How to Change Wallpaper on iPhone (2026 Guide)

Changing your wallpaper is a great way to make your iPhone feel fresh and new again. Simply switching from the default wallpaper to something else can give your device a new life. iOS also offers its own built-in wallpaper collection, or you can also try out the 3D spatial scene to add more "depth" to your iPhone lockscreen. So, if you are bored with your current setup, then check out this guide to learn how to change wallpaper on iPhone. 

How to Change Wallpaper on iPhone 

iPhones were once very limited in terms of customisation, allowing users to only change their wallpapers, but with the newer iOS updates, the company offers multiple options to change the look and feel of your iPhone. From creating wallpaper pairs and depth effects to even tinting icons, you can make your iPhone look completely different from what it used to be. So let's see how you can do it. 

Change Wallpaper from iPhone Settings App

Let's start with the simplest option. Changing your wallpaper from the Settings app on your iPhone. It gives you access to every wallpaper available, including Apple's built-in collection, your own photos, and the new Spatial Scenes on iOS 26 eligible devices. 

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and select Wallpaper.
2. Here, tap on +Add New Wallpaper.

3. Here, choose from the available options at the top – Photos, Spatial Scenes, Photo Shuffle, Emoji, Weather and Astronomy, Colour, or Collections.
4. Select the wallpaper you want to use and adjust the position or style if needed.
5. Tap on Add at the top right.

6. Now, choose Set as Wallpaper Pair to use the same wallpaper for both your lock screen and home screen.
7. You can also tap on Customise Home Screen to set a different one for each.

If you have an older iPhone and want to make it feel brand new, then you can also download iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air wallpapers and apply them on your device. 

Customise iPhone Wallpaper from the Home Screen

Another quick way to change your wallpaper without having to go into Settings at all. Apple added the ability to access wallpaper options directly from the Home Screen, which saves a few extra taps.

1. Long-press on an empty space on your iPhone home screen and tap on Edit at the top left.
2. Here, select Edit Wallpaper from the overflow menu.

3. Choose your preferred option from Pair, Colour, Gradient, Photo or Blur and adjust the wallpaper as needed
4. Lastly, tap on Done at the top right to confirm your action.

Keep in mind that changes made from the home screen will not affect your lock screen.

Change Wallpaper from iPhone Lock Screen

Apple also allows users to change the wallpaper directly from the lock screen. It lets you access your existing wallpaper collection and add new ones without the need to visit the Settings app. However, it is only available on iOS 16-supported devices like the iPhone 8, iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 and newer. 

1. Unlock your iPhone lock screen using Face ID or Touch ID, but do not swipe to the Home screen.
2. When unlocked, long-press on an empty space on the screen.
3. You will now see a carousel of your existing lock screens, and you can swipe left or right to browse it.

4. Select the one you like, or press Customise below it if you want to edit the existing wallpaper.
5. Tap on Done at the top right to save your changes.

6. You can also tap on the + button at the bottom right to add a brand new wallpaper.
7. Choose your preferred wallpaper option and customise it as required.
8. Tap on Add at the top right, and choose Set as Wallpaper Pair or Customise Home Screen.

Set iPhone Wallpaper from Photos App

It's a great idea to have a precious memory or a photo that you clicked as the background of your iPhone; you can do it from the Photos app. This is another great way to change the iPhone wallpaper that some people have struggled with, including me, when I first started using my iPhone 13. 

1. Launch the Photos app on your iPhone and open the photo you want to use.
2. Tap on the Share icon at the bottom left.
3. Scroll down on the share menu and select Use as Wallpaper.

4. You will be taken to the wallpaper preview, where you can further customise its look and position.
5. Tap on Add at the top right.
6. Choose Set as Wallpaper Pair to apply it to both screens, or tap Customise Home Screen to set them separately.

How to Set a Photo Shuffle Wallpaper on iPhone

Photo Shuffle is a feature that automatically rotates through a selection of your photos as your wallpaper throughout the day. It is a great option if you want a fresh new wallpaper every time you pick up your iPhone. However, it is also a feature that requires iOS 16 and newer versions. 

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Wallpaper > Add New Wallpaper.

2. Here, select Photo Shuffle from the top row and choose one or more categories like People, Pets, Nature, or Cities, or Albums to shuffle through.
3. Now, tap on Shuffle Frequency to choose how frequently the wallpaper shuffles. I selected it to Hourly, but you can pick from On Tap, On Lock, Hourly or Daily.

4. Then tap on Use Featured Photos. You can also use the Select Photos Manually option to pick specific images from your image library.
5. Now, tap on Add at the top right when you are happy with your selection.
6. Choose Set as Wallpaper Pair or Customise Home Screen.

How to Set 3D Spatial Scene Wallpapers on iPhone

People who have an iOS 26-eligible device, like the iPhone 12, 13, all the way up to the current iPhone 17, can also apply a new 3D depth effect to their lock screen wallpaper called 'Spatial Scene'. It shifts the image slightly to create a sense of dimension every time you tilt or move your iPhone.

I must say that it looks really cool, and you must try it if you have a supported iPhone. You just need to tap the Spatial Scene icon when applying a wallpaper to turn it into a 3D scene. But we have a dedicated guide that lets you set Spatial Scene wallpapers on iPhones in case you need a more thorough explanation. 

iPhone Wallpaper Not Changing? Try These Troubleshooting Methods

If your wallpaper is not applying properly or something unexpected is happening, here is how to fix it.

• Change the wallpaper from Settings: If your wallpaper is not saving after applying it from the Photos app, go to Settings > Wallpaper > Add New Wallpaper instead. This bypasses any display or interface glitches.
• Find an eligible photo for Spatial Scene: If the 3D effect is not showing up on a photo you selected, it means that photo is not eligible for Spatial Scene. Try a portrait mode shot or a landscape photo with a clear subject and good lighting instead.
• Use Customise Home Screen to set wallpapers: If changing your Lock Screen wallpaper is also changing your Home Screen, make sure you are tapping on Customise Home Screen instead of Set as Wallpaper Pair.
• Force close Settings and try again: If the wallpaper picker is freezing or not loading your photos properly, force-close the Settings app by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and reopen Settings to try again.
• Check that your iPhone model supports Spatial Scene: The Spatial Scene feature requires an iPhone 12 or later. If you do not see the Spatial Scene, your device may not be compatible with the feature.
• Restart your iPhone: If your wallpaper goes back to the previous one after you set a new one, then restart your iPhone, as it usually fixes this. First, you need to switch off your iPhone and then start it again to perform the restart.

Changing the wallpaper on your iPhone is one of the quickest ways to make your phone feel fresh without changing anything else about it. Whether you are setting a personal photo or picking something from Apple's built-in collection, I hope that the steps mentioned above in this guide were able to clearly help you out in the process.