fastest way to change your lock screen depends on what device you have

On an iPhone, go to Settings > Lock Screen, tap "Customize," and choose a new wallpaper or style. On Android, open Settings > Display > Lock Screen (or similar, depending on your phone brand), and select a new image or theme. On Windows, right-click your desktop, choose "Personalize," then "Lock Screen," and pick a new background. On a Mac, go to System Settings > Lock Screen and choose a new wallpaper. The whole process takes under a minute on any device.

The steps differ slightly between devices and operating system versions, but the principle is the same: you are changing the image or design that appears when your device is locked, not your password or security settings. This is purely visual—changing your lock screen wallpaper does not affect how you unlock your device or any security features.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone users go to Settings > Lock Screen > Customize to pick a new wallpaper or style.
  • Android users open Settings > Display > Lock Screen (exact path varies by phone brand) to select a new image or theme.
  • Windows users right-click the desktop, choose Personalize, then Lock Screen to change the background.
  • Mac users go to System Settings > Lock Screen to select a new wallpaper.
  • Changing your lock screen wallpaper is separate from changing your password or PIN—it only affects what you see when your device is locked.

How to change your lock screen on iPhone

Open the Settings app and tap "Lock Screen" near the top of the menu. You will see your current lock screen displayed. Tap the "Customize" button below it. From here, you can choose a new wallpaper by tapping the image preview, or you can add widgets, change the clock style, or adjust the color filter. When you are done, tap "Set as Lock Screen" to save your changes.

If you want to use a photo from your camera roll instead of Apple's built-in wallpapers, tap "Customize" and then tap the image area. Scroll to "Photos" at the bottom of the options, select an album, and choose the photo you want. You can crop it and adjust how it looks before confirming. iPhone also lets you create multiple lock screen designs and switch between them—just repeat these steps and save each one separately.

How to change your lock screen on Android

The exact path depends on your phone brand, but the general route is: open Settings, find "Display" or "Home Screen," then look for "Lock Screen" or "Wallpaper." On Samsung phones, go to Settings > Display > Lock Screen > Wallpaper. On Google Pixel phones, go to Settings > Display > Lock Screen. Tap "Wallpaper" or "Change Wallpaper," choose an image from your gallery or the built-in options, and confirm your selection.

Some Android phones also let you set a live wallpaper or animated background on your lock screen. If your phone offers this option, you will see it in the same menu. You can also customize lock screen widgets—clocks, weather, or notifications—depending on your Android version and phone model. Check your phone's help documentation if the menu structure looks different, since manufacturers customize Android differently.

How to change your lock screen on Windows

Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select "Personalize" from the menu. In the Settings window that opens, click "Lock Screen" in the left sidebar. You will see your current lock screen background. Click the image preview or the dropdown menu under "Personalization" to choose a new background. Windows offers built-in images, or you can click "Browse" to select a photo from your computer.

You can also set Windows to show a slideshow of multiple images on your lock screen. Under the background dropdown, select "Slideshow," then click "Browse" to choose a folder of photos. Windows will cycle through them each time you lock your device. You can adjust how often the images change and other slideshow settings in the same menu.

How to change your lock screen on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "System Settings." Click "Lock Screen" in the sidebar. You will see your current wallpaper. Click the image preview to open the wallpaper picker. Choose from Apple's built-in collections—Nature, Solid Colors, or Dynamic—or click "Add" to select a photo from your computer or Photos library.

Mac also lets you set different wallpapers for different times of day if you choose a Dynamic wallpaper. Once you have selected an image, it will appear on your lock screen the next time you lock your Mac. You can return to this menu anytime to switch to a different image.

The difference between lock screen and home screen wallpaper

Your lock screen is what you see when your device is locked—before you enter your password or use Face ID or fingerprint recognition. Your home screen is what appears after you unlock your device. On most phones and computers, you can set these to different images. On iPhone, you customize them separately in the Lock Screen settings. On Android, the lock screen and home screen wallpapers are often linked, but some phones let you set them independently.

On Windows and Mac, the lock screen background is separate from your desktop wallpaper. Changing one does not change the other. If you want both to match, you will need to set them separately in their respective settings menus.

What to do if you cannot find the lock screen settings

If you are using an older version of your operating system, the menu path may be slightly different. On older Android phones, the setting might be under "Wallpaper" instead of "Lock Screen." On older Windows versions, you may need to go through "Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen" rather than right-clicking the desktop. Check your device's built-in help or support documentation for your specific model and software version.

If you are using a work phone or computer managed by your employer, your lock screen options may be restricted. Your IT department may have locked down which wallpapers you can use or disabled the ability to change it altogether. Contact your IT support team if the customization options are grayed out or missing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any photo as my lock screen wallpaper?

Yes, on all devices. You can select any photo from your camera roll, computer, or cloud storage. The image will be cropped or fitted to match your lock screen dimensions, and you usually get a preview before confirming. Some devices let you adjust the crop or zoom before saving.

Will changing my lock screen affect my password or security?

No. Changing your lock screen wallpaper is purely visual and has no effect on how you unlock your device, your password, or any security settings. It only changes what you see when your device is locked.

Can I set a different lock screen for different times of day?

On Mac, yes—if you choose a Dynamic wallpaper, it will change throughout the day. On iPhone, you can create multiple lock screen designs and manually switch between them, but they do not change automatically. On Android and Windows, this depends on your device and software version; some phones and computers support scheduled wallpaper changes through third-party apps.

What if I want to go back to the original lock screen?

Go back to your lock screen settings and select one of the default wallpapers that came with your device. On iPhone, these are in the built-in collections. On Android, Windows, and Mac, the original wallpapers are usually available in the same menu where you changed it.

Can I use a video or animated image as my lock screen?

On most devices, no—lock screens use still images. However, some Android phones support live wallpapers or animated backgrounds on the lock screen, and Mac supports Dynamic wallpapers that shift subtly throughout the day. Check your device's wallpaper options to see if this feature is available.