How to Change the Background of Your Smartphone in 2025

Why Personalize Your Phone Background?

Let’s face it—we spend a lot of time looking at our phones—over 4.5 hours a day on average. 

So why settle for a boring default wallpaper? Changing your smartphone background is a quick way to add personality and fun every time you check out your screen. Whether it’s a smiling grandchild, a favorite vacation photo or a colorful preset design, you can easily make your phone feel more “you.”

How to Change the Background on iPhone

Apple makes it simple to update your wallpaper on your iPhone. You can pick from built-in designs, use your own photos or even choose a live image. Here’s how:

1. Open Settings > Wallpaper > Add New Wallpaper
   • Pro Tip: You can set separate wallpapers for regular (light) mode and Dark Mode if you prefer a cohesive, dark look when in Dark Mode
2. Browse Apple’s built-in choices or your own photos
   • Pro Tip: Animated wallpapers and your own Live Photos are available on many iPhone models, along with Photo Shuffle that creates a dynamic set of photos that shuffle as you use your iPhone throughout the day
3. Select a photo or wallpaper, then (for photos) drag to move or pinch to zoom in or out until it fits the screen
   • Pro Tip: This is the time when you can customize your wallpaper further if you want to
4. Tap Set as Wallpaper Pair to see it on both the home screen and lock screen or tap Customize Home Screen to create a separate home screen wallpaper that you can edit
   • Pro Tip: You can also change your iPhone wallpaper directly from your Lock Screen by touching and holding your Lock Screen to open your wallpaper gallery—from there, select a wallpaper you already created or tap the Add button to add a new wallpaper

How to Change the Background on Android

Most Android phones give you two options: use one of your own photos or choose from preset/animated backgrounds in the wallpaper store.

To Use One of Your Photos

1. Open the My Photos or Gallery app
2. Find the photo you’d like
3. Tap the three dots in the corner, then select Set as Wallpaper
4. Choose whether to use it for your Home Screen, Lock Screen or Both

Pro Tip: You can also access your photos for wallpaper by long-pressing an empty area on your phone’s Home Screen and then tapping on the Wallpapers option that appears.

To Browse Preset or Downloaded Wallpapers

1. Tap and hold a blank spot on your Home Screen, then tap Wallpapers
2. Browse professional and animated designs, or download free/paid options from the wallpaper store
3. Select the image you want to use and customize it if desired
4. Tap Set or Apply and choose if you want your wallpaper on your Home Screen, your Lock Screen or both

Tips for Choosing the Perfect Background

• Use bright images for better visibility of your apps
• Keep lock screens simple—busy backgrounds can make notifications harder to read
• Rotate seasonal favorites—like a winter scene in December or a summer road trip shot in July
• Avoid live or animated wallpapers if your battery seems to drain quickly or if your phone struggles or feels slow—Live Photos and animations often use more power

FAQs: Changing Phone Backgrounds

Can I use a video as my phone background?
Yes. iPhones support Live Photos and some models let you set short videos as a background. Many Android phones also allow animated or video wallpapers through wallpaper apps.

Why doesn’t my phone show the Live option?
Not all iPhones support Live Wallpapers (for example, iPhone SE models). On Android, availability depends on the manufacturer and model.

Do animated wallpapers use more battery?
Yes, live or video wallpapers can reduce battery life slightly because they’re always running in the background.

Can I have different wallpapers on my lock screen and home screen?
Yes. Both iPhones and Android phones let you set different wallpapers for each screen.

Where can I find free wallpapers?
Most phones include a wallpaper store or gallery with free options. You can also download wallpaper apps from the App Store or Google Play.

Customize Your Background—and Your Cellular Experience

Customizing your smartphone background is one of the easiest ways to make your device feel uniquely yours. Whether it’s a cherished family photo, a colorful preset or a live wallpaper, you can refresh your screen in just a few taps.

The same goes for your cellular experience. In just a few easy steps, you can get a wireless plan that fits your lifestyle with Consumer Cellular. Shop our flexible plans or stop by a retail store near you today. 

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