The quickest way to change your iPhone background

Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then Wallpaper, then Customize. Choose a photo from your library or pick one of Apple's built-in designs, tap Set, and choose whether it goes on your lock screen, home screen, or both. The whole process takes about a minute.

If you want to use a photo you already have on your phone, you can also open the Photos app, find the image, tap the share icon (a square with an arrow), scroll down to "Use as Wallpaper", and follow the same steps. Both routes lead to the same place—you just pick whichever app you're already in.

Key Takeaways

  • Settings > Display & Brightness > Wallpaper > Customize is the standard path, and it takes about one minute from start to finish.
  • You can set different images for your lock screen and home screen, or use the same image for both.
  • Apple's built-in wallpapers are free and come with your phone; you can also use any photo in your Photos library.
  • If you want a live wallpaper or animated background, tap "Live" or "Animated" in the Wallpaper menu instead of "Still".

Using a photo from your library

Open Settings and go to Display & Brightness. Tap Wallpaper, then tap Customize. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see your photo library listed by album—tap Photos, Camera Roll, or whichever album holds the image you want.

Scroll through until you find the photo, tap it once to select it, then tap Set in the bottom right. A menu will appear asking where you want the wallpaper to go: Lock Screen, Home Screen, or Both. Pick one, and you're done. If you pick Both, the same image covers both screens. If you pick Lock Screen or Home Screen alone, the other screen keeps whatever wallpaper was there before.

Choosing from Apple's built-in wallpapers

In the Wallpaper customization menu, scroll up past your photo library to see Apple's collections. You'll see categories like "Flowers", "Nature", "Landscapes", "Solid Colors", and others depending on your iPhone model and iOS version. Tap any collection to see the images inside.

Tap the image you want, and it will show you a preview on your lock screen. If you like it, tap Set and choose Lock Screen, Home Screen, or Both. If you don't like it, tap the back arrow and pick a different one. There's no penalty for trying several—you can change your wallpaper as many times as you want.

Setting different images for lock screen and home screen

When you tap Set after choosing an image, the menu gives you three options: Lock Screen, Home Screen, or Both. If you choose Lock Screen, that image appears only when your phone is locked. Your home screen (the grid of apps you see when you unlock it) keeps its current wallpaper.

To put a different image on your home screen, go back to Settings > Display & Brightness > Wallpaper > Customize, pick a new image, tap Set, and choose Home Screen. Now you have one image on your lock screen and a different one behind your apps. You can mix and match as many times as you want.

Using live and animated wallpapers

If you want movement instead of a still image, open Settings > Display & Brightness > Wallpaper > Customize and look for the "Live" or "Animated" tabs at the top. Live wallpapers respond to how you tilt your phone; animated ones play a short looping video. Both use more battery than still images, but the difference is usually small unless you're using your phone all day.

Tap any live or animated wallpaper to preview it, then tap Set and choose where it goes. Some live wallpapers let you customize the colors or effects before you set them—if you see a customize button, tap it to see your options.

Troubleshooting when the wallpaper won't change

If you tap Set and nothing happens, or if the image doesn't appear after you've set it, try closing Settings completely and opening it again. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or swipe down from the top right on newer iPhones) to close all open apps, then reopen Settings.

If a photo from your library won't work as a wallpaper, the image file may be corrupted or in a format your iPhone doesn't recognize. Try a different photo first to confirm the problem is with that specific image, not with your phone. If other photos work fine, delete the problematic one and use a different image instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo I found online as my wallpaper?

Yes. Save the image to your phone first by opening it in Safari or another browser, tapping and holding it, and choosing "Save Image". It will go to your Photos library. Then follow the steps above to set it as your wallpaper.

Will changing my wallpaper delete any of my apps or photos?

No. Changing your wallpaper only changes the image behind your apps or on your lock screen. It doesn't touch any of your data, apps, or files.

What size should a photo be to work as a wallpaper?

Any size works. Your iPhone will automatically crop and fit the image to your screen, so you don't need to resize it first. If the crop doesn't look right, you can adjust it in the preview before you tap Set.

Can I set a different wallpaper for different times of day?

Not automatically. You would need to manually change it each time, or use a shortcut through the Shortcuts app if you're comfortable with automation. For most people, one wallpaper is simpler.

Does a live wallpaper use a lot of battery?

Live wallpapers use slightly more battery than still images because they're always running a small animation. The difference is usually small—a few percent per day—but if your battery is already draining fast, a still image will last longer.