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How to Change Wallpaper in iOS 7

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iOS 7 was released a few days ago, and newcomers are undoubtedly still getting used to the new layout and features. The biggest change that you may notice is the all-new look and design, which features a flatter user interface and a more colorful, diverse color palette.

One of the new subtle features in iOS 7 is right on the home screen. Apple added a neat 3D parallax effect to iOS 7, so when you move around your iPhone in your hand while keeping your head still,  it’ll appear as if the app icons are floating on top of the wallpaper. It’s a pretty neat effect, and we’ll show you how to change the wallpaper, as well as create your own parallax wallpaper.

iOS 7 Hidden Features Secret

How to Change the Wallpaper

To change the wallpaper on your iPhone in iOS 7, open up the Settings app and navigate to Wallpapers & Brightness. You’ll see an image of your lock screen and home screen; tap on either one of these (they take you to the same page). From here, you have three choices. You can use Apple’s Dynamic wallpapers or its Stills. Dynamic wallpaper is wallpaper that is animated, while Stills remain…well…still. You can also use photos stored in your Camera Roll.

Choose a category and select an image listed. You’ll be given a preview of what it will look like on your lock screen. With photos from your Camera Roll, you’ll be asked to drag the photo around until it’s in the position you want, since photos you take are larger than the lock screen’s and home screen’s size.

Tap on Set, and then you’ll be asked what screen you want it set on. You can choose between Set Lock Screen, Set Home Screen or Set Both.

Create Your Own Parallax-Ready Wallpaper

2013-09-21 12.55.01If you’re not a huge fan of Apple’s default wallpaper and want to create your own graphic, you certainly can. The only thing you’ll need to keep in mind is that the wallpaper will need to be 400 pixels wider and 400 pixels taller. Here are the dimensions you’ll need when creating your own parallax wallpaper:

  • iPad 2 and iPad mini: 1,424 x 1,424
  • iPad 3 and iPad 4: 2,448 x 2,448
  • iPhone 4s: 1,360 x 1,040 (No parallax on the iPhone 4)
  • iPhone 5s/5: 1,536 x 1,040

For photos that you take with your iPhone’s camera, they’ll already be ready to go for parallax, since they’re already oversized. These dimensions are mainly for folks who want to create their own wallpaper out of a graphic and such.

Once you complete your custom wallpaper, sync it your iPhone using iTunes and go back into the Wallpapers & Brightness section in Settings. Your custom wallpaper should now show up under Photos below Apple’s default selections. From there, follow the same steps as above to set it as your new wallpaper.

27 Comments

27 Comments

  1. Larry

    09/21/2013 at 12:45 pm

    Why do they act like iOS 7 is so difficult?? It’s the same as last years past the setup is the same only a new look, but it’s a very nice look finally

    • zudac

      09/24/2013 at 10:08 pm

      the wallpaper is very different, it messed up my wallpaper since I like to use an image that is from the internet. It fit perfect on iOS6 but was terribly messed up on iOS7 so it is very different. not to mention it is way to bright and feels like google chrome now lol.

  2. Will Nelson

    09/21/2013 at 4:54 pm

    How do you get the original default wallpaper back once you change? It had disappeared !

    • Gary

      09/22/2013 at 12:47 am

      Good question. I lost mine too. Have looked everywhere- even under the bed!

      • Ian

        10/05/2013 at 6:14 am

        Anyone find out how to retrieve the default wallpaper back yet can’t get it back one I change

  3. Alex

    09/21/2013 at 5:48 pm

    Shouldn’t the iPhone 4s dimensions be 1160 x 840 since you say the image needs to be 200 wider and 200 taller? You have them listed as 400 wider and 400 taller (or adding 200 pixels to every side). In fact, taking a second look they all appear to be listed as +400 to height and width.

