As a tech writer and iPhone user for over 5 years, I often get asked how to personalize an iPhone. One of the most common customizations people want to make is changing their lock screen wallpaper image. The default images Apple provides are nice, but it’s fun and easy to set a picture of your kids, pets, favorite places, inspirational quotes, or anything else as your lock screen wallpaper.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process to customize your iPhone 7 lock screen wallpaper. I’ll also provide some tips on creating or choosing the perfect lock screen image.
Table of Contents
Steps to Change Your Lock Screen Wallpaper
Changing your lock screen wallpaper only takes a few taps. Follow these instructions to get it done in under a minute.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone 7.
- Scroll down and tap “Wallpaper”. Wallpaper settings
- Tap “Choose a New Wallpaper”. This will give you options for dynamic, still, and live wallpapers. Choose new wallpaper
- Select “Stills” to use a single image.
- Choose an image from one of the default Apple wallpaper categories, or tap “Albums” to select a photo from your camera roll.
- Once you’ve selected your desired image, use the preview to position it as desired. Position wallpaper
- Tap “Set”, then choose “Set Lock Screen” or “Set Both” to apply the wallpaper image.
It’s that easy! Your selected photo is now set as the wallpaper image for your lock screen.
Tips for Choosing a Lock Screen Wallpaper Image
Picking the perfect custom wallpaper can be tricky. Here are some tips:
- Pick a clear image. Since lock screen images appear quite small on an iPhone screen, intricate details won’t show up well. Prioritize images with one or two main focal points.
- Use portraits or landscapes. Images with people, animals, or nature scenes tend to make great lock screen wallpapers. Steer clear of busy patterns.
- Consider solid colors. A bold, solid color can make for an elegant lock screen background. It also ensures date/time text is easy to read.
- Match to your home screen. You can use the same image for both your home screen and lock screen for a cohesive look. Or intentionally make them different.
- Rotate images frequently. Setting your wallpaper to change automatically with each day or week is an easy way to keep things fresh.
- Add text. Many apps let you overlay custom text, like an inspirational quote, on your lock screen image. This extra personal touch looks great.
Extra Customization Options
In addition to setting a custom wallpaper image, you can customize other aspects of your iPhone lock screen:
- Add widget information like date, time, weather, calendar, reminders, activity rings, and more
- Display message and notification previews or hide private content
- Set auto-lock time before screen turns off
- Enable or disable “Raise to Wake” and “Rest Finger to Open” features
Take advantage of all these options to create a lock screen that is uniquely yours and matches your style.
Conclusion
Personalizing your iPhone 7 lock screen background is one of the best ways to make your device feel like your own. With the steps above, you can easily set any image from your camera roll as your custom wallpaper.
A thoughtfully designed lock screen is something you’ll see and enjoy every time you use your phone. So be creative and have fun making it personal! Change up your wallpaper image whenever you want to refresh your look.
