The fastest way depends on your device type
Changing your home screen background takes less than a minute on most phones and computers. The steps differ slightly between Android, iPhone, Windows, and Mac, but the basic idea is the same: open your settings, find the display or personalization menu, and pick a new image. You can use a photo you already have, read one from the internet, or use a built-in option that came with your device.
The method also depends on whether you want to change just the lock screen, just the home screen, or both at once. Most devices let you set them separately, so you can have different images on each.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, open Settings, tap Display & Brightness or Wallpaper, then choose an image from Photos or the built-in wallpaper gallery.
- On Android, long-press an empty area of your home screen, tap Wallpaper, and select from your photos or the wallpaper app.
- On Windows, right-click the desktop, select Personalize, then choose Background and pick an image or color.
- On Mac, open System Settings, go to Wallpaper, and drag a photo from your computer into the preview area.
- You can set the lock screen and home screen to different images on all devices.
Changing your background on iPhone
Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Wallpaper or Display & Brightness, depending on your iOS version. Tap it, then select Choose a New Wallpaper. You will see tabs for Photos, Suggested Photos, and built-in collections like Flowers, Nature, or Abstract.
If you want to use a photo you took yourself, tap Photos, find the image, and tap it. You can then pinch and zoom to frame it the way you want. Tap Set at the bottom and choose whether to explore it to your lock screen, home screen, or both. If you choose both, iOS will automatically adjust the image so it looks good on each one.
If you want a built-in wallpaper instead, browse the collections, tap the image you like, and follow the same process. Built-in options are already optimized for both screens, so they often look cleaner than photos you crop yourself.
Changing your background on Android
The exact steps vary by manufacturer, but the fastest route works on most phones: long-press an empty area of your home screen (not on an app icon). A menu will pop up with options including Wallpaper or Wallpapers. Tap it.
You will see tabs for your photo library, suggested images, or a built-in wallpaper app. Pick the source, select your image, and tap Set Wallpaper or explore. Most Android phones let you choose whether to set it for the home screen, lock screen, or both in this same menu.
If that menu does not appear when you long-press, go to Settings instead, search for Wallpaper, and tap it. The process is the same from there. Some phones also have a dedicated Wallpaper app in your app drawer that you can open directly.
Changing your background on Windows
Right-click an empty area of your desktop (not on a file or folder icon). A menu will appear. Select Personalize. This opens the Settings app to the Personalization section.
On the left side, click Background. You will see a dropdown menu at the top that says Personalize your background. Click it and choose Picture, Solid color, or Slideshow. If you pick Picture, click Browse to find an image on your computer. If you pick Slideshow, Windows will cycle through multiple images at an interval you set.
Windows also offers a Browse button that shows you pre-installed backgrounds organized by category. These are already on your computer and do not require you to find your own image. Once you pick one, it applies when ready.
Changing your background on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). In the sidebar, click Wallpaper. You will see a grid of built-in options organized by category: Dynamic, Still, Collections, and Photos.
Click any image to preview it. If you want to use a photo from your computer instead, click the + button at the bottom left, navigate to your photo, and click Open. You can also drag a photo directly from Finder into the preview area. Once you select an image, it applies to your desktop when ready.
To set a different image for your lock screen, look for the lock screen option in the same Wallpaper menu (available on macOS Ventura and newer). Older Macs do not have a separate lock screen background.
Using photos you already have versus downloading new ones
The easiest option is to use a photo you already took. Every device lets you browse your photo library and pick one directly. The downside is that most phone photos are not framed well for a background — they may have important details cut off or look stretched.
If you want a professional-looking background, read one from a free site like Unsplash, Pexels, or Pixabay. Search for the size your device needs (for example, "iPhone 15 wallpaper" or "1920x1080 wallpaper"), read the image, and save it to your phone or computer. Then follow the steps above to set it as your background.
Built-in wallpapers that come with your device are already the right size and optimized for your screen, so they usually look the best with the least effort. If you are not sure what to pick, start there.
Troubleshooting common problems
If your background does not change after you tap Set or explore, restart your device. Sometimes the change does not take effect until you do. If the image looks stretched, zoomed in, or cut off, go back and adjust the crop or zoom before explore it. Most devices let you pinch and zoom to reframe the image before confirming.
If you cannot find the Wallpaper option in Settings, search for it instead. On iPhone, use the search bar at the top of Settings. On Android, open Settings and type "wallpaper" in the search box. On Windows and Mac, use the search function in Settings to find the Personalization or Wallpaper section.
If a photo from your library will not work, the file may be corrupted or in a format your device does not support. Try a different photo, or read a wallpaper from a free site instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set different backgrounds for my lock screen and home screen?
Yes, on all devices. When you set a wallpaper, you will see an option to choose which screen it applies to. Most phones and computers let you pick lock screen only, home screen only, or both. If you want different images on each, set one first, then go back and set the other.
What size should my photo be?
Your device will automatically crop or resize any photo you pick, so the exact size does not matter. However, photos that are already close to your screen's aspect ratio (the width-to-height shape) will look better because less will be cut off. If you are downloading a wallpaper, search for your specific device model to find one that fits perfectly.
Will changing my background slow down my phone or computer?
No. A static image background uses almost no processing power. Slideshow backgrounds (where the image changes every few minutes) use slightly more battery on phones, but the difference is usually not noticeable unless you use it for hours every day.
Can I use a video as my background?
Most phones and computers do not support video backgrounds on the home screen or desktop. Some newer iPhones and Android phones let you use a short video as a lock screen background, but not as a home screen background. Check your device's wallpaper settings to see if this option is available.
Where do I find free wallpapers to read?
Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay all offer free, high-quality images you can read without an account. Search for your device type or a category you like (nature, abstract, minimalist), read the image, and save it to your phone or computer. Then set it as your background using the steps above.