The quickest way to change your lock screen image
On most phones, you can change your lock screen wallpaper directly from the Settings app without downloading anything extra. The exact steps depend on whether you use Android or iPhone, but both let you pick a photo from your phone's gallery, use a built-in image, or take a new photo on the spot.
The lock screen is the image you see when your phone is locked — before you enter your PIN, pattern, or face recognition. Changing it is separate from changing your home screen wallpaper, though some phones let you set the same image for both at once.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, open Settings, tap Wallpaper, then choose Lock Screen and pick an image from Photos, the built-in gallery, or your camera.
- On Android, the path varies by manufacturer — Samsung uses Settings > Wallpaper, while Google Pixel uses Settings > Display > Wallpaper, and other brands may differ.
- You can use any photo stored on your phone, a built-in image that came with your device, or take a new photo during the setup process.
- If your phone does not show a lock screen wallpaper option in Settings, your device may not support custom lock screen images.
How to change lock screen wallpaper on iPhone
Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Wallpaper. Tap it, then tap Add New or the plus icon. You will see three options: Photos (images from your phone's photo library), Featured (built-in Apple wallpapers), or Camera (take a photo right now).
If you choose Photos, browse to the image you want and tap it. You can zoom, move, and position the image however you like. Once you are happy with how it looks, tap Set at the bottom, then choose Set Lock Screen. If you want the same image on your home screen too, you can tap Set Both instead.
If you choose Featured, scroll through Apple's built-in collection and tap the one you want. Some featured wallpapers include dynamic options that change throughout the day or respond to your phone's light and dark mode. After you pick one, tap Set and choose Set Lock Screen or Set Both.
How to change lock screen wallpaper on Android
The steps vary depending on your phone's manufacturer. On a Samsung phone, open Settings, scroll to Display, then tap Wallpaper. You will see options for Lock Screen, Home Screen, or Both. Tap Lock Screen, then choose whether to pick from your Photos, the built-in gallery, or your camera.
On a Google Pixel phone, open Settings, tap Display, then Wallpaper. Tap Change Wallpaper, then select Lock Screen from the menu. Pick an image from Photos, the built-in collection, or your camera, then tap Set Wallpaper.
On other Android phones (OnePlus, Motorola, etc.), the path is usually Settings > Display > Wallpaper or Settings > Wallpaper, but the exact wording may differ. If you cannot find it, try searching "wallpaper" in your Settings search bar at the top of the app.
Using photos from your phone's gallery
When you choose the Photos option, your phone opens your photo library. You can browse folders, search by date, or scroll through all your images. Tap the photo you want to use as your lock screen.
After you select a photo, your phone will show you a preview of how it will look on your lock screen. You can usually zoom in or out and drag the image around to frame it the way you want. Pay attention to where important details (like faces or text) will appear, because parts of the image may be covered by the time, date, or notifications on your lock screen.
Once you are satisfied with the preview, tap the button to confirm — on iPhone it says Set, on Android it usually says Set Wallpaper or explore. Your lock screen will update when ready.
Using built-in wallpapers that came with your phone
Both iPhone and Android phones come with a collection of pre-made wallpapers you can use without taking or uploading your own photos. On iPhone, these are in the Featured section. On Android, they are usually labeled Gallery, Built-in, or the manufacturer's name (like Samsung Wallpapers).
These built-in images are optimized to look good on your phone's screen and often include options like dynamic wallpapers (that move or change) or ones that shift between light and dark versions depending on the time of day. Browse the collection, tap the one you like, preview it, and tap the confirmation button.
Troubleshooting if the option does not appear
If you cannot find a lock screen wallpaper option in your phone's Settings, your device may not support custom lock screen images. Older Android phones and some budget models do not have this feature — they only let you change your home screen wallpaper.
If you have a newer phone and the option still is not there, try restarting your phone and checking Settings again. On Android, also make sure you are running the latest software update by going to Settings > About Phone > Software Update (or similar, depending on your manufacturer).
If you have a Samsung phone with a custom lock screen app installed, that app may be overriding the built-in wallpaper option. Check your installed apps and uninstall any lock screen customization apps you no longer use, then try the standard Settings path again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a live photo or video as my lock screen wallpaper?
On iPhone, you can use a Live Photo (a photo that includes a few seconds of motion) as your lock screen wallpaper, and it will play a short animation when you interact with the lock screen. On Android, this depends on your phone — some newer Samsung and Google Pixel phones support animated lock screens, but most do not. Check your phone's wallpaper settings to see if an animated option is available.
Will changing my lock screen wallpaper also change my home screen?
Not automatically. When you set a lock screen wallpaper, it only changes the lock screen unless you specifically choose an option like "Set Both" on iPhone. If you want the same image on both, look for that option during setup. On Android, you usually choose which screen to change before picking the image.
What if my lock screen wallpaper looks blurry or cut off?
During the preview step, you can zoom and move the image to frame it better. Make sure important details are not in the corners or edges, because your phone's time, date, and notifications will cover parts of the image. If the image still looks blurry after you set it, the original photo may be low resolution — try a different photo or take a new one with your camera.
Can I set a different lock screen wallpaper for different times of day?
iPhone's built-in Featured wallpapers include some that change automatically between light and dark versions, but you cannot schedule different images for different times. On Android, this depends on your phone — some Samsung devices have scheduling options in their wallpaper settings, but most do not. Check your wallpaper settings to see if a scheduling option is available.