Change your Xbox background through Settings

You can change your Xbox background by going to Settings, selecting Personalization, then choosing a new background image. The process takes about two minutes and works the same way on Xbox Series X, Series S, and Xbox One. You pick from built-in images that come with your console, or you can upload a custom image from your phone or computer.

The background you set is personal to your profile. If someone else uses your Xbox with their own profile, they will see their own background, not yours. This means changing your background does not affect other people who play on the same console.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Xbox background is tied to your profile, so each person who signs in sees only their own chosen image.
  • Built-in backgrounds come with your console and require no upload — you just select one and confirm.
  • Custom backgrounds must be uploaded from a phone or computer and work best at 1920 by 1080 pixels.
  • Changing your background does not affect game performance, storage space, or any other console settings.

Using a built-in background

Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide menu. Scroll right to Settings and press A. Select Personalization, then choose Background. You will see a list of images that came with your Xbox — these include game art, abstract designs, and Xbox branding.

Highlight the image you want and press A to preview it on your home screen. If you like it, press A again to confirm. If you want to see other options, press B to go back and scroll through the list. Once you confirm, that image becomes your background when ready.

Uploading a custom background from your phone

You can use any photo from your phone as your Xbox background. Open the Xbox app on your phone (iOS or Android), sign in with the same account you use on your console, and go to Profile. Select your profile picture, then choose Personalization and Background.

Tap Upload Photo and select an image from your phone's camera roll. The image should be at least 1920 by 1080 pixels — most modern phone photos are larger than this, so they will work fine. After you upload it, the image will appear on your Xbox console within a few seconds. You do not need to do anything on the console itself.

Uploading a custom background from a computer

If you want to use an image from your computer, go to xbox.com and sign in with your account. Click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select Personalization and Background. Click Upload Photo and choose a file from your computer.

The image should be 1920 by 1080 pixels or larger. Common image formats like JPG and PNG both work. After you upload it, check your Xbox console — the new background should appear within a few seconds without any action needed on your part.

What happens if your image is too small

If you try to upload an image smaller than 1920 by 1080 pixels, Xbox will reject it and ask you to choose a different file. The error message will say the image is too small. You can check your image size on a computer by right-clicking the file, selecting Properties, and looking for the dimensions.

If you have a small image you really want to use, you can enlarge it using free online tools like Pixlr or Canva, though the result may look blurry. A better option is to find a higher-resolution version of the same image, or to choose a different photo that is already the right size.

Removing a custom background and going back to default

If you uploaded a custom background and want to return to the built-in options, go back to Settings, Personalization, Background on your console. Select one of the default images and confirm. Your custom image will no longer appear.

You cannot delete a custom image from your Xbox directly — it stays in your account until you replace it with something else. If you want to remove it from your account entirely, you can sign into xbox.com, go to Personalization and Background, and delete it from there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a video or animated image as my background?

No. Xbox backgrounds must be still images in JPG or PNG format. Videos and animated GIFs will not work. You can only choose from the built-in static images or upload a single photo.

Will changing my background affect my game saves or storage?

No. Your background is stored separately from your games and saves. Changing it uses almost no storage space and does not affect how your console runs or how much space you have left for games.

What if my custom background does not appear on my console?

Wait a few seconds — the image usually syncs within 10 seconds of uploading. If it still does not appear, sign out of your profile on the console and sign back in. If the problem continues, try uploading the image again from xbox.com or your phone app.

Can I set a different background for each game?

No. Your background applies to your home screen and profile only. Individual games cannot have their own backgrounds. When you launch a game, the game itself takes over the screen.

Is my background visible to other players online?

No. Your background is only visible on your console to people using your profile or standing in front of your TV. Other players in games or on Xbox Live cannot see your background.