The fastest way to change your lock screen depends on what device you own

On an iPhone, go to Settings > Lock Screen > Customize, tap the preview image at the top, and choose a new wallpaper from Photos, Emojis, or Weather. On Android, open Settings > Display > Lock Screen > Wallpaper, select an image source, and confirm. On Windows 11, right-click the desktop, choose Personalize > Lock Screen, and pick a new background image or slideshow. On Mac, go to System Settings > Lock Screen, click the preview, and select a new wallpaper from the gallery or your own files.

Each method takes under two minutes. The steps differ because each operating system stores lock screen settings in a different place, but the principle is the same: find the lock screen settings, choose an image, and save. If you want to use your own photo instead of a built-in image, all four platforms let you upload from your camera roll or computer files.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone users access lock screen settings through Settings > Lock Screen > Customize and can choose from photos, emoji, or weather displays.
  • Android users navigate to Settings > Display > Lock Screen > Wallpaper to select a new background image.
  • Windows 11 users right-click the desktop, select Personalize > Lock Screen, and pick a new background or slideshow.
  • Mac users open System Settings > Lock Screen and choose a wallpaper from the built-in gallery or upload their own photo.
  • All platforms allow you to use personal photos instead of default images, though the upload process varies slightly by device.

Changing your lock screen on iPhone

Open Settings and scroll down to find Lock Screen. Tap it, then tap Customize. You will see a preview of your current lock screen at the top of the screen. Tap that preview image to open the wallpaper picker.

You can choose from Photos (your own images), Emojis, Weather, or the built-in gallery. If you select Photos, browse to the image you want and tap it. iPhone will show you how it looks on your lock screen before you confirm. Once you are satisfied, tap Set as Lock Screen at the bottom. If you want different wallpapers for your lock screen and home screen, tap Set as Lock Screen Only instead of Set Both.

Changing your lock screen on Android

Open Settings and look for Display or Home Screen (the exact name varies by manufacturer). Tap Lock Screen, then Wallpaper. You will see options to choose from your Photos, Google Photos, or a gallery of built-in images. Select your source, pick the image, and tap Set or Confirm.

Some Android phones also let you set a slideshow that rotates through multiple images. If that option appears, you can select several photos and set how often they change. After you confirm, the new wallpaper appears the next time your screen locks.

Changing your lock screen on Windows 11

Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select Personalize from the menu. In the Personalization window, click Lock Screen on the left side. You will see your current lock screen image in the preview.

Click the preview or the dropdown menu below it to choose a new background. Windows offers a gallery of built-in images, or you can select Slideshow to rotate through multiple photos. If you want to use your own image, click Browse and navigate to the file on your computer. After you select it, Windows applies the change when ready — you do not need to restart.

Changing your lock screen on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings. Scroll down and click Lock Screen. You will see a preview of your current lock screen at the top.

Click the preview image to open the wallpaper picker. Mac shows you a gallery of built-in images organized by category. You can also click the plus sign to add your own photo from your computer or Photos library. Once you select an image, it becomes your lock screen when ready. If you want to use the same image for both lock screen and desktop, check the box that says Use as desktop picture.

Using your own photos instead of built-in images

All four platforms let you upload personal photos. On iPhone, open the Photos app first, find the image you want, and remember its location. Then go to Settings > Lock Screen > Customize, tap the preview, select Photos, and navigate to that image. On Android, the process is similar: open Settings > Display > Lock Screen > Wallpaper, choose Photos, and select your image.

On Windows, right-click the desktop, select Personalize > Lock Screen, and click Browse to find the image file on your computer. On Mac, open System Settings > Lock Screen, click the preview, and click the plus sign to add a photo from your Files or Photos library. Each platform will show you a preview of how your photo looks on the lock screen before you confirm.

What to do if your lock screen won't change

If you have tried the steps above and your lock screen has not updated, restart your device. Most lock screen changes take effect when ready, but a restart clears any temporary glitches. On iPhone and Android, hold the power button and slide to power off, then turn it back on. On Windows, click the Start menu and select Restart. On Mac, click the Apple menu and select Restart.

If the problem persists after a restart, check that you have the latest software version. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update. On Android, open Settings > About Phone > System Update. On Windows, open Settings > System > About and look for Update. On Mac, click System Settings > General > Software Update. Outdated software can sometimes prevent lock screen changes from working properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different lock screens for different times of day?

iPhone allows this through Focus modes. Go to Settings > Focus, create or select a Focus, and tap Lock Screen to assign a different lock screen to that Focus. When the Focus activates, your lock screen changes automatically. Android and Windows do not have a built-in scheduling feature, though some third-party apps offer this on Android.

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

Not unless you choose to. On iPhone, Android, and Mac, you can set the lock screen and home screen separately. On Windows, the lock screen and desktop are independent by default. When you change one, the other stays the same unless you explicitly choose to update both.

What image size works best for a lock screen?

Your device will automatically crop or resize any image to fit your lock screen. You do not need to resize photos beforehand. However, images with important details in the center work better than those with details at the edges, since the lock screen may crop the sides depending on your device model and orientation.

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

iPhone supports animated wallpapers and live photos on the lock screen. Go to Settings > Lock Screen > Customize and select from the Emojis or Weather options, which animate. Android does not support video lock screens natively, though some manufacturers include animated options. Windows and Mac do not support video lock screens.

How do I remove a custom lock screen and go back to the default?

On any device, return to the lock screen settings and select one of the built-in default images instead of your custom photo. The default wallpaper will reappear the next time you lock your device. You can always switch back to your custom image later by following the same steps.