Get Wallpapers on Your iPhone or iPod Touch

This article teaches you how to download and install a wallpaper on your iPhone or iPod touch.

Steps

Downloading a Wallpaper

  1. Open your iPhone's or iPod's Safari. It's a white app with a blue compass. You can search for free wallpapers right from your phone using this browser.
    • You can use any browser you like for this process, though the steps for other browsers will slightly vary.
  2. Tap the search bar. It's at the top of the screen.
  3. Type in iphone wallpapers and tap Go. Doing so will bring up a list of popular wallpapers for iPhones and iPods.
    • Searching for "iphone wallpapers" rather than "ipod wallpapers" will typically result in higher-quality photos.
    • You can vary your search by adding "hd" or other keywords related to the content you'd like to see (e.g., "mountains").
  4. Tap a picture you'd like to use. Doing so will open the picture in full-screen mode.
    • If you're using a Google search, tapping the Images tab to view exclusively images will make this process easier.
  5. Tap and hold the picture. After a moment, this will invoke a pop-up window at the bottom of the screen.
    • If you're using a phone with 3D Touch, be sure not to press down too hard on the picture.
  6. Tap Save Image. This will download your selected photo to your iPhone's or iPod's camera roll.
  7. Press the Home button. Doing so will close Safari. Now it's time to apply your wallpaper!

Applying the Wallpaper

  1. Open your iPhone's or iPod's Photos. It's a white app with a multicolored pinwheel icon that you'll most likely find on the Home Screen.
  2. Tap Albums. This option is in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
    • If Photos opens to a photo, first tap twice the "Back" button in the top-left corner of the screen.
  3. Tap Camera Roll. You'll find this album in the top-left side of the page.
    • If your iPhone or iPod uses iCloud Photo Library, you'll instead tap All Photos.
  4. Tap your downloaded picture. This will open it.
  5. Tap the "Share" button. This option is the box with an upward-facing arrow in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  6. Scroll right and tap Use as Wallpaper. It's in the bottom row of options in the pop-up menu.
  7. Tap a display option. You may tap either Still to display your photo as a fixed image, or Perspective to allow the photo to shift when you move your iPhone or iPod.
  8. Tap Set. It's in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
  9. Tap a location option. Depending on where you want to apply your wallpaper, you'll tap one of the following options:
    • Set Lock Screen - Applies your wallpaper to the screen that displays when your iPhone or iPod is locked.
    • Set Home Screen - Applies your wallpaper to your iPhone's or iPod's operating background.
    • Set Both - Applies your wallpaper to both the Lock Screen and the Home Screen.
  10. Enjoy your new wallpaper. After selecting a location option, your wallpaper will immediately display on the Lock Screen, the Home Screen, or both of them.

Tips

  • If you have an iPhone with a retina display, search for a high-definition wallpaper. Otherwise, your wallpaper may appear out of focus or grainy.

Warnings

  • You shouldn't have to pay for a wallpaper, since all Apple and open-source ones are free.

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