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How do I change my front screen wallpaper?

Having a customized wallpaper on your smartphone front screen can be a great way to personalize your device and make it feel more like your own. However, knowing how to actually change the wallpaper, especially if you’re using a newer smartphone model, can be confusing for some users. In this article, we’ll walk through the step-by-step process for changing your wallpaper on any Android or iPhone device.

Things to Know Before Changing Your Wallpaper

Here are some key things to keep in mind before you get started:

  • Wallpaper Sizing: You’ll want a wallpaper image that is optimized for the screen resolution of your specific device. Using an image that is too small will pixelate, while using something too large may crop or distort the image.
  • Storage Space: Higher resolution wallpapers take up more storage space. Keep an eye on how much internal storage you have available as you pick your image.
  • Wallpaper Sources: You can find wallpapers to download online or use your own photos. Some apps also have free wallpaper libraries.
  • Customization: Most modern devices allow you to customize your wallpaper for the lock screen, home screen, or both.

How to Change Wallpaper on iPhone

Changing the wallpaper on an iPhone is simple and can be done in a few steps:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and tap “Wallpaper”.
  3. Tap “Choose a New Wallpaper”.
  4. Select if you want to choose an image from Dynamic, Stills, Live, or your Photos.
  5. Browse the available images and tap on your chosen wallpaper to preview it.
  6. Tap “Set” and select if you want it as wallpaper for your Lock Screen, Home Screen, or Both.
  7. You can now exit Settings and your new wallpaper will be applied.

A few extra tips for iPhone wallpaper:

  • You can also change wallpaper directly from the Photos app.
  • Live Photos can only be set as Lock Screen wallpaper.
  • Perspective Zoom feature gives a 3D-like motion effect when scrolling through Home screens.

How to Change Wallpaper on Android

The process for changing your Android wallpaper may vary slightly depending on your specific device and Android OS version. However, the general steps are:

  1. Open your Android’s Settings app.
  2. Tap “Wallpaper & style” or “Display” (wording depends on Android version).
  3. Tap “Wallpaper”.
  4. Here you can choose from your Photos, select a preloaded Wallpaper gallery app, or download an app like Google Wallpapers.
  5. Tap on a wallpaper image you like to preview it.
  6. Tap “Set wallpaper” and select if you want it as your Home screen, Lock screen, or Both.
  7. Your wallpaper will now change.

Some other Android wallpaper tips:

  • You may be able to long-press on the home screen and select “Wallpapers” to change it.
  • Look for manufacturer or carrier wallpaper apps on your device.
  • Reduce animation flashes by also changing always-on display image.

Finding Great Wallpaper Images

The key to a great looking wallpaper is finding a high-quality image that looks appealing on your device’s display. Here are some tips for sourcing awesome wallpaper images:

  • Wallpaper apps – Many free apps offer thousands of wallpapers in tons of categories and styles.
  • Stock photo sites – Sites like Pexels and Pixabay have royalty-free image libraries with “mobile wallpaper” filters.
  • Photo communities – Photography sites like Unsplash or Flickr can yield stunning wallpapers.
  • Manufacturer wallpapers – Samsung, Google, and Apple all offer curated wallpaper galleries.
  • Subreddits – Mobile wallpaper subreddits like r/AMOLEDbackgrounds are packed with options.
  • Google image search – Search keywords like “mobile wallpapers”, “minimalist”, “landscape”, etc.
  • Photos on your own device – Use your best shots from your phone or cloud photo backups.

Optimizing Your Wallpaper

To ensure your new wallpaper looks as great as possible and performs well, keep these optimization tips in mind:

  • Correct sizing – Use wallpaper resolution or tools to size images to your exact device screen.
  • Focus on focal points – Pick landscapes and images where main subject is centered.
  • Pick appropriate categories – Try nature, abstract, textures vs. faces and text.
  • Use solid colors – Can’t go wrong with a nicely saturated solid color wallpaper.
  • Test contrast – Ensure text/icons on your home screen are still readable over your chosen image.
  • Check performance – Make sure wallpaper isn’t slowing down animations or transitions.
  • Personalization – Pick wallpapers that match your style and personality.

Troubleshooting Issues

If you run into any problems setting or changing your wallpaper, try these troubleshooting tips:

  • Restart your device – A simple restart can clear up wallpaper glitches.
  • Check image format – Make sure the wallpaper file type is supported by your phone (JPEG, PNG, etc).
  • Update apps – An outdated Gallery or Settings app can disrupt wallpapers.
  • Clear app cache/data – Clearing cache and data for your Wallpaper app can help.
  • Check storage space – Low storage may prevent wallpaper from setting properly.
  • Reset to default – Go back to default wallpaper and try changing again from there.
  • Contact support – For persistent issues, contact your device manufacturer for support.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change the wallpaper just on my lock screen?

When selecting a wallpaper from your phone’s Settings, there is typically an option to set it as either your Home screen, Lock screen, or both. Choose the “Lock screen” option to only have the wallpaper apply there.

Can I use a GIF as a wallpaper on my Android phone?

Some Android devices do allow animated GIFs to be set as wallpaper. However, this tends to drain battery life considerably faster so static images are recommended.

Why can’t I set a Live Photo as iPhone home screen wallpaper?

Due to the way Live Photos utilize video and depth effects, Apple restricts them to only being used as Lock screen wallpaper. Still images need to be used for the home screen.

How do I crop a wallpaper image to fit my screen?

When selecting a wallpaper from your Gallery or Photos app, there is usually a crop editing tool available. You can manually adjust and scale the crop bounds to get your image perfectly sized.

Is it possible to set separate home screen wallpapers for each page?

Unfortunately no, the same home screen wallpaper gets applied to all pages on both iPhone and Android. You can only set different wallpapers for the lock vs. home screens.

Conclusion

Personalizing your mobile device with a new wallpaper is a fun way to make it feel more customized and reflective of your personal tastes. With the wallpaper setting options available on both iPhone and Android devices, you can easily change your wallpaper to whatever suits you best. Just make sure your image resolution is optimized for your specific phone screen size. Finding the perfect wallpaper can take some hunting, but there are ample sources to browse from across wallpaper apps, photo sites, and your own image libraries. Set your wallpaper to a scenic landscape, minimalist design, solid color, or family photo. The options are endless! So spruce up your lock screen and home screen today with a brand new wallpaper.

OS How to Access Wallpaper Settings
iPhone Settings app > Wallpaper
Android Settings app > Wallpaper & style