Personalizing your iPhone is a great way to make it feel truly yours, and one of the easiest ways to start is to change your iPhone wallpaper. You can use your own photos or choose from a wide range of Apple’s built-in designs to give your lock screen and home screen a fresh look and feel.
How to change the background on an iPhone
Follow these methods to add, customize, or delete wallpapers on your device using the Settings app, the lock screen, or the Photos app.
Method 1: Add a new wallpaper using the Settings app
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap **Wallpaper**, which is located under the Accessibility section.
- Select the + Add New Wallpaper button.
- Choose a photo for your new wallpaper:
- Tap **Photos** to use a single picture from your library.
- Tap **Photo Shuffle** to create a rotating series of images.
- Select from Apple’s categories, such as **Featured**, **Weather & Astronomy**, **Kaleidoscope**, **Emoji**, **Unity**, **Pride**, **Collections**, or **Color**.
- Customize your wallpaper by adding widgets, setting styles, and applying filters.
- Tap **Add** in the top-right corner.
- Tap **Set as Wallpaper Pair** to use it for both the lock and home screens. If you want different backgrounds, tap **Customize Home Screen** to pick another photo.
Method 2: Change your wallpaper from the lock screen
- Unlock your iPhone but remain on the lock screen.
- Long-press anywhere on the lock screen until the **Edit** menu appears.
- Tap **Customize**. The view will show your lock screen on the left and your home screen on the right.
- From here, you can **customize** your wallpaper by adding widgets, applying filters, or changing styles.
Method 3: Customize your wallpaper with widgets and styles
- Access the wallpaper customization screen by either long-pressing the lock screen and tapping **Customize**, or by going to **Settings** > **Wallpaper** > **Customize**.
- To add widgets, tap the widget box on the lock screen and choose from the available options.
- To add a filter, swipe left or right to switch between **Natural**, **Black & White**, **Duotone**, or **Color Wash**. For **Duotone** or **Color Wash**, you can **tap** the color bubble to pick a specific style.
- To change the font style, tap** the time at the top. You can then **choose** a font preset, **adjust** the size with the slider, and **pick** a new color.
- Tap **Done** in the top corner to save your changes.
Method 4: Delete a wallpaper from your collection
- Wake your iPhone to view the lock screen.
- Long-press on the screen until the wallpaper tiles and the **Customize** button appear.
- Swipe** left or right to find the wallpaper you wish to remove.
- Swipe the wallpaper tile upward to reveal a **red trash-can icon**.
- Tap the trash-can icon and confirm your choice by tapping **Delete This Wallpaper**.
Method 5: Set a wallpaper directly from the Photos app
- Open the **Photos** app and navigate to the image you want to use.
- Tap the **Share** button, which looks like a box with an arrow pointing up.
- Scroll down and **select** the **Use as Wallpaper** option.
- Customize** the wallpaper as desired and **tap** **Add** to set it.
Why this matters
Customizing your iPhone’s background is more than just a cosmetic change; it’s a way to make your device uniquely yours. A photo of a loved one, a favorite vacation spot, or a piece of art can bring a moment of joy every time you unlock your phone. It transforms a generic device into a personal dashboard that reflects your personality and style.
Beyond aesthetics, a well-chosen wallpaper can also improve functionality. A simple or dark background can make your app icons easier to see, reducing visual clutter. On iPhones with OLED screens, using a predominantly black wallpaper can even contribute to minor battery savings, as the black pixels are turned off. This small tweak helps in both personalizing and optimizing your daily device usage.
