How to Change Your Phone Wallpaper

Your phone wallpaper is the background image you see on your Lock Screen (before you unlock) and your Home Screen (behind your apps). Changing it is a quick way to personalize your phone with a photo of your family, a nature scene, or any image you like.

On iPhone: Go to Settings then Wallpaper then "Add New Wallpaper." You will see options to choose from your Photos library, Apple's built-in wallpapers, colors, and dynamic options. Tap "Photos" to use one of your own pictures. Select the photo, then pinch and drag to adjust how it fits the screen. Tap "Add" when you are happy with it. The phone asks if you want to set it as a pair (both Lock Screen and Home Screen) or customize each separately.

You can also change your wallpaper directly from the Lock Screen. Press and hold on the Lock Screen until the customization view appears. Tap the plus sign (+) to add a new wallpaper, or swipe between wallpapers you have already set up.

On Android: Go to Settings then Wallpaper (or Settings then Display then Wallpaper). You will see options to choose from your Gallery, live wallpapers, or built-in wallpapers. Select "My Photos" or "Gallery" to use your own picture. Choose a photo, crop or adjust it to fit, and tap "Set Wallpaper." You will be asked if you want it on the Home Screen, Lock Screen, or both.

On Samsung phones, you can also press and hold on an empty area of your Home Screen and tap "Wallpaper and style" for quick access.

Tips for choosing a good wallpaper: pick an image that is not too busy. So you can still read your app names and notifications clearly. Darker wallpapers tend to look better and use less battery on phones with OLED screens. Photos of landscapes, sunsets, or solid colors work well.