How to change your iPhone wallpaper (and lock screen)

Got a new wallpaper and not sure where it goes? Changing your iPhone wallpaper takes about two minutes. This guide walks through the current steps for iOS 17 and iOS 18 (newer versions use a very similar flow), shows how to set a different picture on your lock screen and home screen, and covers Android too.

Need something to try it with? Browse our lock screen collection or the full range of phone wallpapers. Every file is a digital download, and your download link comes instantly after purchase.

Step 1: Save the wallpaper to your Photos

Your iPhone can only use an image as wallpaper once it's saved in the Photos app.

  1. Open the download link from your order confirmation page or email in Safari.
  2. If the image opens on screen, touch and hold it, then tap Save to Photos (on some versions it says Add to Photos).
  3. If the file goes to your downloads instead, open the Files app, go to Downloads, tap the image, tap the Share button and choose Save Image.
  4. Got a ZIP file? Tap it in the Files app and it unzips into a folder. Open the folder, then save the images you want as in step 3.

Step 2: Set it as your wallpaper (iOS 17 and iOS 18)

Option A: From the Settings app

  1. Open Settings and tap Wallpaper.
  2. Tap Add New Wallpaper.
  3. Tap Photos and choose the wallpaper you saved.
  4. Pinch to zoom and drag to position the image. Swipe left or right to try the built-in photo styles if you like.
  5. Tap Add.
  6. Choose Set as Wallpaper Pair to use the same image on your lock screen and home screen, or Customize Home Screen to choose something different for the home screen.

Option B: Straight from the lock screen

  1. Unlock your iPhone with Face ID or Touch ID, but stay on the lock screen (don't swipe up).
  2. Touch and hold the lock screen until the wallpaper gallery opens.
  3. Tap the + (Add) button, then tap Photos and pick your image.
  4. Adjust it, tap Add, then choose Set as Wallpaper Pair or Customize Home Screen.

Tip: if Face ID won't open the gallery, touch and hold again and enter your passcode.

Option C: From the Photos app

  1. Open the image in Photos.
  2. Tap the Share button, scroll down and tap Use as Wallpaper.
  3. Position it, tap Add, and choose how to apply it.

Use a different lock screen and home screen

Some of our designs come as a matching pair, with one image for the lock screen and one for the home screen. Our Planets Collide and Humpty Reveal pairs are made to be unlocked. To set them up:

  1. Add the lock screen image using any option above.
  2. When asked, tap Customize Home Screen.
  3. Tap Photos, choose the home screen image, position it and tap Done.

To change just the home screen later, go to Settings > Wallpaper and tap Customize under the home screen preview.

Make it look right: clock, widgets and depth

  • Move the image under the clock. Most of our lock screens leave space near the top for the time. Pinch and drag until nothing important sits behind the clock.
  • Depth effect. With some images, iOS can place part of the picture in front of the clock. In the customize screen, tap the ••• button and turn Depth Effect on or off. It only works when the clock has room and you don't have widgets in the way.
  • Fonts and widgets. On the lock screen, touch and hold, tap Customize, then tap the clock to change the font and colour or tap the widget area to add widgets.
  • Blurred home screen. If your home screen looks blurry, it's the blur option. Go to Settings > Wallpaper, tap Customize on the home screen and switch Blur off.

How to change your wallpaper on Android

Menu names vary by brand and Android version, but the flow is almost always the same.

Google Pixel and most Android phones

  1. Save the image to your phone (open the download link, then touch and hold the image and tap Download image, or save it from your Downloads folder to Photos or Gallery).
  2. Touch and hold an empty spot on your home screen and tap Wallpaper & style.
  3. Tap More wallpapers or Change wallpaper, then My photos.
  4. Pick your image, adjust it, and tap Set wallpaper.
  5. Choose Home screen, Lock screen or Home and lock screens.

Samsung Galaxy

  1. Open Settings > Wallpaper and style.
  2. Tap Change wallpapers, then choose Gallery.
  3. Select your image, choose lock screen, home screen or both, adjust it and tap Done.

Shortcut from your photos app

In Google Photos or Gallery, open the image, tap the â‹® menu (three dots) and choose Use as or Set as wallpaper.

FAQ

Why is my wallpaper zoomed in or cut off?

Phone screens come in different shapes. Our lock screens are made at 1080×1920 (a 9:16 ratio), and newer iPhones and many Android phones are taller, so a little of the left and right edges gets trimmed. Pinch to zoom out as far as it goes and drag to re-centre. For the full breakdown, read Phone wallpaper sizes explained.

Can I use the same image on my lock screen and home screen?

Yes. On iPhone, tap Set as Wallpaper Pair. On Android, choose Home and lock screens.

Can I switch between several lock screens?

Yes. On iPhone you can save multiple lock screens and swipe between them from the wallpaper gallery (touch and hold the lock screen). You can also use Photo Shuffle under Add New Wallpaper to rotate through an album of your favourites. That works well with a pack.

How do I get my files after buying?

Your download link comes instantly after purchase, on the order confirmation page and in your email. Nothing is shipped. We recommend downloading on your phone so the images go straight to Photos.

Will these work on my computer too?

Our phone wallpapers are sized for phones. For your computer, check out our desktop wallpapers, which come in 1920×1080, 2560×1440 and 4K (3840×2160). The Desktop + Phone Matching Bundle gets you matching designs for both.

Ready for a new look? Start with our lock screens, from funny cartoons to calm gradients and space scenes. Your download comes instantly after purchase.