How Do You Change Your iPhone Lock Screen Wallpaper?
To change your iPhone lock screen wallpaper, long press on your lock screen and swipe to your current wallpaper. Tap the plus button to add a new lock screen, browse wallpaper collections or choose a photo, customize your widgets, then tap Add and select Set as Wallpaper Pair. This method is available on iPhones running iOS 16 or later.
Why Long Press Instead of Going to Settings?
Most people change their wallpaper through Settings → Wallpaper, and that works fine. But long pressing the lock screen gives you the full customization experience — wallpaper browsing, widget editing, and the ability to save multiple lock screens and switch between them — all in one place.
In this J's Tech Corner video, I show you the complete process, including how to browse Apple's built-in wallpaper collections and set a wallpaper pair so your lock screen and home screen update together.
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How to Change Your iPhone Lock Screen Wallpaper (Step by Step)
Start by waking your iPhone to the lock screen. Long press anywhere on the lock screen — hold your finger down for about a second until the screen zooms out slightly and enters customization mode. You may need to use Face ID or enter your passcode first.
Once in customization mode, you will see your current lock screens displayed as cards. Swipe left or right to browse any lock screens you have already saved. To add a new one, tap the plus button in the lower right corner.
A new screen opens with wallpaper options. Tap Collections at the top to browse Apple's built-in wallpaper galleries — categories include Weather, Astronomy, Color, Emoji, Unity, and more. You can also tap Photos to use an image from your own photo library.
Select the wallpaper you want. Once selected, you will see a preview with an option to add widgets to your lock screen. Tap the widget areas to add or remove items — the date, weather, activity rings, and more are available.
When you are happy with your setup, tap Add in the upper right. A prompt will ask whether to set it as a wallpaper pair (updating both lock screen and home screen) or customize the home screen separately. Tap Set as Wallpaper Pair for the quickest option.
Your new wallpaper is now live.
What Is a Wallpaper Pair?
A wallpaper pair links your lock screen and home screen wallpapers so they update together and are designed to complement each other. When you select a wallpaper from Apple's collections, a coordinating home screen version is applied automatically when you tap Set as Wallpaper Pair.
Can You Have Multiple Lock Screens?
Yes — you can save multiple lock screens and switch between them by long pressing your lock screen and swiping to the one you want. This is useful if you want different setups for different situations, like a minimal lock screen for work and a photo-based one for personal use.
More Tips from J's Tech Corner
J's Tech Corner is a tip series from NorthWoods Wireless — your local cell phone dealer near me serving Suring WI and Oconto County. If you want help personalizing your iPhone or exploring what it can do, stop in and we will walk you through it.
Find more tips on our YouTube channel or visit nthwds.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own photos as a lock screen wallpaper? Yes — when adding a new lock screen, tap Photos instead of Collections and choose any image from your photo library. The iPhone will suggest cropping options that work well for the lock screen format.
What iOS version do I need to use lock screen customization? Lock screen customization with widgets and wallpaper pairs was introduced in iOS 16. If your iPhone supports iOS 16 or later and you are up to date, you have access to these features.
Does changing the wallpaper pair also change my home screen? Yes — choosing Set as Wallpaper Pair updates both your lock screen and home screen at the same time using a coordinated design. If you want to set them separately, tap Customize Home Screen instead.
Where can I find a cell phone store near me open to help with my iPhone? NorthWoods Wireless is located at 827 E Main St., Suring WI and is open Monday through Friday 9–5 and Saturday 9–12. We are a Cellcom authorized cell phone dealer serving Oconto County and the surrounding Northwoods Wisconsin area.
Questions? Stop in or call (920) 590-1110 — we're happy to help.
