Changing or removing your wallpaper on your iPhone 12 can help refresh your device’s look, improve privacy, or simply declutter your home screen. If you want to delete a wallpaper to set a new one or revert to a default background, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step. Before starting, ensure your iPhone 12 is unlocked and you are on the home screen or in the Settings app. No additional tools or apps are needed, as everything can be done directly through your device’s built-in settings.
What You’ll Need
- An iPhone 12 with iOS 14 or later installed
- Access to your device’s Settings app
Step-by-Step
- Unlock your iPhone 12 and go to the Home screen.
- Open the Settings app, which looks like a gray gear icon.
- Scroll down and tap on “Wallpaper.”
- Within the Wallpaper menu, tap on “Choose a New Wallpaper” if you want to replace the current one, or if you want to remove the wallpaper altogether, proceed to the next step.
- To remove a custom wallpaper, you typically need to set a default wallpaper. Tap on “Stills” or “Live” under Apple’s default options, or select a plain color or the “Dynamic” wallpapers.
- Tap on the wallpaper you want to set as your new background (such as a solid color or a default wallpaper).
- After selecting your preferred wallpaper, tap “Set” at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose whether to set the wallpaper for your Lock Screen, Home Screen, or both. If your goal is to effectively delete or remove a custom wallpaper, choosing a default or plain background will serve as a visual replacement.
- Once confirmed, your wallpaper will be updated, and the previous custom wallpaper will no longer be active.
Common Mistakes
- Trying to delete a wallpaper directly from the Photos app — wallpapers are set through Settings, not Photos.
- Confusing wallpaper removal with deleting photos — setting a new wallpaper overwrites the previous one visually but doesn’t delete it from your Photos unless you delete the original image.
- Not selecting the correct screen (Lock Screen vs. Home Screen) when setting a new wallpaper.
- Attempting to set a live or dynamic wallpaper as a still background, which may not be supported.
Tips
- If you want a clean look, choose a plain color or a default wallpaper from Apple’s options.
- To revert to the original factory wallpaper, select from the default options under Wallpaper settings.
- Remember that setting a new wallpaper does not delete the previous image from your Photos app. To free storage, delete images directly from Photos.
- Use the preview feature to see how the wallpaper looks before confirming your choice.
- If you have trouble finding the wallpaper settings, try searching for “Wallpaper” in the Settings search bar.
Troubleshooting
If you find that your wallpaper isn’t changing or the previous wallpaper still appears after following the steps:
- Restart your iPhone 12 — sometimes a simple restart can resolve minor glitches.
- Make sure your iOS is up to date. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for updates.
- If the wallpaper change isn’t visible, try setting a different wallpaper to see if the issue persists.
- Reset all settings if necessary. This won’t delete your data but will reset system settings. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings.
- If problems continue, contact Apple Support for further assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a wallpaper I set on my iPhone 12?
You cannot delete a wallpaper directly from your device; you can only change or replace it through Settings.
Does removing a wallpaper delete the photo from my Photos app?
No, changing your wallpaper does not delete the original image from Photos unless you manually delete it.
Can I set a live photo as my wallpaper and then delete it?
Yes, you can set a Live Photo as wallpaper, but deleting it from Photos will remove it from your device entirely.
How do I revert to the default Apple wallpaper?
Go to Settings > Wallpaper > Choose a New Wallpaper and select from the default options provided by Apple.
Will deleting the wallpaper free up storage space?
Not directly. Deleting the image from Photos frees storage; changing wallpapers only affects the visual display.
What if I can’t find the wallpaper settings?
Use the search bar in Settings and type “Wallpaper” to quickly locate the setting.
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