iPhone doesn't have a screensaver in the traditional sense

iPhones don't use screensavers the way older devices do. Instead, your iPhone displays a lock screen — the image you see when the phone is locked — and a home screen — the background behind your apps. You can change both of these independently, and that's what most people mean when they ask about changing their screensaver.

The lock screen appears whenever your phone is locked or sleeping. The home screen is what you see after you unlock the phone. You can set different images for each one, or use the same image for both.

Key Takeaways

  • Your iPhone has two separate backgrounds: the lock screen (visible when locked) and the home screen (visible after unlocking), and you can change each one independently.
  • You can use photos from your camera roll, built-in Apple wallpapers, or images you've downloaded from the internet.
  • On newer iPhones (iOS 16 and later), you customize the lock screen by long-pressing it directly; on older models, you go through Settings.
  • If a wallpaper looks blurry or zoomed wrong, adjust the zoom slider before confirming — this is the most common mistake.

Changing your lock screen on iOS 16 and newer

If your iPhone runs iOS 16 or later, the fastest way is to long-press directly on your lock screen. Wake your phone, then press and hold the lock screen image until a menu appears at the bottom. Tap Customize.

A row of wallpaper options will appear. You can scroll through Apple's built-in collections — Weather, Astronomy, Emoji, and others — or tap the + button to add a photo from your camera roll or download a new image. Once you pick an image, you'll see a zoom slider. Drag it left to zoom out (see more of the photo) or right to zoom in (focus on one part). Tap Set as Lock Screen when it looks right.

After you set the lock screen, iOS will ask if you want to use the same image for your home screen or keep them different. Choose what you prefer, then tap Set to confirm.

Changing your lock screen on iOS 15 and earlier

On older iPhones, go to Settings > Wallpaper > Add a New Wallpaper. You'll see options for Featured (Apple's built-in designs), Collections (organized by theme), or Photos (images from your camera roll).

Pick a category, then select the image you want. You'll see a preview with a zoom slider — adjust it so the image looks the way you want it. Tap Set, then choose whether to apply it to your lock screen, home screen, or both.

Using photos from your camera roll

You can use any photo you've taken or saved on your phone. On iOS 16 and later, long-press your lock screen, tap Customize, then tap the + button. Select Photos, then pick the album and the specific photo you want.

On iOS 15 and earlier, go to Settings > Wallpaper > Add a New Wallpaper, then tap Photos. Choose your album and the photo. The zoom slider lets you frame the photo however you like — this is especially useful if you want to focus on one person's face or a specific part of the image.

One common mistake: if your photo looks stretched or blurry, you probably need to adjust the zoom slider before tapping Set. Move the slider until the image looks sharp and framed the way you want it.

Downloading new wallpapers from the internet

If you want wallpapers beyond what Apple provides, you can download them. Search for "iPhone wallpapers" in your web browser, find an image you like, and long-press it. Choose Save Image (the exact wording varies by browser). The image saves to your Photos app.

Then follow the steps above to set it as your lock screen or home screen. Make sure the image resolution is at least 1080 × 2340 pixels — smaller images will look pixelated or blurry when stretched to fill your screen.

Changing just your home screen background

If you want to keep your lock screen but change only the home screen, the process is the same — you just choose Set as Home Screen instead of Set as Lock Screen when the option appears. On iOS 16 and later, after you set your lock screen, iOS will ask what you want to do with the home screen. Select Don't Add if you want to keep the old one, or pick a different image.

On iOS 15 and earlier, go to Settings > Wallpaper > Add a New Wallpaper, pick your image, and tap Set > Set Home Screen.

Fixing wallpapers that look wrong

If your wallpaper looks zoomed in too far, blurry, or cut off at the edges, the zoom slider is your fix. Before you confirm the wallpaper, drag the slider to adjust how much of the image you see. Moving it left shows more of the photo; moving it right zooms in on the center. Find the frame that looks best, then tap Set.

If you've already set a wallpaper and it still looks wrong, you can change it again using the same steps. There's no limit to how many times you can adjust it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different wallpapers for lock screen and home screen?

Yes. On iOS 16 and later, after you set your lock screen, iOS asks whether to use the same image for your home screen or keep them separate. On iOS 15 and earlier, you set them independently through Settings > Wallpaper. You can change one without affecting the other.

Why does my wallpaper look blurry?

The image resolution is probably too low. iPhone screens need images at least 1080 × 2340 pixels. If you're using a photo from the internet, try downloading a higher-resolution version. If you're using a photo you took, make sure your phone's camera is set to take high-resolution photos in Settings > Camera.

Can I use a video or animated image as my wallpaper?

iOS 16 and later support live wallpapers — animated backgrounds that move or change. On iOS 16+, long-press your lock screen, tap Customize, and look for the "Live" section in the wallpaper options. Older iPhones don't support animated wallpapers.

What if I want to go back to the default Apple wallpaper?

On iOS 16 and later, long-press your lock screen, tap Customize, and select one of Apple's built-in collections like Weather or Astronomy. On iOS 15 and earlier, go to Settings > Wallpaper > Add a New Wallpaper > Featured, then pick a default design.

Do I need to restart my phone after changing the wallpaper?

No. The wallpaper changes immediately after you tap Set. If it doesn't appear right away, lock and unlock your phone once to refresh the display.