How do I change the background on my iPad?

Changing the background, or wallpaper, on your iPad is a simple process that allows you to personalize your device's appearance. You can choose from Apple's default gallery of images or use your own photos.

How to Change Your iPad's Background

To customize your iPad's background for both your Lock Screen and Home Screen, follow these straightforward steps:

Open Settings: Tap the Settings app icon on your iPad's Home Screen. It looks like a set of gears.
Navigate to Wallpaper: In the Settings menu, scroll down and tap on Wallpaper.
Add New Wallpaper: Tap the Add New Wallpaper button. This will open the wallpaper gallery where you can browse various options.
- Choose a Source: The gallery presents several categories. You can select:
  - Photos: To use a personal photo from your Photos app.
  - People: To quickly select photos featuring people.
  - Photo Shuffle: To have a rotating selection of your photos.
  - Live Photos: If available, these animate when pressed on the Lock Screen.
  - Stills: Static images provided by Apple, often categorized by theme (e.g., Unity, Pride, Astronomy, Weather).
  - Dynamic: Animated backgrounds that subtly move.
  - Colors: Simple solid color backgrounds.
Select Your Wallpaper:
- If you choose Photos, browse your albums and tap the image you want.
- If you choose from Apple's gallery, tap on the desired image or design.
Customize and Set: Once you've selected an image, you'll see a preview.
- Zoom and Reposition: You can pinch to zoom in or out, and drag to reposition the image until it looks just right.
- Add Widgets: For the Lock Screen, you can add widgets to display information like weather, calendar events, or battery levels.
- Depth Effect: If your image supports it, you might see an option for "Depth Effect" which places the time behind subjects in your photo.
- Filters: Some wallpapers allow you to apply filters (e.g., black & white, duotone).
- Tap Add in the top right corner when you're satisfied with the preview.
Choose Where to Set It: You'll then be prompted to decide how to use your new wallpaper:
- Set as Wallpaper Pair: This will apply the selected image to both your Lock Screen and Home Screen.
- Customize Home Screen: This allows you to set a different image or color for your Home Screen, while the chosen image remains on the Lock Screen.

Wallpaper Options at a Glance

The iPad offers a rich variety of wallpaper choices to suit any preference:

Wallpaper Type	Description	Customization & Features
Photos	Images from your personal photo library.	Pinch to zoom, drag to reposition, apply filters, enable Depth Effect (if supported), add widgets (Lock Screen).
Photo Shuffle	Automatically changes your Lock Screen wallpaper throughout the day from a selected album or category.	Choose frequency (On Tap, On Lock, Hourly, Daily), select albums or specific photos, apply filters, add widgets.
Stills & Dynamic	Pre-designed static images or subtly animated backgrounds provided by Apple.	Simple selection, zoom/reposition available for stills, add widgets (Lock Screen).
Astronomy	Features views of Earth, Moon, or solar system.	Updates dynamically to show current conditions (e.g., cloud cover on Earth), add widgets.
Weather	Displays current weather conditions at your location.	Changes dynamically with the weather, add widgets.
Colors	Simple solid color backgrounds.	Choose any color from a palette, customize shade, add widgets.
Emoji	Creates a pattern using your chosen emojis.	Select up to six emojis, choose pattern layout (Small Grid, Medium Grid, Large Grid, Rings, Spiral, Brick), customize background color, add widgets.

Practical Tips for Personalizing Your iPad Wallpaper

High-Resolution Photos: For the best look, use high-resolution photos that match or exceed your iPad's screen resolution. Blurry or pixelated images can detract from the aesthetic.
Consider Contrast: Ensure your Lock Screen wallpaper doesn't make the time, date, or widgets difficult to read. High-contrast images often work best.
Separate Home and Lock Screens: Don't feel limited to the same wallpaper for both. Many users prefer a visually rich image for the Lock Screen and a simpler background for the Home Screen to avoid cluttering app icons.
Explore Apple's Options: Apple's built-in wallpapers are designed to look great on your iPad and often feature dynamic elements or tie into current events or themes.

For more detailed information on customizing your iPad, you can refer to Apple's official support resources.