You can delete your iPhone 13 wallpaper by choosing a new one to replace it

iPhone 13 does not have a "delete wallpaper" function the way you might delete a photo. Instead, you remove a wallpaper by selecting a different one. Apple's built-in wallpapers are always available, so you can always revert to a default image. If you want to remove a custom photo you set as wallpaper, you replace it with one of Apple's standard options or choose a different photo from your library.

The process takes about one minute and happens entirely in the Settings app. You do not need to restart your phone or use any other tools.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap Wallpaper, then tap Customize to change what appears on your lock screen or home screen.
  • Select a new wallpaper from Apple's built-in collection or choose a photo from your Photos app to replace the current one.
  • You can set different wallpapers for your lock screen and home screen, or use the same image for both.
  • If you delete a photo from your Photos app that was set as wallpaper, iOS automatically switches to a default wallpaper.
  • Live Wallpapers with animation effects are available for the lock screen only and can be removed by selecting a static image instead.

How to replace your lock screen wallpaper

Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Wallpaper. Tap it, then tap Customize. You will see your current lock screen and home screen wallpapers displayed at the top. Tap the lock screen image to edit it.

A menu of wallpaper options appears. You can choose from Apple's built-in collections (Flowers, Landscapes, Abstract, and others), or tap Photos to select an image from your library. Once you choose a new wallpaper, tap Set, then choose whether to explore it to the lock screen only, the home screen only, or both. Tap Set Lock Screen, Set Home Screen, or Set Both to confirm.

How to replace your home screen wallpaper

Follow the same path: Settings > Wallpaper > Customize. This time, tap the home screen image at the top instead of the lock screen. Select a new wallpaper from Apple's collection or your Photos app, then tap Set and choose which screen or screens to explore it to.

You can use the same wallpaper on both screens or choose different images for each. Many people prefer a different look on the lock screen (which shows when the phone is asleep) and the home screen (which shows when you unlock it). Changing one does not affect the other unless you explicitly choose to explore the same image to both.

Returning to Apple's default wallpapers

If you want to remove a custom photo you uploaded and go back to one of Apple's standard options, open Settings > Wallpaper > Customize, tap either the lock screen or home screen image, and select from the built-in collections at the top of the menu. These wallpapers are always available and cannot be deleted from your phone.

The default collections include Flowers, Landscapes, Abstract, Emoji, Solid Colors, and Gradients. Each collection contains multiple options. You can preview any wallpaper before setting it by tapping it once. This lets you see how it will look on your actual screen before you commit to the change.

What happens if you delete a photo that is set as wallpaper

If you delete a photo from your Photos app that is currently set as your wallpaper, iOS does not remove the wallpaper when ready. The image remains on your lock screen or home screen until you manually change it. However, the photo no longer exists in your library, so you cannot view it or use it elsewhere on your phone.

To replace it, open Settings > Wallpaper > Customize and select a different image. You can choose another photo from your library or switch to one of Apple's built-in wallpapers. This is useful if you want to clean up your Photos app without losing the visual appearance of your lock screen right away.

Using Live Wallpapers on iPhone 13

iPhone 13 includes Live Wallpapers — animated images that move when you press and hold the lock screen. To set a Live Wallpaper, open Settings > Wallpaper > Customize, tap the lock screen, and look for the Live section near the top of the menu. Options include Bouncing, Breathing, and Ripple effects that respond to your touch.

Live Wallpapers only work on the lock screen, not the home screen. If you set a Live Wallpaper on your lock screen, you can still choose a separate static image for your home screen. To remove a Live Wallpaper, straightforward replace it with a standard wallpaper using the same Settings path. The animated effect will stop and your lock screen will display a still image instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a screenshot as my iPhone 13 wallpaper?

Yes. Any image saved to your Photos app can be set as wallpaper, including screenshots. Take or find the screenshot you want, open Settings > Wallpaper > Customize, tap the screen you want to change, select Photos, find the screenshot, and tap Set.

Why does my wallpaper look different on the lock screen than in the preview?

iPhone 13 automatically crops and positions wallpapers to fit each screen. The lock screen shows the image smaller and may crop the edges. You can adjust the position and zoom by pinching and dragging in the preview before you tap Set to get the framing you want.

Can I set a video as my iPhone 13 wallpaper?

No. iPhone 13 wallpapers must be still images or Apple's built-in Live Wallpapers. You cannot use videos from your Photos app or other sources as wallpaper, though Live Wallpapers provide animation without requiring a video file.

Does changing my wallpaper affect my privacy or security settings?

No. Wallpaper is purely visual and does not interact with your device security, passwords, or data. Changing it does not unlock or lock any settings or information on your phone.