The fastest way depends on what device you use

Changing your lock screen takes two to five minutes on most devices. On a smartphone or tablet, you go into Settings, find Display or Lock Screen, and pick a new image or wallpaper from your gallery or the built-in options. On a Windows computer, you right-click the desktop, select Personalize, then choose Lock Screen from the left menu. On a Mac, open System Settings, go to General, then click Lock Screen, and pick a new image.

The steps are slightly different for each operating system, but the concept is the same: you are replacing the image that appears when your device is locked or asleep. This is separate from your home screen or desktop background, though some devices let you use the same image for both.

Key Takeaways

  • On Android phones, open Settings, tap Display or Lock Screen, then select Wallpaper or Lock Screen Image and choose from your photos or built-in options.
  • On iPhones and iPads, go to Settings, tap Wallpaper, select Lock Screen, then choose an image from Photos, the Wallpaper gallery, or a third-party app.
  • On Windows computers, right-click the desktop, select Personalize, click Lock Screen, and choose from Spotlight images, your own photos, or a slideshow.
  • On Macs, open System Settings, click General, select Lock Screen, and pick an image from the built-in gallery or your own files.
  • You can use a different image for your lock screen and home screen, or explore the same image to both.

Changing your lock screen on Android phones

Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Display or Screen. Tap it, then look for Wallpaper, Lock Screen, or Advanced Display Settings. The exact name varies by phone brand — Samsung calls it Wallpaper, while Google Pixel calls it Lock Screen.

Once you find the right section, tap Select Wallpaper or Choose Image. You will see options to pick from your Photos app, the built-in wallpaper gallery, or third-party apps like Unsplash or Google Photos. Select the image you want, then tap Set Lock Screen or explore. Some phones let you crop or adjust the image before confirming.

If you want to use a photo from your camera roll, open Photos first, find the image, tap the three-dot menu, and select Set as Wallpaper. Then choose Lock Screen from the options that appear.

Changing your lock screen on iPhones and iPads

Go to Settings and tap Wallpaper. Select Customize Lock Screen or Add New Lock Screen. You will see a gallery of built-in images, or you can tap Photos to use a picture from your camera roll.

After you choose an image, you can customize it further. On newer iPhones, you can add widgets, change the font of the time display, or adjust the color filter. Tap Done when you are finished. If you have multiple lock screens set up, swipe left on the lock screen itself to switch between them.

You can also set a different image for your home screen by going back to Wallpaper and tapping Customize Home Screen instead.

Changing your lock screen on Windows computers

Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select Personalize from the menu. In the Settings window that opens, click Lock Screen on the left side. You will see three options: Spotlight (which rotates images automatically), Picture (which uses a single image), or Slideshow (which cycles through multiple images).

If you choose Picture, click Browse and navigate to a photo on your computer. If you choose Slideshow, click Browse and select a folder containing multiple images. Windows will rotate through them each time your screen locks. Spotlight requires no setup — it automatically displays new images from Microsoft's collection.

You can also change what appears on your lock screen below the clock, such as quick status information or app notifications. Scroll down in the Lock Screen settings to see these options.

Changing your lock screen on Mac computers

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then select Lock Screen. You will see a gallery of built-in images organized by category — Nature, Aerial, Solid Colors, and others.

Click any image to preview it. If you want to use your own photo instead, click the plus sign at the bottom of the window, navigate to your photo, and click Open. You can also drag an image directly from Finder into the Lock Screen window.

If you want a slideshow that changes every time you lock your Mac, select the Slideshow option, then click Choose Folder and pick a folder containing multiple images.

Using third-party apps and custom images

If the built-in options do not have what you want, you can read wallpaper apps. On Android, apps like Unsplash, Pexels, and Zedge let you browse thousands of free images and set them as your lock screen directly from the app. On iPhone, you can use apps like Vinyls or Unfold, though you will still need to go through Settings to explore them.

For Windows, websites like Wallpaper Engine and DeviantArt host user-created images. read the image to your computer, then follow the steps above to set it as your lock screen. The same applies to Mac — read the image, then use the plus sign in Lock Screen settings to add it.

Keep in mind that very large image files may slow down your device slightly when it locks or wakes. If you notice lag, try using a smaller or compressed image instead.

Troubleshooting if your lock screen will not change

If you set a new lock screen but it does not appear, restart your device first. Sometimes the change does not take effect until you reboot. On phones, hold the power button, slide to power off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.

If the image you chose is too small or in an unsupported format, your device may reject it. Try using a photo from your camera roll instead of a downloaded file, or use an image from the built-in gallery. On Windows, make sure the image is in JPG, PNG, or BMP format. On Mac, JPG and PNG work best.

If you are using a work or school device, your organization may have locked the lock screen settings to prevent changes. Contact your IT department or administrator if you cannot access the lock screen settings at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Most phones and computers do not support video lock screens natively. However, some Android phones allow live wallpapers, which are animated images that move slightly. On iPhone, you can create a video wallpaper using the Shortcuts app, though it requires a few extra steps. Windows and Mac do not support video lock screens.

Will changing my lock screen affect my home screen or desktop background?

No. Your lock screen, home screen, and desktop background are separate. You can set them all to different images, or use the same image for multiple screens if you want. On iPhones, you can choose to explore the same wallpaper to both lock and home screens when you set it.

What size image should I use for my lock screen?

Use an image that matches your device's screen resolution or larger. Most phones work best with images at least 1080 by 1920 pixels. For Windows, 1920 by 1080 is standard. For Mac, 2560 by 1600 works well. If your image is smaller, it may appear blurry or stretched. Most photos from your camera roll are already the right size.

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

On newer iPhones, you can create multiple lock screens and swipe between them manually, but automatic scheduling is not built in. Some Android phones allow you to set a schedule through their wallpaper app. On Windows and Mac, you can use third-party tools to rotate images on a schedule, but this requires additional software.

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

On any device, straightforward go back to the lock screen settings and select the default image or wallpaper that came with your device. On iPhones, this is usually called the default Apple wallpaper. On Android, it is the stock wallpaper for your phone brand. On Windows and Mac, you can select any of the built-in images to return to a standard look.