How to Change Wallpaper on iPhone - iOS Full Series Guide

Part 1. How to Change Wallpaper on iPhone - 3 Ways

Way 1. Change Wallpapers on iPhone from Settings [iOS Full Series]

The Settings app is the most direct way to change your iPhone wallpaper, and the steps are the same from iOS 16 through the latest iOS version.

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Tap on "Wallpaper."
• Tap on "Add New Wallpaper."

• Choose your source: Photos, People, Photo Shuffle, or Live Photo for your own images, or pick a built-in option like Weather & Astronomy, Emoji, or Color.



• Once you've selected an image, tap "Add," then choose "Set as Wallpaper Pair" to use it on both screens, or set the Lock Screen only.

The new wallpaper applies immediately to whichever screen you selected.

Way 2. Change Wallpaper on iPhone Directly from Photos [iOS Full Series]

You can also set a wallpaper directly from the Photos app without opening Settings — useful when you're already viewing the photo you want to use.

• Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
• Find the photo you want to use as your wallpaper and tap on it to open it.
• Tap on the "Share" button in the bottom left corner of the screen.
• Swipe left on the bottom row of icons until you see the "Use as Wallpaper" option.

• Tap on "Use as Wallpaper."


• Use the pinch gesture to adjust the size and position of the image as desired.
• Once you've positioned the image as desired, tap "Set" and choose whether you want to use the image for the home screen, lock screen, or both.

This method sets the wallpaper right away, without the source-picker screen you'd see through Settings.

Way 3. How to Change Wallpaper on iPhone from Lock Screen [iOS 16 or Later]

Starting in iOS 16, you can create and switch between multiple Lock Screens directly, each with its own wallpaper, widgets, and style, without going through Settings at all.

Here are the steps to customize your lock screen wallpaper and home screen wallpaper:

• Press and hold any blank space on your iPhone's lock screen to open the lock screen picker.

• Create a new lock screen by selecting the "+" sign in the bottom-right corner.


• Customize your new lock screen to your liking, choosing from a range of animated wallpapers and effects.

• When you're finished, select "Add" (or "Done" if you're editing an existing lock screen).


• A preview of your lock screen and home screen wallpapers will appear.

• Select "Customize home screen" to choose a different wallpaper for your home screen.


• Choose from options including "Pair" to keep the same wallpaper as your lock screen, "Color" or "Gradient" to choose a static background, or "Photos" to select another image from your photo library.
• If you select "Color" or "Gradient", you can choose a specific color or gradient by tapping the option a second time to bring up the color picker.

• You can also choose to blur your home screen wallpaper by selecting "Blur". Note that this option is only available when using a matching lock screen wallpaper or a custom photo.



• Once you've customized your home screen wallpaper to your liking, select "Done" in the top-right corner.

Once set, you can switch between saved Lock Screens anytime by swiping left or right on the Lock Screen itself.

Related read Set Different Wallpaper on Lockscreen and Home screen.

Part 2. Change Wallpapers to a Rotating Photo Gallery

Photo Shuffle displays a different photo as your wallpaper at set intervals — on tap, when you lock the phone, hourly, or daily. Since iOS 17.1, you can also point it at a specific photo album instead of only Apple's auto-selected categories. Here's how to set it up:

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Tap on "Wallpaper," then "Add New Wallpaper."
• Tap "Photo Shuffle," then choose a featured category (People, Pets, Nature, or Cities), or select "Album" to use a specific photo album instead.

• Tap on the photo you want to use as your first wallpaper.


• Use the pinch gesture to adjust the size and position of the image as desired.
• Tap on "Set," then choose "Set Both" to use the image as your home screen and lock screen wallpaper.
• Tap "Shuffle Frequency" and choose how often the wallpaper changes: On Tap, On Lock, Hourly, or Daily.

• Tap "Add" to save your rotating wallpaper.

Your iPhone will now rotate through the photos automatically at the frequency you selected. You can change the frequency anytime by reopening the wallpaper picker and tapping the three-dot menu.

Related read iOS 16 Photo Shuffle Not Working.

Part 3. Customize Your Lock Screen [Tips & Tricks]

Lock Screen customization goes well beyond picking an image. Since iOS 16, Apple has steadily added more ways to control how your Lock Screen looks and behaves:

• Time Customization: Choose from a variety of clock faces and styles to display on your lock screen.


• Tints and Styles: Personalize your device's color scheme with a range of custom tints and styles.

• Widgets: Add customizable widgets to your lock screen for quick access to your favorite apps and information.



• Lock Screens and Focus Mode: Create multiple custom lock screens and background images that automatically switch based on your focus mode.


• Depth Effect: Add a 3D-like depth effect to your wallpapers and lock screens for a more immersive experience.
• Photo Shuffle: Enjoy a constantly changing background with the ability to shuffle through your favorite photos at set intervals.
• Lock Screen Controls (iOS 18 or later): Replace the default flashlight and camera shortcuts at the bottom of the Lock Screen with any of over 50 other controls, including timers, accessibility shortcuts, and third-party app actions — up to two per Lock Screen.

Long-press your Lock Screen and tap Customize anytime to preview these options before applying them, and each saved Lock Screen can use a different combination.

Related read iOS 16 Lock Screen: What's New and How to Customize It.

Bonus Tip: One-Click to Export All iPhone Photos to Computer

Before you start swapping wallpapers regularly, it's worth backing up your existing camera roll — especially if you're testing several photos as Lock Screen options. Tenorshare iCareFone can export all of your iPhone photos to your computer in one click, giving you a full local copy outside iCloud.

Some of the main features of iCareFone include:

• Easy and efficient transfer of photos from your iPhone to your computer.
• Ability to transfer photos selectively or in bulk.
• Ability to preview photos before transferring them.
• No data loss during transfer.
• Support for various file formats including photos, music, videos, and more.

• First, you'll need to download and install iCareFone on your computer. Launch the program and connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.



• Once your device is connected, select the "One-click Export Photos to PC" option from the main interface. This will initiate the transfer process and all of the photos on your iPhone will be automatically transferred to your computer.



• When the transfer is complete, the destination folder will automatically open. If it doesn't, you can click on "Open Folder" to view your transferred photos. The photos will be organized by their original folders, making it easy for you to find the images you're looking for.

The Bottom Line

You have three ways to change your iPhone wallpaper — Settings, Photos, or directly from the Lock Screen — plus Photo Shuffle for a rotating gallery and, on iOS 18 or later, custom Lock Screen Controls. For a quick one-off swap, Photos is the fastest route; for widgets, tints, or multiple saved Lock Screens, use the Customize menu from Settings.

Back up your camera roll with iCareFone before you start experimenting with different photos, so switching wallpapers never risks losing the originals.

Downloads:

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