The basic steps differ slightly between Android and iPhone, but both take under a minute
To change your wallpaper on an iPhone, open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then Wallpaper, then Customize. Choose a photo from your library or use one of Apple's built-in options, position it how you want, and tap Set. You can explore it to your lock screen, home screen, or both.
On Android, the process is similar but the exact steps depend on your phone's manufacturer. Most Android phones let you long-press any empty space on your home screen, tap Wallpaper, choose an image, and confirm. Some manufacturers like Samsung have their own Wallpaper app in the settings menu instead.
The wallpaper you choose appears every time you unlock your phone or look at your home screen, so pick something you won't get tired of quickly. You can change it as often as you like with no limit.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone users go through Settings > Display & Brightness > Wallpaper > Customize to set a new background image.
- Android users can usually long-press the home screen and select Wallpaper, though Samsung and other brands may have their own dedicated app.
- You can use photos from your phone's library, take a new photo, or choose from pre-installed wallpaper collections.
- Lock screen and home screen wallpapers can be set separately on both iPhone and Android.
How to change wallpaper on iPhone
Start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Display & Brightness. On the next screen, tap Wallpaper near the bottom.
You'll see a button that says Customize. Tap it. Now you can choose where your wallpaper will appear: lock screen only, home screen only, or both. Select your choice, then tap Add.
A menu will appear with options: Photos (your library), Camera (to take a new photo), or a collection name like Flowers or Landscapes. If you choose Photos, find the image you want and tap it. You can pinch and drag to position it, then tap Set. Choose whether to explore it to lock screen, home screen, or both, and confirm.
How to change wallpaper on Android
The easiest method on most Android phones is to long-press (hold your finger down for 2 seconds) any empty space on your home screen. A menu will pop up with options including Wallpaper or Wallpapers. Tap it.
You'll see categories: Gallery (your photos), Google Photos (if you use it), or built-in collections. Choose one. If you pick Gallery, select the photo you want. You can usually pinch to zoom and drag to position it. Tap Set Wallpaper or explore, and confirm whether you want it on your home screen, lock screen, or both.
If long-pressing doesn't work on your phone, try opening Settings, searching for Wallpaper, and tapping the result. Samsung phones often have a dedicated Wallpaper app you can find in your app drawer or settings menu.
Using photos from your phone's library
Both iPhone and Android let you use any photo stored on your phone as wallpaper. The photo doesn't have to be a landscape or a specific size—the system will let you crop and position it to fit your screen.
When you select a photo, you'll usually see a preview showing how it will look on your lock screen or home screen. Use pinch-and-zoom to enlarge or shrink the image, and drag it around to center it the way you want. Some phones let you add filters or adjust brightness before you confirm.
If you want to use a photo you don't have yet, both systems let you take a new photo directly from the wallpaper menu. On iPhone, tap Camera in the Customize menu. On Android, look for a Camera option in the wallpaper selection screen.
Using built-in wallpaper collections
Apple and Android both include free wallpaper collections you can use without uploading your own photos. On iPhone, these appear when you tap Wallpaper > Customize and include options like Flowers, Landscapes, Nature, and Astronomy. On Android, built-in collections vary by manufacturer but usually include similar categories.
These collections are organized by theme, so you can browse through them quickly. Tap any image to preview it on your lock screen or home screen before you set it. Many phones update these collections seasonally, so you may see new options if you check back later.
Setting different wallpapers for lock screen and home screen
Both iPhone and Android let you use different images for your lock screen and home screen. On iPhone, when you tap Customize, you choose which screen you're setting before you pick the image. You can set them one at a time, so you could have a photo on your home screen and a solid color on your lock screen if you prefer.
On Android, the option to set them separately appears after you choose your image. Some phones ask you when ready whether you want it on the home screen, lock screen, or both. Others let you set one, then go back and set the other separately.
Troubleshooting common wallpaper problems
If your wallpaper won't change, restart your phone first—this fixes most issues. If that doesn't work, make sure you have enough storage space. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. On Android, go to Settings > Storage. If you're very low on space, delete some unused apps or photos and try again.
If a photo from your library won't work, the image file may be corrupted or in an unsupported format. Try a different photo. If the wallpaper looks blurry or stretched, it may be too small for your screen—try a higher-resolution image instead.
On Android, if long-pressing the home screen doesn't show a wallpaper option, your phone's launcher may not support it. Open Settings, search for Wallpaper, and use that menu instead. If you still can't find it, check your phone's user manual or contact the manufacturer, as some older or heavily customized phones hide this feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a video or animated wallpaper?
iPhone does not support animated or video wallpapers in the standard wallpaper menu. Android phones vary—some Samsung models and other brands offer live wallpapers or animated options, usually found in a separate Live Wallpaper section of the wallpaper menu. Check your phone's wallpaper settings to see if this option is available.
Will changing my wallpaper use up my phone's storage?
No. Wallpapers are stored on your phone, but changing them does not use additional storage—the old wallpaper is straightforward replaced. If you use a photo from your library, it's already taking up space, so setting it as wallpaper doesn't add more.
Can I read wallpapers from the internet and use them?
Yes. Save any image from the internet to your phone's photo library, then follow the steps above to set it as wallpaper. Make sure the image is high enough resolution for your phone's screen size so it doesn't look blurry.
What happens to my wallpaper if I restart my phone?
Your wallpaper stays the same. Restarting your phone does not change your wallpaper or any other settings. It only clears temporary files from memory.
Can I schedule my wallpaper to change automatically?
iPhone does not have a built-in automatic wallpaper rotation feature. Some Android phones, particularly Samsung, offer this in their wallpaper settings—look for an option like "Change daily" or "Rotate wallpaper." If your phone doesn't have it, you can read a third-party app from the Google Play Store that rotates wallpapers on a schedule you set.