Unable to customize wallpaper from Lock Screen on iPhone

Please tell me someone has found a solution to customizing the wallpaper from the lock screen? I have reset my phone and done numerous hard resets. I even reached out to a representative and they said wait for the new update. It’s seems this has been an ongoing issue for some so I don’t know if that was the best advice. Any suggestions????


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Wallpaper customization

iPhone 16 Pro, iOS 26

Posted on Jul 26, 2025 6:59 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 26, 2025 7:49 AM

The pic below may help you.

In the first screenshot, there's no lock icon at the top and it says 'Swipe up to open' at the bottom. That means your iPhone is unlocked but not open.


If you swipe up and open it will not work. If the Screen is locked it will not work.


To change and customize your iPhone wallpaper, you'll need to unlock your phone first. If pressing firmly on the Lock Screen doesn't work, it's because your iPhone is still locked. Don't swipe up to unlock it entirely. Instead, just use Face ID to unlock it normally, and then you'll be able to access the wallpaper options by pressing firmly again.


10 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 26, 2025 7:49 AM in response to Frustrated_Apple_User_2345

The pic below may help you.

In the first screenshot, there's no lock icon at the top and it says 'Swipe up to open' at the bottom. That means your iPhone is unlocked but not open.


If you swipe up and open it will not work. If the Screen is locked it will not work.


To change and customize your iPhone wallpaper, you'll need to unlock your phone first. If pressing firmly on the Lock Screen doesn't work, it's because your iPhone is still locked. Don't swipe up to unlock it entirely. Instead, just use Face ID to unlock it normally, and then you'll be able to access the wallpaper options by pressing firmly again.


Jul 28, 2025 7:53 PM in response to Frustrated_Apple_User_2345

Frustrated_Apple_User_2345 wrote:

I am not. I tried that to see if it was the software and still nothing. I reverted back to 18

Had I actually actually noticed you were using Beta Software, my response would have been different. The fact is that you had to expect things not to work as expected when testing not ready for public use software. I'm glad you have now restored your iPhone back to iOS 18.5. It was simply not a good idea to put beta on your primary device, which Apple specifically recommended you not to do.

Jul 26, 2025 7:50 AM in response to Frustrated_Apple_User_2345

While a permanent solution for everyone isn't available, here's what's currently known about the lock screen wallpaper customization issue:

There isn't a universally confirmed fix for this specific problem. The advice to wait for a new update is a common and often necessary suggestion, as software bugs like this are frequently addressed in patches. It's possible the issue is related to a specific phone model, operating system version, or a conflict with a third-party app.

Here are some suggestions you can try:

  • Check for system updates manually: Even if you've been told to wait, it's worth checking for updates. Go to Settings > System > System update to see if one is available.
  • Clear the cache of your launcher app: Sometimes, the issue is with the app that manages your home and lock screen. Try going to Settings > Apps > see all apps, find your launcher (e.g., Nova Launcher, One UI Home, etc.), and clear its cache.
  • Try a different Wallpaper app: Some users have reported success by using a different wallpaper application to set their lock screen background, such as Google Wallpapers.
  • Safe Mode: Booting your phone into Safe Mode can help you determine if a third-party app is causing the problem. If the lock screen wallpaper works correctly in Safe Mode, you can then try uninstalling recently installed apps one by one to find the culprit.


[Edited by Moderator]


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Unable to customize wallpaper from Lock Screen on iPhone

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