The fastest way to change your iPhone background

Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then Wallpaper, then tap "Customize." Choose either Lock Screen or Home Screen (or both), select a photo from your library or the built-in collection, position it how you want, and tap Set. The whole process takes under a minute once you know where to look.

Your iPhone stores the background separately for your lock screen (the image you see when the phone is asleep) and your home screen (the grid of apps). You can use the same photo for both or pick different ones. If you have never changed your background before, the phone is currently showing Apple's default image on both screens.

The steps below walk through each choice point so you can set exactly what you want to see.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your background through Settings > Display & Brightness > Wallpaper > Customize, not through the Photos app.
  • Your lock screen and home screen backgrounds are separate — you can change one without touching the other.
  • You can use any photo from your camera roll, or pick from Apple's built-in wallpaper collection.
  • After you position the photo, you must tap Set to save it; closing the screen without tapping Set will discard your changes.

Step 1: Open Settings and navigate to Wallpaper

Tap the Settings app (the gray icon with gears). Scroll down and tap Display & Brightness. On the next screen, tap Wallpaper.

You will see thumbnails of your current lock screen and home screen backgrounds side by side. Below them is a button that says "Customize." Tap it to begin changing either or both backgrounds.

Step 2: Choose which screen to change

After you tap Customize, the phone shows you three options: Lock Screen, Home Screen, or Both. Tap whichever one you want to change. If you tap Both, you will set the same photo for both screens at once.

Most people change the lock screen first because that is what you see most often. You can always come back and change the home screen separately later.

Step 3: Pick your photo

The phone shows you two sources: a row of Apple's built-in wallpapers at the top, and a "Photos" button below. Tap Photos to use a picture from your camera roll, or tap any of the built-in options (Collections, Astronomy, Flowers, and so on) to browse Apple's library.

If you choose Photos, you will see your entire camera roll. Tap the photo you want. The phone will show you a preview of how it will look on your lock screen or home screen. If the photo is too small or too large, you can pinch to zoom in or out before you save it.

Step 4: Position the photo and save it

After you pick a photo, the screen shows you a preview with the time and date overlaid (if it is the lock screen) or your app grid (if it is the home screen). Use two fingers to pinch and zoom, or drag the photo to move it left or right. Position it so the part you want to see is not hidden by the clock or apps.

Once you are happy with how it looks, tap the Set button in the bottom right corner. The phone will ask you whether you want to set this as the lock screen, home screen, or both. Choose what you want, and the change takes effect when ready.

What to do if you want to change only one screen

If you have already set a background for both screens and now want to change only the lock screen, go back to Settings > Display & Brightness > Wallpaper > Customize. Tap Lock Screen, pick a new photo, and tap Set. Your home screen background will stay the same.

The same works in reverse: you can change your home screen without touching the lock screen. Each screen remembers its own background independently.

Using Live Photos and dynamic wallpapers

If you have a Live Photo in your camera roll (a photo that plays a short video when you press it), you can set it as your lock screen background. The phone will play the animation each time you wake the screen. Tap the photo in your library, then tap Set as Wallpaper, and choose Lock Screen.

Apple also offers dynamic wallpapers that shift color or pattern throughout the day. These are in the Collections section at the top of the Wallpaper screen. They use slightly more battery than a static photo, but the difference is small on modern iPhones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a screenshot as my background?

Yes. Screenshots save to your camera roll like any other photo. Go to Photos, find your screenshot, tap it, and set it as your wallpaper. The phone will let you crop or zoom it before you save.

Why does my background look different on the lock screen than in the preview?

The lock screen adds the time, date, and notification badges on top of your photo. If your photo is very bright or has text, these elements may be hard to read. Go back to Customize, reposition the photo so the important part is not covered, and tap Set again.

Can I set a different background for each home screen page?

No. Your home screen background is the same across all pages. You can only change the lock screen and home screen as a pair. If you want different looks, you can change both backgrounds whenever you want — there is no limit to how many times you can do this.

What happens if I delete a photo I used as my background?

The background stays on your screen. Your iPhone stores the background image separately from your camera roll, so deleting the original photo does not remove it from your lock screen or home screen.

Can I use a photo from the internet as my background?

Yes. Save the image to your camera roll by pressing and holding it, then tap Save Image. Once it is in your Photos app, follow the steps above to set it as your wallpaper.