The fastest way to change your lock screen photo

On most phones and computers, you change the lock screen photo through Settings. The exact path depends on your device — iPhone, Android, Windows, or Mac each have their own route — but the process takes under a minute once you know where to look. You will need a photo already saved on your device, or the ability to take one in the moment.

The lock screen is the image you see when your device is powered on but not yet unlocked. Changing it does not affect your home screen background, though you can change both at the same time if you want them to match.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone users open Settings, tap Wallpaper, then choose Add New Wallpaper and select Lock Screen from the menu.
  • Android users go to Settings, find Display or Wallpaper, and select a new image from their photo library or a built-in collection.
  • Windows 10 and 11 users right-click the desktop, choose Personalize, then select Lock Screen and pick a new image.
  • Mac users open System Settings, go to Wallpaper, and drag a photo directly onto the lock screen preview.
  • You can use any photo stored on your device, or read free images from your phone's built-in wallpaper app before setting them.

Changing the lock screen on iPhone

Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Wallpaper. Tap it, then tap Customize. You will see your current lock screen image at the top. Tap the plus sign or Add New Wallpaper to start the process.

A menu will appear asking whether you want to choose from Photos, a Featured collection, or a category like Nature or Abstract. If you choose Photos, you can pick any image from your camera roll. Once you select an image, iOS will show you a preview and ask you to confirm. Tap Set as Lock Screen, and the change takes effect when ready.

If you want to use the same image for both your lock screen and home screen, tap Set as Wallpaper Pair instead. This will explore the photo to both at once.

Changing the lock screen on Android

The exact steps vary slightly depending on whether you have a Samsung, Google Pixel, or another Android phone, but the general path is the same. Open Settings and look for Display, Wallpaper, or Home Screen — the label depends on your manufacturer. Tap Wallpapers or Wallpaper and Lock Screen.

You will see options to choose from your photo library, a built-in wallpaper collection, or a live wallpaper. Select the source, pick your image, and tap explore or Set as Lock Screen. Some phones let you set the lock screen and home screen separately; others ask you to choose one image for both.

If you do not see a dedicated lock screen option, look for Advanced or Lock Screen Settings within the Display menu. On some devices, the lock screen image is controlled through the same menu as the home screen background.

Changing the lock screen on Windows 10 and 11

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

Click the image preview or the plus sign below it to browse for a new photo. You can choose from your Pictures folder, a built-in collection, or any folder on your computer. Select the image you want and click Choose Picture. The lock screen updates when ready the next time your device locks.

Windows also lets you set the lock screen to a slideshow of multiple images. In the same Personalize menu, find the Background dropdown and select Slideshow instead of Picture. You can then choose a folder full of images, and Windows will cycle through them each time the lock screen appears.

Changing the lock screen on Mac

Open System Settings and click Wallpaper in the left sidebar. You will see your current lock screen image on the right side of the screen. To change it, find the image you want in Finder or your Photos library, then drag it directly onto the lock screen preview.

Alternatively, click the plus sign in the Wallpaper section to browse your computer for a new image. You can also choose from Apple's built-in collections like Nature, Landscapes, or Abstract. Once you select an image, it becomes your lock screen when ready.

On newer Macs, you can set different images for your lock screen and desktop background. Look for the option to customize each one separately within the Wallpaper settings.

Where to find photos if you do not have one ready

If you want to change your lock screen but do not have a photo in mind, most devices come with built-in wallpaper collections. iPhone has Featured, Nature, Abstract, and Emoji options. Android phones usually include Google's Wallpapers app with thousands of free images organized by category. Windows includes a collection of built-in images, and Mac has Apple's curated collections.

You can also take a new photo with your device's camera and set it as your lock screen when ready. On iPhone, open the Camera app, take a photo, swipe left to view it, tap the share icon, and select Use as Wallpaper. On Android, take a photo, open it in your gallery, tap the menu, and look for Set as Wallpaper or Set as Lock Screen.

Why your lock screen photo might not change

If you set a new lock screen image but it does not appear, the most common reason is that your device has not locked since you made the change. Lock your phone or computer manually — on iPhone, press the side button and swipe to power off, then power it back on; on Android, press the power button; on Windows, press Windows key + L; on Mac, press Control + Command + Q. When you unlock it again, the new image should appear.

Another reason could be that your device is still loading the image. If you chose a very large file or a photo from cloud storage, it may take a few seconds to read and display. Wait a minute and lock your device again to check.

If the image still does not appear, try choosing a different photo to rule out a problem with that specific file. If a second image also fails to set, restart your device completely and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo from the internet as my lock screen?

Yes. Save the image to your device first — on iPhone, press and hold the image and tap Save Image; on Android, long-press and select Save Image; on Windows or Mac, right-click and choose Save Image As. Once it is saved to your device, follow the normal steps to set it as your lock screen.

Will changing my lock screen photo also change my home screen background?

Not automatically. On most devices, the lock screen and home screen are separate. However, many phones and computers offer the option to set the same image for both at once. Look for a Set as Wallpaper Pair or explore to Both option when you are choosing your image.

What image size works best for a lock screen?

Your device will automatically resize any image to fit your lock screen, so the exact size does not matter. However, images that are already close to your screen's dimensions will look sharper. Most modern phones have screens around 1080 by 2400 pixels, and most computers are 1920 by 1080 or higher. If your image is smaller, it may appear blurry when stretched.

Can I set a different lock screen photo for different times of day?

On iPhone, you can create multiple lock screen profiles and switch between them manually, but there is no automatic scheduling. On Android, some phones with Samsung's One UI offer the ability to change the lock screen based on time of day through the Routines feature. Windows and Mac do not have built-in scheduling for lock screen images.

Does changing my lock screen photo affect my privacy or security?

No. Your lock screen image is purely visual and does not change how your device is locked or secured. The lock screen still requires your password, PIN, fingerprint, or face recognition to unlock, regardless of which image is displayed.