Where to find the background color settings on your iPhone

You change your iPhone's background through the Settings app, not through a separate colors menu. Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then scroll down and tap Wallpaper. From there you can choose a new background for your lock screen, home screen, or both at once.

The process is the same on all recent iPhone models running iOS 16 or later. Older iPhones use a slightly different path — Settings > Wallpaper > Choose a New Wallpaper — but the end result is identical.

Key Takeaways

  • Your iPhone's background is called a wallpaper, and you change it through Settings > Display & Brightness > Wallpaper.
  • You can set different backgrounds for your lock screen and home screen, or use the same one for both.
  • iPhone comes with built-in wallpapers in solid colors, gradients, and photos, all available without downloading anything.
  • You can also use your own photos as a background by selecting them from your Photos library during the wallpaper setup.
  • Some wallpapers include dynamic or animated options that change appearance based on time of day or when you interact with your phone.

Using iPhone's built-in solid color and gradient wallpapers

Apple includes a collection of wallpapers with solid colors and color gradients already on your phone. After you tap Wallpaper in Settings, you'll see categories like "Colors" and "Gradients" at the top of the list. Tap one of these categories to see all available options in that style.

Solid color wallpapers appear as single flat colors — blues, greens, purples, blacks, and others. Gradient wallpapers blend two or more colors together. Once you select one, tap Set, then choose whether to apply it to your lock screen, home screen, or both. Tap Set Lock Screen, Set Home Screen, or Set Both to confirm.

Setting a photo from your library as your background

You can use any photo stored on your iPhone as a wallpaper. In the Wallpaper menu, scroll down past the built-in options and tap Photos. This opens your photo library. Select any photo you want, and your iPhone will let you zoom, pan, and position it before you apply it.

If you want to use a photo that's not currently on your phone, take or download it first, then follow the same steps. Photos work as backgrounds on both lock screens and home screens, though text on your lock screen may be harder to read if your photo is very dark or very busy.

Dynamic and animated wallpaper options

Some of Apple's built-in wallpapers change their appearance automatically. Dynamic wallpapers shift colors and patterns based on the time of day — morning wallpapers look different from evening ones. Animated wallpapers play a short looping video or animation when you wake your phone or interact with it.

Both types are found in the same Wallpaper menu alongside static options. They use slightly more battery power than a still image, but the difference is small enough that most users won't notice it. If battery life is a concern, stick with solid colors or static photos.

Customizing lock screen appearance with widgets and text

Once you've set a background, you can customize what appears on top of it. On iOS 16 and later, you can add widgets to your lock screen — small information boxes that show weather, calendar events, or the time in different styles. Tap and hold your lock screen, then tap the plus button to add widgets.

You can also change the color and style of the time display itself. While editing your lock screen, tap the time at the top to open font and color options. These changes affect only the lock screen, not your home screen background.

Troubleshooting background changes that don't stick

If you set a new background and it reverts to the old one, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off your phone. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo.

If the problem continues, check that you have enough storage space available. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see how much free space you have. If you're below 1 GB of free space, delete some photos, videos, or apps, then try setting the background again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a live photo as my iPhone background?

Yes, but only on your lock screen. Live Photos play a short animation when you press and hold the lock screen. To use one, select it from your Photos library during wallpaper setup, then tap Set Lock Screen. Home screen backgrounds must be still images.

Why does my background look different on my lock screen than in the preview?

Your lock screen displays the time, date, and notifications on top of the background, which can make colors appear darker or less visible. This is normal. If text is hard to read, choose a lighter background or adjust the lock screen text color in the customization menu.

Can I set different backgrounds for different times of day?

Not automatically. You can only have one active lock screen and one active home screen background at a time. However, some of Apple's dynamic wallpapers change their appearance throughout the day, which gives a similar effect without requiring you to manually switch them.

What happens to my background if I update my iPhone's software?

Your custom background stays in place after a software update. If you're using a built-in Apple wallpaper, it remains set. If you're using a personal photo, it also stays unless you specifically change it in Settings.