    • Larry

      09/23/2013 at 7:44 am

      Good eye there Alex your right even I had to re read that lol

  4. hrasdah

    09/22/2013 at 6:32 am

    Here is a interesting read on why not to use blurry wallpapers on iOS 7 https://www.amongtech.com/blurry-wallpapers-shouldnt-used-ios-7/

    • Will N

      09/22/2013 at 11:10 am

      Read link. One of the dumbest excuses for Apple I’ve ever seen. The graphics in iOS 7 just plain stink. What were they thinking? This is Apple, king of graphics!

      • Larry

        09/25/2013 at 3:18 pm

        So what it’s better than the same old crap the last 6 years right?? Looks great to me!! Stay on iOS 6 or older, why did u update than knowing this??

        • zudac

          09/25/2013 at 4:49 pm

          nobody knew anything prior to updating dude chill out and quit being so defensive

          • Ali

            10/12/2013 at 9:01 pm

            Actually my friend ha ios7 weeks before the release and I knew what everything was going to look like before I updated. Tough shit you were in the dark, dude.

  5. Luis

    09/23/2013 at 2:10 pm

    I can’t seem to put the size I want for my wallpaper:/ for example if I want it small it won’t go it just stays at the size it wants any help?

    • Laura

      09/23/2013 at 2:26 pm

      Same. I want to choose one of my camera roll photos for my wallpaper and when i choose the photo and it asks me to move and scale, the photo is enlarged and wont allow me to make it smaller. I can make it smaller using my fingers to “zoom” but it wont hold, it goes back to the large out of focus size. Help??

      • missmouse3

        10/12/2013 at 1:00 pm

        same here! this IOS7 is a retrograde step!

  6. Rosy

    09/23/2013 at 3:44 pm

    Did anyone find a solution to the sizing of background photos from camera roll? They won’t let me zoom out!! So frustrated!

    • Pablo

      09/23/2013 at 9:39 pm

      Same problem as Laura and Rosy. Camera roll pics will not stay zoomed out. Help Craig Lloyd, help!

  7. lovejude

    09/24/2013 at 2:27 am

    https://freesios7.com – I think this site has some good iOS 7 dynamic wallpapers too – already made into those sizes

  8. Craig

    09/24/2013 at 4:02 am

    Having the same trouble. Can’t use pics from my camera roll for wallpaper because they’re greatly expanded and can’t move them to scale! What’s the solution to fix this issue?

  9. darryl

    09/25/2013 at 5:47 pm

    Same with me the pics from my camera roll wont fit it jus gets big and on ios6 it fitted perfect

  10. Kim

    09/26/2013 at 5:37 pm

    I can’t stand this version. Wallpaper is screwed up. I want the old version…NOW!! Grrrrr….

  11. Bev

    10/01/2013 at 7:03 pm

    Me too. Very frustrated by not being able to minimize the size of picture from my camera toll. keeps cutting the heads off.. HELP

  12. Blade Cancino

    10/02/2013 at 10:08 pm

    These f’n engineers it has move and scale option. It does not work. They should be fired and give back their pay. I spent way much time to figure out how to fix. Meanwhile there is no solutions. I would have left it the way it was if I had known this. Idiot apple.

  13. Blade

    10/04/2013 at 7:53 pm

    HERE IS THE SOLUTION!! Download the “Instasize” app and resize the photo you want to use for your wallpaper. Shrink the photo by squeezing with 2 fingers until you have added a white border that is 20%-30% of the size of the photo. Save it to “Gallery”, and then select it as your wallpaper. You might have to play around with how much you shrink the original photo (how big you make your white borders). IT WORKS, THANK GOD!!

    • Timmy

      10/04/2013 at 11:55 pm

      Thanks Blade

    • missmouse3

      10/12/2013 at 1:02 pm

      but it was SO simple before! no need to download apps to fix something that should work from the outset! IOS7 is a lot of crap!

  14. WFH

    10/10/2013 at 9:39 pm

    There is no “instasize” app in the App Store?! Did you mean “instafix”?

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