Have you ever set wallpaper on your iPhone that you now regret? Maybe it seemed like a good idea at the time but now you’re just sick of looking at it. I’ve been there. Last month I thought using a photo of my cat as wallpaper would be cute and quirky. Turns out, not so much. After a couple of weeks of my cat’s judgmental stare every time I unlocked my phone, I was over it. But removing wallpaper on an iPhone isn’t exactly intuitive. I had to do some searching to figure out how to get rid of that furry face and go back to a simple black background. If you’re in a similar boat and want to delete your iPhone wallpaper once and for all, here are the steps:
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How to Remove the Lock Screen Wallpaper
To remove the wallpaper on your iPhone lock screen, here are the steps I took:
I went to the Settings app on my iPhone and selected “Wallpaper” under the “Display & Brightness” menu. From there, I tapped “Choose a New Wallpaper.” This brought up the wallpaper options for both my lock screen and home screen.
To remove the current wallpaper on my lock screen, I simply tapped the “None” option at the top of the screen. Voila! My lock screen background instantly went back to the default black screen. If you want to remove the wallpaper on your home screen as well, just select “None” under the “Home Screen” section too.
Some people like to regularly change their iPhone wallpaper to keep things fresh, while others prefer no wallpaper at all for a minimal look. I tend to switch between having wallpaper and going wallpaper-free on my lock screen. When I do use wallpaper, I make sure to choose a simple, uncluttered image that won’t distract me every time I check my phone.
If at any point you want to re-apply a wallpaper to your lock screen or home screen, just go back to the “Wallpaper” menu in Settings and select one of the default Apple wallpapers or choose an image from your own photo library. It’s easy to change your wallpaper as often as you like to match your mood or the season.
Your iPhone wallpaper is such a simple thing, but it’s one of the first things you see every time you use your phone so it’s worth customizing to your liking. Play around with the different options to make your device feel more personal.
Deleting the Home Screen Wallpaper
To delete the wallpaper on your iPhone’s home screen, here’s what I did:
I went to the Settings app on my iPhone. Under “Wallpaper,” I tapped “Choose a New Wallpaper.” This brought up the wallpaper options where I had originally selected the current wallpaper.
To remove the wallpaper altogether and go back to the default plain background, I scrolled down to the “Stills” or “Live” section at the bottom of the screen, depending on if I had a live wallpaper or not. There, I selected the “None” option. My iPhone then prompted me to confirm that I wanted to remove the current wallpaper. I tapped “Set” and voila! My home screen background went back to the basic black screen.
If I had wanted to choose a new wallpaper to replace the current one instead of removing it, I would have just selected any of the other wallpaper options like the default Apple wallpapers, my own photos, or new live wallpaper. I have the choice of using the same wallpaper for both my lock screen and home screen or selecting different ones for each.
Changing up or removing your iPhone wallpaper from time to time is an easy way to freshen up the look of your home screen. I like to match my wallpaper to the season or my mood. The options for creativity are endless! Go ahead, delete that old wallpaper, and try something new. Your iPhone will thank you for it.
Removing Wallpaper From Both the Lock Screen and Home Screen
To remove the wallpaper from both your iPhone’s lock screen and home screen, follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to Settings
Head to the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap “Wallpaper.” This will allow you to choose wallpaper for both your lock screen and home screen.
Step 2: Select “Choose a New Wallpaper”
Tap “Choose a New Wallpaper” to open up the wallpaper options. Here you’ll see the default Apple wallpapers as well as any photos you’ve used as wallpaper in the past. To remove the current wallpaper, we need to choose a new option.
Step 3: Pick a Solid Color or Photo
You have two options to remove the wallpaper: choose a solid color or pick a photo. To have a blank home screen and lock screen, select the black solid color option. If you want to use a photo instead, choose one from the options shown or select “All Photos” to pick one from your camera roll. I prefer going with the black solid color for a simple, minimalist look.
Step 4: Set for Lock Screen, Home Screen or Both
With your selection made, you now need to choose where to apply it. Tap “Set for Lock Screen,” “Set for Home Screen” or “Set for Both” to remove the wallpaper from the corresponding screen(s). Tap “Set” to confirm your choice.
Wallpaper Removed!
That’s it! Your iPhone lock screen and the home screen should now be wallpaper-free with either a black background or the photo you selected. To change or re-add wallpaper in the future, just go through the same steps to pick out a new design whenever you want a different look. Removing the clutter of wallpaper can make your iPhone feel like new again. Enjoy your fresh start!
Removing Live Wallpapers From Your iPhone
To remove the live wallpapers from your iPhone, here are the steps I take:
Step 1: Find the Wallpaper Settings
First, open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down until you see the option for “Wallpaper.” Tap on that.
Step 2: Select a New Wallpaper
From there, you’ll see the current wallpaper set on your lock screen and home screen. To remove the live wallpaper, tap “Choose a New Wallpaper.” This will show you all the wallpaper options – still images, live wallpapers, and your own photos.
Step 3: Pick a Still Image
I prefer to go with one of the simple still images that Apple provides. Tap on any of the nature images, abstract designs, or solid colors to select it. This will replace your current live wallpaper.
Step 4: Set for Lock Screen, Home Screen or Both
With your new still wallpaper selected, you now have to choose whether you want to set it as your lock screen wallpaper, home screen wallpaper, or both. I typically select “Set for Both” to use the same wallpaper on my lock screen and home screen.
Step 6: Repeat to Remove Live Wallpapers from Both Screens
If you only selected to change one screen, repeat the steps to change the wallpaper on the other screen. This will ensure you’ve removed the live wallpapers from your iPhone completely.
Once your new still wallpapers are set, your live wallpapers will no longer appear or animate on your iPhone screens. I find this helps my iPhone run a bit smoother without the extra motion and animation from the live wallpapers. Let me know if you have any other questions about customizing your iPhone!
Restoring Your iPhone’s Default Wallpaper
Restoring the default wallpaper on your iPhone is pretty straightforward. I’ve had to do this a few times after downloading a new wallpaper that ended up not being quite right.
Step 1: Find the Wallpaper settings
First, open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down until you see the option for “Wallpaper.” Tap on that. This will show you your current home screen and lock screen wallpapers.
Step 2: Select a new wallpaper
At the top of the screen, you’ll see options for “Dynamic,” “Stills,” and “Live.” Tap “Stills” to see Apple’s default wallpaper options. Swipe through the choices until you find one you like. I’m a fan of the simple “Bubble” pattern or the minimal “Stripes.”
Step 3: Set the wallpaper
Once you’ve selected a new default wallpaper, tap “Set” or “Set Lock Screen” or “Set Home Screen and Lock Screen” depending on if you want to change just your lock screen, just your home screen, or both. Your iPhone will save the new wallpaper selection.
Step 4: Check your work
Finally, press the home button or swipe up from the bottom of the screen to go back to your home screen. Make sure the new wallpaper is displayed properly. If for some reason it’s not showing up or you want to try another option, just repeat the steps to find a new wallpaper in the Settings app.
Restoring the default wallpaper on your iPhone only takes a minute but can make a big difference in how you interact with your device. I like keeping a simple, uncluttered wallpaper so I can focus on the apps and info that really matter to me. Give the default options a try—you might find a new favorite!