The fastest way to change your phone background
On both iPhone and Android, you change your phone background by opening Settings, finding the Display or Wallpaper section, and selecting a new image from your phone's library or the built-in options. The exact steps differ slightly between the two systems, but the process takes less than a minute either way. You can set different images for your lock screen, home screen, or both.
Most phones come with a collection of default wallpapers already installed. You can also use any photo you've taken or downloaded, or choose from thousands of free options through your phone's built-in wallpaper app. The image will automatically resize to fit your screen.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Wallpaper > Customize, then choose a photo from your library or the built-in collection.
- On Android, open Settings > Display > Wallpaper, select your source, and tap Set Wallpaper when you're done.
- You can set different images for your lock screen and home screen on both iPhone and Android.
- Any photo stored on your phone can become a wallpaper, and your phone will crop it to fit your screen automatically.
- If you don't like a wallpaper after setting it, you can change it back to the default in the same menu within seconds.
How to change your background on iPhone
Open the Settings app and tap Wallpaper. You'll see thumbnails of your current lock screen and home screen wallpapers. Tap Customize to change either one.
Choose your source: tap one of the built-in collections (like Flowers, Landscapes, or Solid Colors), or tap Photos to use an image from your camera roll. Select the image you want. You'll see a preview on your screen — pinch to zoom in or out to position the image the way you want it.
Tap Add at the top right, then choose whether to set it as your lock screen, home screen, or both. Tap Set Wallpaper to confirm. Your phone will return to Settings, and your new background is live immediately.
How to change your background on Android
Open Settings and scroll down to find Display (on some phones it may be called Screen or Home Screen). Tap Wallpaper or Wallpapers. You'll see options for Lock Screen, Home Screen, or Both.
Select which screen you want to change. You'll see a list of sources: Gallery (your photos), Google Photos, or built-in wallpaper collections. Choose your source, then select the image. Most Android phones will let you crop or position the image before you confirm.
Tap Set Wallpaper or Apply. The change takes effect immediately. If you want to change the other screen (lock or home), repeat the process.
Using photos from your camera roll
Any photo you've taken or downloaded can become your wallpaper. Open Settings, navigate to Wallpaper, and select Photos or Gallery as your source. Browse to the photo you want and tap it.
Your phone will show you a preview and let you crop or zoom the image so it fits your screen properly. Most phones automatically center the image, but you can usually drag it around to show the part you care about most. Once you're happy with how it looks, confirm the selection and your new wallpaper is set.
If a photo is the wrong size or shape, your phone will crop it rather than stretch it, so some edges may be cut off. You can always go back and choose a different photo or adjust the crop if you don't like the result.
Built-in wallpaper collections and where to find more
Both iPhone and Android come with free wallpaper collections built into Settings. iPhone offers categories like Flowers, Landscapes, Nature, Astronomy, and Solid Colors. Android's built-in options vary by manufacturer but usually include similar categories plus abstract designs and artistic images.
If you want more choices beyond what came with your phone, you can download wallpaper apps from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android). Many of these are free and let you browse thousands of images by category. Once you download an image through an app, it saves to your phone's photo library and you can set it as your wallpaper through Settings the same way you would any other photo.
Popular free wallpaper sources include Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay — all available as apps or websites. You can download images from these sites and save them to your phone, then set them as wallpapers through your phone's Settings.
Why your wallpaper might look different on your lock screen versus your home screen
On both iPhone and Android, your lock screen and home screen can have different wallpapers. This is useful because your lock screen is what people see when your phone is locked, while your home screen is what you see when you unlock it and see your app icons.
The lock screen image is often cropped or positioned differently than the home screen version, even if you use the same photo for both. This is because the lock screen shows time and notifications on top of the image, so your phone automatically positions the photo to avoid covering important information. If you set the same image for both screens, you may notice it appears in slightly different positions or crops on each one.
You can also set a blurred version of your wallpaper on the lock screen while keeping the full image on your home screen. On iPhone, this option appears when you're customizing your wallpaper. On Android, it depends on your phone model and manufacturer.
Troubleshooting common wallpaper problems
If your wallpaper won't change, make sure you've tapped the final confirmation button. On iPhone, this is Set Wallpaper. On Android, it's usually Set Wallpaper or Apply. If you tapped it and nothing happened, try closing Settings and opening it again.
If a photo from your camera roll won't work as a wallpaper, it may be corrupted or in a format your phone doesn't support. Try a different photo to confirm. If multiple photos won't work, restart your phone and try again.
If your wallpaper looks stretched, pixelated, or cut off in an odd way, the image resolution may be too low or the aspect ratio too different from your screen. Try cropping the image differently before setting it, or choose a different photo. Most phones work best with images that are at least 1080 pixels wide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a video as my wallpaper?
iPhone allows live wallpapers, which are short animated videos. Go to Settings > Wallpaper > Customize and look for the Live section. Android support for video wallpapers varies by manufacturer — some phones allow it through Settings, others require a third-party app. Check your phone's wallpaper menu to see if the option is available.
Will changing my wallpaper slow down my phone?
No. A static wallpaper has no effect on your phone's speed or battery life. Live wallpapers or animated wallpapers use slightly more battery than static ones, but the difference is usually small. If you notice your phone running slower after setting a live wallpaper, you can switch back to a static image.
What happens if I delete a photo I used as my wallpaper?
The wallpaper will remain on your screen. Your phone stores the wallpaper separately from your photo library, so deleting the original photo doesn't remove the wallpaper. If you want to change it later, you'll need to choose a different image.
Can I schedule my wallpaper to change automatically?
iPhone doesn't have a built-in scheduling feature for wallpapers. Android phones vary by manufacturer — some allow you to set a rotation through Settings, while others require a third-party app. Check your phone's wallpaper menu or search your app store for "wallpaper scheduler" to see what's available for your device.
Why does my wallpaper look different after I set it?
Your phone may be applying a slight blur or dimming to make text and icons more readable. On iPhone, this is called the "Perspective" or "Still" option. On Android, it depends on your phone model. You can usually adjust this in the wallpaper customization menu before you confirm your selection.