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Q: I just got an iPhone and someone told me that I can change the background picture. She wasn’t sure how it worked though. Can you help me?
A. Sure, I’m happy to help. Changing wallpaper is easy and fun. Well, the changing the wallpaper isn’t exactly fun, but having new wallpaper on your phone is fun.
To change your wallpaper, go to Settings => Wallpaper, then press the image that shows your Lock Screen and Home Page.
On the next screen you will have the choice of Wallpaper, which will take you to the pre-installed images from Apple, or images from your Photos app. Any photo you store on your phone in the Photos app can be used as wallpaper.
Select the image you want to use, either your own image or one Apple has provided for you. You will then be asked to move and scale the image so it fits well on your screen. You don’t have to do anything if the image looks fine to you, or you can swipe to zoom in on a part of the image.
I recommend you use images that aren’t very busy that could camouflage the icons or be distracting. You want your icons to stand out against the background.
[tip] These instructions also work for the iPad and iPod Touch[/tip]
Apple confounds me with the pre-installed wallpaper they put on the iPhone. The iPhone standard wallpaper shows water drops, a nightmare for any iPhone owner. Sprinkling your iPhone screen with real water drops is a no-no. Understanding why virtual water drops would be a desirable image for wallpaper is beyond my technical level of expertise.
Do you change wallpaper on your iPhone? Does the water drops wallpaper confound you too? Let us know in the Comments section below!
I never thought about it but you are so right – what a crazy image for an iPhone – water droplets! Have you heard of Pimp my Screen? Maybe I heard about it from you?? I have a bad memory these days. Anyway it’s a fun way to change your background.
Hi Karen, I have heard of that app. I was going to review wallpaper apps, but I realized that many people may not know how to change their wallpaper. I am definitely going to review iPhone wallpaper apps in the future!
Thanks for sharing Pimp My Screen, Karen. 🙂
How awesome is this?! Man! Carolyn, I must say you are definitely one to watch when it comes to the Tech stuff! You also will have someone like myself wanting all of the neat things you discuss on your site.
I’m a man that love my gadgets, and even though I’m just getting my Blackberry back (don’t laugh haha); I’m already thinking how much I want the iPhone.
If I keep coming back to the Wonder of Tech, my Christmas list is going to be ludicrous! As if it wasn’t already. Haha
Thanks for sharing the awesomeness! 🙂
Hi Deeone, A lot of awesome tech is out there now and I’m happy to write about it, but I know it all can be very enticing, especially to a gadget guy.
I don’t laugh at Blackberry phones. Many people are fans, especially of the keyboard. It all boils down to what you’re looking for in a phone.
Have a great weekend! 🙂
Love the info Carolyn!
Even though I have neither of the phones, I like the way you shared the information and told everyone how to go about setting the wallpaper! This sure makes me want to own one!
Though I have a good enough phone and love to change the wallpaper may be twice a month, or depending upon what clicks, I would not go in for a one with water-droplets for sure! I would prefer to have something more of nature around.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Harleena, I agree, it’s fun to change your wallpaper fairly often. I like nature scenes too but others like pictures of their loved ones on their wallpaper. You can use any picture you already have on your iPhone as wallpaper. That is, if you had an iPhone, lol!
I’m glad you enjoyed the article even though you don’t have an iPhone, Harleena. Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend!
Carolyn, aloha. It’s looking like I am going to be under even more pressure on the iPhones. Two of my other lunch regulars just upgraded from their iPhone 3s. Since it is the 3 of them with current iPhones & me with my “old” Blackberry, I think lunch conversations are going to be challenging, to say the least.
Love your comments on the water drops wall paper.
Best wishes for a terrific weekend. Aloha. Janet
Lol, Janet, you can impress them with your knowledge of the iPhone, even though you don’t have one! Suggest an app to them or ask them to see their wallpaper. They will be befuddled by your knowledge! 😀
You have a fabulous weekend too, Janet!
Actually, Carolyn, because of you I already do dazzle them with my iPhone knowledge. Whenever you have iPhone info, I send it to them. Also, they are impressed when I send them things like Invisible Hand or Mr. Rebates. Surprise and delight people–that’s my motto.
My daughter showed me an app called BGPlus – which I downloaded and it included dozens of fabulous backgrounds and wallpapers for my iPhone. Currently, I’m using a PacMan wallpaper, which is funny, but my favourite one is a Louis Vuitton logo’ed pattern :-). You should check it out (can’t remember if it was free or not…)
Hi Ruth, I checked it out and grabbed the app then didn’t come back to reply to your comment. Sorry about that! Thank you very much for recommending the app. I love new wallpaper! 🙂
I’ve done this as well. I’ve added a picture of my kids as the wall paper. This makes the iPhone so much more personal, and sometimes I turn it on just to have a look at them 🙂
Hi Jens, I love that idea. Then your phone becomes an instant digital photo frame! 🙂
Nice and simple, keep them coming Carolyn.
Thanks, Praveen. That’s just what I intend to do!