Wallpapers

How to Set a Custom Wallpaper on Any Device

Written byDewdeck
3 min read
Phone and desktop wallpapers from the Dewdeck Wallpaper Pack

A good wallpaper is the cheapest way to make your devices feel like yours. It takes under a minute to change, and you'll see it dozens of times a day.

Here's how to set one on iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows, plus a few tips for picking images that actually look good.

iPhone

These steps are for iOS 16 and later.

  1. Save the image to your Photos.
  2. Open Settings, tap Wallpaper, then Add New Wallpaper.
  3. Tap Photos and choose the image.
  4. Pinch and drag to position it, then tap Add.
  5. Choose Set as Wallpaper Pair to use it on both screens, or Customize Home Screen to pick a different one for the home screen.

A shortcut: open the image in Photos, tap the Share button, then choose Use as Wallpaper.

Android

Menus differ by brand, but the idea is the same.

  1. Save the image to your gallery.
  2. Open it in Gallery or Google Photos.
  3. Tap the three-dot menu and choose Set as wallpaper (or Use as, then Wallpaper).
  4. Choose Home screen, Lock screen, or both.

You can also long-press an empty spot on your home screen and open Wallpaper & style.

Mac

Right-click the image in Finder and choose Set Desktop Picture. Or open System Settings, go to Wallpaper, and add your image from the Add Photo option.

Windows

Right-click the image and choose Set as desktop background. Or open Settings, go to Personalization, then Background, set Personalize your background to Picture, and choose Browse photos.

Tips for choosing a wallpaper that works

  • Match the screen. Use a tall image for your phone and a wide 16:9 image for your desktop, so nothing gets cropped awkwardly.
  • Mind the clock. On a lock screen the time sits near the top, so pick an image with calmer space there.
  • Contrast beats detail. Darker or less busy images keep your icons and widgets readable.
  • Match your mood. Calm for focus, bold for energy. It works the same way as choosing music for your mood.
  • Change it now and then. A new wallpaper every month keeps your screen from fading into the background.

If your wallpaper looks blurry or cropped

  • Blurry: use an image at least as large as your screen. If you received it in a chat app, ask for it to be sent as a file or document, because many apps shrink photos.
  • Cropped: pick an image with the same shape as your screen, or use the pinch-and-drag step to reposition it before you save.
  • Subject hidden behind the clock: move the image down a little, or choose one with more open space at the top.
  • Looks different on the lock screen: some phones add a blur or dim effect there. Check the preview before you confirm.

Wallpapers made for this

The Dewdeck Wallpaper Pack has 33 original illustrated designs inspired by landscapes, anime-style art, cars, superheroes, movies and lifestyle looks, each in a phone size and a desktop size. They're original artwork, not official or licensed images, made to be set in seconds.