How to change the wallpaper on an Android phone
2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026
Touch and hold an empty area of the home screen and tap Wallpaper & style. Tap Change wallpaper or More wallpapers, choose a picture and tap Set wallpaper, then pick Home screen, Lock screen or both.
You can use your own photo or one of the built-in designs, and set different pictures for the lock screen and home screen.
Menu names below are from Google Pixel phones on a recent Android version. Samsung, Xiaomi and other brands rename some of them, so the Samsung name is given where it differs. The pictures are simplified diagrams of the screen, not screenshots.
Step by step
Touch and hold an empty area of the home screen
Tap Wallpaper & style. On Samsung, tap Wallpaper and style.
Tap Change wallpaper
On some versions it is More wallpapers.
Choose a picture
My photos opens your own pictures. The other categories hold built-in images. Pinch and drag to position a photo.
Tap Set wallpaper
It is at the top or bottom of the preview.
Choose where to use it
Home screen, Lock screen, or Home and lock screens.
Good to know
On Pixel phones, the colours of menus and icons adapt to your wallpaper. Change them under Wallpaper & style, in the colour options.
From Google Photos: open a photo, tap the three dots and choose Use as, then Wallpaper.
Bright, busy wallpapers make icon labels harder to read. A darker or blurred picture often works better behind apps.
In short: Hold the home screen, Wallpaper & style, Change wallpaper, choose, Set wallpaper.
- Google Android Help: Change wallpaper on your Android device
Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.