Changing your iPhone’s wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to personalize your device. But sometimes, you might want to go back to the default wallpaper, remove a custom one, or simply clear up some space on your device. Whether it’s because you’re feeling like a change or you’ve simply outgrown your old wallpaper, deleting it from your iPhone is easy and quick. In this guide, you’ll learn how to remove wallpaper from your iPhone with ease.
Why Remove Wallpaper on Your iPhone?
Sometimes, you need a fresh start, or maybe you just don’t want that wallpaper taking up space. The wallpaper is the first thing that catches your eye when you unlock your phone, so it’s understandable that you’d want it to feel fresh, new, and clear. But how do you go about removing it? That’s what we’ll dive into now.
Removing a wallpaper on iPhone is simple. You can quickly switch it, delete it, or just return to the default settings. This is a quick fix, but let’s explore how you can do this in just a few steps.
How to Remove the Current Wallpaper
If you’re tired of your current wallpaper but don’t want to leave your screen bare, removing it is simple. The iPhone allows you to easily manage your wallpaper settings without diving too deep into complicated settings menus. Here’s how to delete or change your wallpaper:
Step 1: Open Settings
To get started, open your Settings app. The icon looks like a gray gear, and it’s where most of your customization options live. Once inside, scroll down a little bit until you find the “Wallpaper” section. Tap it to continue.
Step 2: Tap “Choose a New Wallpaper”
When you’re in the Wallpaper settings, you’ll see an option that says “Choose a New Wallpaper.” Tap that, and you’ll be taken to a menu where you can either use stock Apple wallpapers, live wallpapers, or choose your own photo library.
Step 3: Select a Wallpaper Option
After tapping “Choose a New Wallpaper,” you’ll have options to select from a variety of wallpapers. To remove the current one, you can either:
- Select a new wallpaper to replace the old one.
- If you want to return to a default wallpaper, Apple provides several options that come pre-loaded on the phone.
The “Choose a New Wallpaper” option allows you to scroll through different categories, such as Dynamic, Stills, or Live. Selecting any of these will update your wallpaper with something new, and it will essentially remove the old wallpaper from view.
How to Delete a Wallpaper from Your Photo Library
If your wallpaper was a photo from your personal library, you may want to delete that image altogether, freeing up space or simply removing it from your device. Here’s how you can delete it:
Step 1: Go to Photos
First, go to the Photos app on your iPhone, where your personal images are stored. This is where you’ll find the photo you used as your wallpaper.
Step 2: Find the Image
Once you’re in the Photos app, scroll through your albums to find the picture you used as your wallpaper. It will either be in your Recents album or, if you’ve moved it, in another album that you’ve created.
Step 3: Delete the Image
When you’ve found the image, tap on it to open it. On the bottom right corner, you’ll see a trash can icon. Tap that icon to delete the image from your photo library. After confirming, the image will be permanently deleted.
How to Set a New Wallpaper After Deleting the Old One
Once you’ve removed or deleted your previous wallpaper, you might want to set a new one. Here’s how to choose and apply a fresh wallpaper:
Step 1: Choose the New Image
Open the Photos app and find the image you want to use as your new wallpaper. Alternatively, you can also choose from the stock Apple wallpapers if you’re looking for something quick.
Step 2: Tap “Use as Wallpaper”
After selecting your preferred image, tap the Share button (it looks like a box with an arrow pointing up). From there, choose the Use as Wallpaper option. This will allow you to position and resize the photo.
Step 3: Set the Wallpaper
Once you’ve adjusted the image to your liking, tap “Set.” You’ll be asked whether you want to set the wallpaper for your Lock Screen, Home Screen, or both. Choose the option that suits you best, and your new wallpaper will be live!
How to Reset Your Wallpaper to the Default
If you’re tired of dealing with custom wallpaper and just want to go back to the default Apple background, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Settings
Start by opening the Settings app. Scroll down until you see the Wallpaper section, then tap on it.
Step 2: Choose New Wallpaper
After entering the wallpaper settings, tap on Choose a New Wallpaper.
Step 3: Select the Default Option
In the list of available wallpapers, scroll until you find the Stills section, where you’ll find the default Apple wallpapers. Pick one of these, and it will reset your phone to its factory wallpaper.
How to Remove Dynamic or Live Wallpapers
Live and dynamic wallpapers give your phone a bit of flair with movement, but if you’re not a fan of these animated images, removing them is just as easy.
Step 1: Open Settings
As usual, open the Settings app and scroll to the Wallpaper section.
Step 2: Tap “Choose a New Wallpaper”
Click on Choose a New Wallpaper and choose the Stills option. This will provide you with static options that do not have any movement.
Step 3: Apply a New Static Image
Select your favorite static wallpaper and set it either for your Lock Screen or Home Screen. This will remove the moving or dynamic effect.
How to Manage and Clear Old Wallpapers
Sometimes, you may want to clean up your device and get rid of the wallpaper images in your library or cache. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Delete the Wallpaper from Your Photos
If you’ve used an image from your library as wallpaper, it’s a good idea to delete it to clear up space. Go to the Photos app, locate the wallpaper image, and delete it as described earlier.
Step 2: Clear the Wallpaper Cache (Optional)
iPhones don’t allow you to manually clear caches like some other devices, but when you delete the wallpaper from your device, you’ll also clear up cached wallpapers stored on your phone.
While you can’t manually go into the system and clear this cache, removing the wallpaper entirely from your library and settings will help ensure that it doesn’t take up unnecessary space.
How to Remove Wallpaper from Specific Screens
iPhones let you set different wallpapers for your Lock Screen and Home Screen. If you want to remove or change them individually, follow these steps:
Step 1: Access Settings
Open the Settings app and go to the Wallpaper section.
Step 2: Choose a New Wallpaper
Once in the Wallpaper section, tap on Choose a New Wallpaper. From here, select either Home Screen or Lock Screen as desired.
Step 3: Apply the Change
Select your preferred wallpaper for the specific screen and tap Set. If you only want to remove the wallpaper from the Lock Screen, do that while leaving your Home Screen wallpaper intact, or vice versa.
Final Thoughts
Removing or changing the wallpaper on your iPhone is an easy process that allows for a quick refresh of your device’s look. Whether you want to delete an old wallpaper, go back to a default, or choose something new, your iPhone gives you the flexibility to adjust it to your liking.
With just a few simple steps, you can customize your phone’s appearance whenever you feel like it. Whether it’s to remove an image taking up space or to give your device a fresh start, these tips will have you done in no time. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different images until you find the one that truly reflects your style. The iPhone makes personalizing easy, and sometimes, all it takes is a little wallpaper switch!