How to Set Your Phone Wallpaper to Change Automatically

Tap your device below to see how to set it up.

iPhone

In Wallpaper settings, choose Photo Shuffle and select an album; the photos in it rotate automatically at a set interval.

Android

Use your phone maker's built-in wallpaper app or a dedicated app to cycle wallpapers automatically from a chosen album or theme.

Setting the change interval

Choose how often the wallpaper rotates: every hour, every day, or on your own schedule.

Choosing the source album

Pick a specific album so the wallpaper only rotates among the photos inside it, rather than your whole camera roll.

A fresh photo every day

If you are bored of staring at the same lock screen, turning on automatic rotation keeps things fresh with minimal effort. Point it at a travel album and you get a little dose of nostalgia every time you check the time.

Battery and performance

Rotating your wallpaper does not noticeably affect battery life under normal settings. Only very short intervals, changing every few minutes, use a small amount of extra power, so a daily or hourly interval is a safe default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does automatic wallpaper changing drain the battery?

Not meaningfully at normal intervals. Only extremely frequent rotation, such as every few minutes, uses a small amount of extra power.

Can I set different rotations for the lock screen and home screen?

Many newer phones let you configure the lock screen and home screen to rotate independently, using different albums or intervals.