How to Change Your iPhone Text Message Background

Where to find the text message background setting

On iPhone, you change your text message background by opening the Messages app, tapping Edit in the top left corner, then selecting the conversation you want to customize. Swipe left on that conversation and tap the trash icon to delete it — but wait. That deletes the thread, not the background. The actual background setting is different depending on your iPhone model and iOS version.

If you're running iOS 16 or later, open Messages, find the conversation, swipe left on it, and tap the three dots that appear. Select "Change Name and Photo" and you'll see a color or image option. If you're on an older iOS version, the background customization is more limited — you can only change the overall Messages app appearance, not individual conversations.

The simplest route: go to Settings > Messages and look for "Message Effects" or "Bubble Effects" options. These let you add animations and colors to how your messages appear, though they affect how your messages look to others, not the background behind the conversation.

Key Takeaways

iOS 16 and later let you customize individual conversation backgrounds by swiping left on a conversation, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Change Name and Photo."
Older iOS versions do not support per-conversation backgrounds, only app-wide appearance changes through Settings > Messages.
Message effects and bubble effects change how your sent messages appear to others, not the background of the conversation thread itself.
Some third-party messaging apps offer more background customization than the native Messages app.

What iOS version you're running matters

Apple added the ability to customize individual conversation backgrounds in iOS 16, released in September 2022. If your iPhone is running iOS 15 or earlier, this feature does not exist in the Messages app. You can check your iOS version by opening Settings, tapping General, then About — the number next to "Software Version" is what you're running.

If you have iOS 16 or later, the per-conversation customization is built in. If you have an older version, you have two options: update your iPhone to the latest iOS (which may require a newer phone model if yours is very old), or use a different messaging app that offers background customization, like WhatsApp or Telegram.

How to customize a single conversation background on iOS 16 and later

Open the Messages app and find the conversation you want to change. Press and hold on the conversation thread (do not swipe yet), then tap "Edit Name and Photo" or the three-dot menu icon that appears. You'll see options to add a photo, emoji, or color to that conversation.

When you select a color or image, that becomes the avatar or accent color for that conversation in your message list — it does not change the background of the actual message thread itself. The conversation thread background remains white (or dark gray in Dark Mode). If you want to change the color of the message bubbles or add effects to individual messages, that's a different setting found in Settings > Messages > Message Effects.

Message effects and bubble colors are not the same as background

Message effects let you add animations to your sent messages — things like confetti, balloons, or fireworks that appear when someone opens your message. These are set per-message, not per-conversation. To use them, type your message, press and hold the send button, and select the effect you want.

Bubble colors are the color of the message bubble itself (blue for iMessage, green for SMS). You cannot change these colors in the native Messages app — they're determined by whether you're sending an iMessage or a text message. iMessages always appear blue; SMS texts always appear green. Third-party apps like WhatsApp let you customize bubble colors, but the native Messages app does not.

Using third-party apps if you want more customization

If the native Messages app customization is not enough, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal all let you change conversation backgrounds, bubble colors, and text colors. These apps work on iPhone and Android, and they let you customize nearly every visual element of your conversations.

The trade-off is that everyone you message has to be using the same app. If you message someone via WhatsApp, they need WhatsApp installed. If you message them via the native Messages app, they just need an iPhone or a phone number. Most people in the US still use the native Messages app for texting, so switching to a third-party app works best for group chats or conversations with people you know also use that app.

Dark Mode and how it affects your message background

If you have Dark Mode turned on in Settings > Display & Brightness, your message thread background will be dark gray instead of white. The conversation customization (the color or image you set for that thread in your message list) stays the same, but the actual message thread itself follows your system-wide Dark Mode setting.

You cannot override Dark Mode for individual conversations in the Messages app. If you want a specific background color or image to show behind your messages, you'll need to use a third-party messaging app that lets you set per-conversation backgrounds independent of your system settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a background image for my entire Messages app, not just one conversation?

No. The native Messages app does not support a custom background image for the entire app. You can only customize individual conversations on iOS 16 and later. If you want a background image across all your messages, you'll need to use WhatsApp, Telegram, or another third-party messaging app.

Why does my conversation background look different on my friend's phone?

Because conversation customization is local to your phone. When you set a color or image for a conversation, only you see it. Your friend sees their own version of that conversation with their own customization (or none, if they haven't set one). The actual message content and order are the same on both phones.

Do message effects work if I'm texting someone with an Android phone?

Message effects only work when you send an iMessage to another iPhone user. If you're sending an SMS text to an Android phone, message effects will not appear — the recipient will just see your plain text message. The Messages app will show you a green bubble instead of blue when you're texting Android users, which means SMS is being used instead of iMessage.

Can I change the background color of just my sent messages, not received ones?

No. The message thread background is the same for both sent and received messages. You can change the color of the message bubbles themselves (blue for iMessage, green for SMS), but not the background behind the entire conversation. Third-party apps like WhatsApp give you more control over individual bubble colors.

Will updating my iPhone let me customize message backgrounds if I can't now?

Only if you update to iOS 16 or later. If your iPhone is older and cannot run iOS 16, updating will not add this feature. Check Settings > General > Software Update to see if an update is available for your device. If your phone is very old, it may not support iOS 16, and you would need a newer iPhone to access this feature.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.