This article explains how to set the background wallpaper on your iPad using the Photos or Settings app.

What to Know

  • Method 1: Tap Photos > Albums or Library > tap photo > Share > Use as Wallpaper > choose screen setting.Method 2: Tap Settings > Wallpaper > Choose a New Wallpaper > select an image > choose screen setting.

Change the iPad Screen Background in Photos

You have options to personalize your iPad including buying a distinctive case and customizing sounds for email and text messages, but by far the easiest way to add some personality to your iPad is to set a custom background image for your lock screen and your home screen.  

One way to select a background image (called wallpaper) is by using the Photos app.

  • Open the Photos app, and then go to the Albums or Library tab. Locate the image you want to use as your background.
  • Tap the photo to select it.
  • With the image selected, tap the Share icon at the top of the screen. It’s the one that looks like a square with an arrow poking out.
  • Tap Use as Wallpaper.
  • Move the photo around the screen by dragging it with your finger. You can also use the pinch-to-zoom gesture to zoom in and out of the picture until you get it just right. Tap Perspective Zoom at the bottom of the screen to the On position. This setting causes the photo to move when you move the iPad.
  • When you’re finished positioning the photo, choose from Set Lock Screen, Set Home Screen, or Set Both.
  • Depending on the option you chose, the image will appear as the background on your home screen, the lock screen (which shows up when you first wake up your iPad but before you unlock it), or both.

Change the iPad Screen in Settings

Another way to personalize your background screen wallpaper is through the Settings app. It’s not quite as easy as using the Photos app, but it offers you a selection of image stills from Apple and dynamic images that animate your iPad’s background.

Open the Photos app, and then go to the Albums or Library tab. Locate the image you want to use as your background.

Tap the photo to select it.

With the image selected, tap the Share icon at the top of the screen. It’s the one that looks like a square with an arrow poking out.

Tap Use as Wallpaper.

Move the photo around the screen by dragging it with your finger. You can also use the pinch-to-zoom gesture to zoom in and out of the picture until you get it just right. Tap Perspective Zoom at the bottom of the screen to the On position. This setting causes the photo to move when you move the iPad.

When you’re finished positioning the photo, choose from Set Lock Screen, Set Home Screen, or Set Both. 

Depending on the option you chose, the image will appear as the background on your home screen, the lock screen (which shows up when you first wake up your iPad but before you unlock it), or both.

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Tap Wallpaper.
  • Select Choose a New Wallpaper.
  • Tap Dynamic to use animated bubbles and select the color of bubbles you prefer by tapping one of the options. Tap Stills to view stock images suitable for wallpaper.
  • If you have iCloud Photo Sharing turned on, you can choose a photo from any of your shared photo streams.
  • After choosing a picture or theme, you can move the image around the screen with your finger or use pinch-to-zoom to zoom in and out of the photo. To set the background, tap Set Lock Screen to see it when you first wake up your iPad, Set Home Screen to make the photo appear underneath your app icons, or Set Both to use the picture as the global background for your iPad.

Now all you need is a great background image. Save a photo from the web to your iPad. You can also do a Google image search for iPad backgrounds.

Open the Settings app.

Tap Wallpaper.

Select Choose a New Wallpaper.

Tap Dynamic to use animated bubbles and select the color of bubbles you prefer by tapping one of the options. Tap Stills to view stock images suitable for wallpaper.

If you have iCloud Photo Sharing turned on, you can choose a photo from any of your shared photo streams.

After choosing a picture or theme, you can move the image around the screen with your finger or use pinch-to-zoom to zoom in and out of the photo. To set the background, tap Set Lock Screen to see it when you first wake up your iPad, Set Home Screen to make the photo appear underneath your app icons, or Set Both to use the picture as the global background for your iPad.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day