Where to find and change your featured photos on iPhone
Your iPhone displays featured photos in a few places: the lock screen, the home screen, and inside the Photos app itself. The method to change them depends on which featured photo you want to swap out. On the lock screen, you can set a photo as your lock screen wallpaper by opening the Photos app, selecting an image, tapping the share button, and choosing "Use as Wallpaper." For the home screen, you follow the same process but select "Use as Home Screen" instead. Inside the Photos app, you can mark certain photos as favorites by tapping the heart icon, which makes them appear in your Favorites album.
If you're using iOS 16 or later, you have more control over lock screen customization. You can long-press your lock screen, tap "Customize," and then tap the photo area to change it directly from that screen. This method is faster than going through the Photos app if you already know which image you want to use.
Key Takeaways
- Lock screen photos are changed by opening the Photos app, selecting an image, tapping share, and choosing "Use as Wallpaper."
- On iOS 16 and later, you can long-press your lock screen and tap "Customize" to change the photo without leaving the lock screen.
- Home screen wallpapers are changed the same way as lock screen photos, but you select "Use as Home Screen" instead.
- Marking photos as favorites by tapping the heart icon makes them appear in a dedicated Favorites album for quick access.
- You can set different photos for your lock screen and home screen, or use the same photo for both.
Changing your lock screen photo on iOS 16 and later
If your iPhone runs iOS 16 or newer, the fastest way to change your lock screen photo is directly from the lock screen itself. Press and hold your lock screen until the customization menu appears at the bottom. Tap "Customize," then tap the photo thumbnail at the top of the screen. This opens a photo picker showing your recent images, favorites, and albums.
Scroll through the options and tap the photo you want to use. The preview updates when ready so you can see how it looks on your lock screen before confirming. Once you're satisfied, tap outside the picker or swipe down to save the change. Your new lock screen photo is now active.
Changing your lock screen photo on older iOS versions
If you're using iOS 15 or earlier, you'll change your lock screen photo through the Photos app. Open Photos, find the image you want to use, and tap it to open it in full view. Tap the share button (the square with an arrow pointing upward) in the bottom left corner.
From the share menu, scroll right through the options until you see "Use as Wallpaper." Tap it. A preview appears showing how the photo will look on your lock screen. You can pinch and zoom to adjust which part of the photo is visible. Once you're happy with the preview, tap "Set" and choose whether to explore it to your lock screen, home screen, or both.
Setting a home screen wallpaper
Your home screen wallpaper is the background behind your app icons. To change it, open the Photos app and select the image you want to use. Tap the share button, then scroll to find "Use as Wallpaper." In the preview that appears, you can zoom and move the image to frame it the way you want.
At the bottom of the preview, you'll see options to set the wallpaper for your lock screen, home screen, or both. If you want a different photo for each, set one first, then repeat the process with a different image and choose the other option. This lets you have a unique look for each screen.
Using the Favorites album to organize featured photos
The Favorites album is a built-in collection where your most-used or preferred photos live. To add a photo to Favorites, open it in the Photos app and tap the heart icon. The heart fills in, and the photo is added to your Favorites album. You can access this album anytime by going to the Albums tab and scrolling to find "Favorites."
Marking photos as favorites doesn't change your wallpaper, but it makes those images easier to find when you're browsing for a new lock screen or home screen photo. If you frequently change your wallpaper, keeping a Favorites album of your preferred images saves time scrolling through your entire photo library.
Troubleshooting common issues with featured photos
If the "Use as Wallpaper" option doesn't appear in your share menu, the photo may be in a format your iPhone doesn't support for wallpapers, or it may be a screenshot or edited image with restrictions. Try selecting a different photo to confirm the option reappears. If it still doesn't show, restart your iPhone and try again.
If your new wallpaper doesn't appear after you set it, check that you tapped "Set" at the end of the preview screen. Sometimes the preview closes without saving if you swipe away or tap outside the window. Open Settings, go to Wallpaper, and verify which image is currently set. If you need to remove a wallpaper entirely, you can reset to the default by going to Settings > Wallpaper > Choose a New Wallpaper and selecting one of Apple's built-in options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo from the internet as my lock screen wallpaper?
Yes. Long-press the image in Safari or another app, select "Save Image," and it will be added to your Photos app. Then follow the same steps to set it as your wallpaper. Make sure you have permission to use the image if it's copyrighted.
What if I want different photos for lock screen and home screen?
After setting your first wallpaper, go back to Photos, select a different image, tap share, choose "Use as Wallpaper," and this time select the screen you didn't set before. You can have a unique photo on each screen.
Does changing my wallpaper affect my photos or storage?
No. Changing your wallpaper only changes what displays on your screen—it doesn't move, delete, or copy your original photo. Your photo library remains unchanged, and no extra storage is used.
Can I set a video as my lock screen wallpaper?
On iOS 16 and later, you can set a video or live photo as your lock screen wallpaper. The video will play when you interact with the lock screen. Use the same process: long-press your lock screen, tap "Customize," and select a video or live photo from your library.
Why is my wallpaper blurry on my lock screen?
iOS automatically applies a slight blur to lock screen wallpapers to make text and notifications easier to read. This is normal and can't be turned off. If the blur seems excessive, try a photo with more contrast or simpler details.