How to Set a Wallpaper on Your Phone

Setting a new wallpaper takes about thirty seconds once you know where to look. Here’s exactly how to do it on both iPhone and Android — including how to set the lock screen and home screen separately, and how to make the image fit without awkward cropping.

On iPhone (iOS)

1. Download the wallpaper image to your phone (from its page, tap the image or the download button and save to Photos).
2. Open the Settings app and tap Wallpaper, then tap “Add New Wallpaper”.
3. Choose Photos, then pick the wallpaper you just saved.
4. Pinch to position or zoom the image, then tap Add in the top-right.
5. Choose “Set as Wallpaper Pair”, or tap “Customize Home Screen” to set the lock and home screens separately.

On Android

Steps vary slightly by brand (Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus), but the flow is the same:

1. Download the wallpaper image and save it to your Gallery or Photos.
2. Open the image in your Gallery, then tap the menu (⋮) and choose “Set as wallpaper”. (Or open Settings › Wallpaper & style.)
3. Pick where it goes — Lock screen, Home screen, or both.
4. Drag to position the image so the part you want is centred.
5. Tap Set (or Apply) to confirm.

Tips for a perfect fit

• Use a wallpaper made at your screen’s resolution so it stays sharp and isn’t stretched.
• Portrait (tall) images fit phone screens best — landscape images get cropped.
• On iPhone, turn off the Depth Effect if it hides part of your design behind the clock.
• Set the lock and home screens to different images if a busy wallpaper makes app icons hard to read.