How to Change iPhone Wallpaper for the Lock Screen and Home Screen

September 28, 2026

To change your iPhone wallpaper, open Settings, tap Wallpaper, tap Add New Wallpaper, choose a photo or style, then tap Add. Choose Set as Wallpaper Pair to use it on both screens, or tap Customize Home Screen to pick a different look for your apps.

You can also start from any picture. Open it in Photos, tap the Share icon and choose Use as Wallpaper. Below you will find every method, how to use a different image on each screen, how to fix a blurry or cropped wallpaper and how to change wallpaper quickly by swiping.

Quick Answer: Which Method Should You Use?

Use a photo you already have: open the photo in Photos, tap Share, then Use as Wallpaper
Browse styles and ready made options: Settings, Wallpaper, Add New Wallpaper
Change it fast from the Lock Screen: touch and hold the Lock Screen and tap the plus button
Change only the Home Screen: Settings, Wallpaper, then Customize under the Home Screen preview

How to Change Wallpaper From Settings

Open Settings and tap Wallpaper.
Tap Add New Wallpaper.
Choose a category at the top: Photos, People, Photo Shuffle, Emoji, Weather, Astronomy or Color. You can also scroll for collections.
Pick your image, then pinch to zoom and drag to position it.
Swipe left or right to try filters, then tap Add.
Tap Set as Wallpaper Pair to use it for both screens, or tap Customize Home Screen to choose a different Home Screen look.

How to Set a Photo as Wallpaper From the Photos App

Open Photos and tap the picture you want.
Tap the Share icon.
Scroll and tap Use as Wallpaper.
Adjust the position and tap Add, then choose how to apply it.

Pro Tip

Use a Lock Screen photo with plenty of empty space in the top third. The clock and widgets stay easy to read, and Depth Effect looks far better when the subject sits lower in the frame.

This is the fastest way to use a picture you have just taken or saved. If you saved the image from Safari and cannot find it, see where to find downloads on iPhone.

How to Change Wallpaper From the Lock Screen

Wake your iPhone and unlock it with Face ID, but stay on the Lock Screen.
Touch and hold the Lock Screen until the wallpaper gallery opens.
Tap the plus button to add a new wallpaper, or swipe left and right to switch between wallpapers you already made.
Tap Customize to change the wallpaper, clock style, font and widgets.

To delete a wallpaper, touch and hold the Lock Screen, swipe up on the one you do not want and tap the bin.

How to Use Different Wallpapers on the Lock Screen and Home Screen

Open Settings and tap Wallpaper.
Under the pair you want to edit, tap Customize below the Home Screen preview.
Choose Photos, Color or Gradient, or turn on Blur so app icons stay easy to read.
Tap Done.

A darker or blurred Home Screen is easier on the eyes and keeps text clear. Use a photo you love on the Lock Screen and a simple colour behind your apps.

How to Set Photo Shuffle So Your Wallpaper Changes

Photo Shuffle switches the image on your Lock Screen automatically.

Open Settings, tap Wallpaper, tap Add New Wallpaper and choose Photo Shuffle.
Pick a category such as People, Pets, Nature or Cities, or select your own photos.
Choose how often it changes, for example on tap, on lock, hourly or daily.
Tap Add.

Wallpaper Effects You Can Use

Depth Effect: on photos with a clear subject, the clock can sit behind the subject for a layered look.
Perspective Zoom: tap the icon at the bottom of the preview to make the wallpaper move slightly when you tilt the phone.
Filters: swipe on the preview to choose black and white, duotone or colour wash.
Spatial Scene: on newer iOS versions, some photos show a subtle 3D effect when you tilt your phone.

If Perspective Zoom does not appear, check that Reduce Motion is switched off in Settings, Accessibility, Motion.

Why Your iPhone Wallpaper Looks Blurry or Cropped

The image is too small. Choose a photo with a higher resolution, because a tiny picture stretches and blurs. Screen sizes differ by model, so first find your iPhone model and look at its display.
The photo is not fully downloaded. If it is stored in iCloud, open it in Photos and wait for the full version to load.
It is zoomed the wrong way. Pinch to resize and drag it into place before you tap Add.
Depth Effect cannot work. If the subject touches the clock, turn Depth Effect off with the three dots in the preview.
The wallpaper keeps changing. Photo Shuffle may be on, or a Focus is linked to a different Lock Screen. Open the Focus and check the Lock Screen link.
The wallpaper option is locked. Work or school iPhones can restrict wallpaper changes.

Wondering how your current phone compares with new releases? Check the iPhone 18 screen size and specs.

Match Wallpapers to Your Focus

You can link a Lock Screen to a Focus, such as Work or Sleep. Open Settings, tap Focus, choose a Focus and select a Lock Screen under Customize Screens. When that Focus turns on, the wallpaper changes with it. Pair it with quiet alerts by learning how to turn off iPhone vibration.

More iPhone Customisation Guides

Sending someone your favourite wallpaper picture? Learn how to stop sending read receipts in Messages if you want privacy. Preparing for a call? See how to withhold number on iPhone too.

Once you have updated your wallpaper, you can personalise other parts of your iPhone experience too. Learn how to change your iPhone name if you want your device to be easier to recognise in AirDrop, Bluetooth or Find My.

Branded Wallpapers for Rented iPhones and iPads

If you hire iPads or iPhones for an event, exhibition or training day, a branded wallpaper with your logo and a welcome message makes every device look professional and stops attendees getting confused. Ask us to set a wallpaper before delivery, or apply one yourself using the steps above. See how teams hire iPad for events and get ideas for trade show product displays. For company handsets, read about iPhone rental for businesses. Contact our team for a quote.

Rent Tech Devices for Business Events and Professional Use

Rent tech devices for business events, conferences, exhibitions, and corporate projects. Hire Tablets UK provides professionally prepared devices with quick delivery and dependable support, making it simple for businesses to run events and activities without technical concerns.

Get a Quote Contact Us

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change my iPhone wallpaper without changing the Lock Screen?

Open Settings, tap Wallpaper and tap Customize under the Home Screen preview. Choose a photo, colour or gradient for your apps and leave the Lock Screen unchanged.

Why can I not change my iPhone wallpaper?

The wallpaper may be locked by a work or school profile, or Screen Time restrictions may be active. Restart your iPhone, update iOS and check Settings, General, VPN & Device Management.

How do I make my iPhone wallpaper not blurry?

Choose a photo with a high resolution and avoid tiny or heavily compressed images. Pinch to resize before you tap Add, and turn Blur off in the Home Screen customise screen.

Can I set a video as an iPhone wallpaper?

Not as a standard video. Live wallpapers are limited to certain photos and effects on newer versions of iOS, so check Photo Shuffle, Weather and Astronomy for moving backgrounds.