How to Delete Wallpaper on iPhone

IPhone users often battle how to delete wallpaper on iPhone without deleting the original because there is no option to remove or delete unwanted wallpapers on the iPhone wallpaper settings.

Apple’s new iOS release comes with different setups and shuffles which often confuse novice users in navigating the device settings.

However, when it comes to the iPhone wallpaper you need to manually delete unwanted ones otherwise you will have multiple wallpapers on your iPhone that are useless taking up spaces on your phone memory.

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So, in this article, we will teach you how to delete wallpaper on iPhone on iOS 16 or earlier or later. The techniques here work for iOS 17 or earlier and on all iPhone models such as iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14 and iPhone 15.

Typically, we will use iPhone 12 to explain the steps to delete wallpaper on your iPhone in which a similar approach can be used on other iPhone models.

How to Delete Wallpaper on iPhone

How to Set Wallpaper on iPhone

It is worth showing you how you can Set your iPhone wallpaper. This will allow you to set up a new one once you delete the unwanted ones in the list.

  • Open your iPhone “Settings App.”
  • Hit “Wallpaper” when you scroll down a bit on the settings page.
  • Tap “Add New Wallpaper” to choose your wallpaper.
  • You can choose Photos, People, Photo Shuffle, Live Photo, Emoji, Weather, Astronomy and Colour under the “Add New Wallpaper” page.
  • Hit the “Wallpaper” you want to set as your iPhone wallpaper.
  • You can swipe left or right on the wallpaper to change the colour from natural >> gradient backdrop >> seamless background >> seamless background mono >> overprint >> studio >> black & white.
  • You can also use the “Pinch to Crop”  option to reduce the size of the wallpaper.
  • Tap the “Colour” box icon at the bottom right to change the background or backdrop wallpaper depending on the wallpaper type you chose.
  • Hit on the “three dots” at the bottom right next to the colour option  to choose “Extend Wallpaper” or Show Photo in Library.” The “Depth Effect” won’t be active at this point.
  • Once you are satisfied with the hit the “Add” button at the top right.
  • Select whether to set the wallpaper as a pair or customise home screen.
  • If you go with “Set as Wallpaper Pair” will be your iPhone wallpaper on the lock screen and phone background.
  • To customise your “Wallpaper” you have to hit “Customise Home Screen.” Tap “Photo” and select from featured, live, people and nature from your “Photo Gallery.”
  • Pinch the screen to adjust the wallpaper size. You can also change the wallpaper colour background or backdrop and hit the “Done” button.
  • Hit “Colour” to choose your “Wallpaper Colour.”
  • Tap “Gradient” twice to choose your favourite “Gradient Colour.”
  • Hit the “Done” button at the top right once again

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How to Delete Wallpaper on iPhone

The iPhone wallpaper doesn’t have a “click-to-go” button to delete a wallpaper on iPhones via the wallpaper settings. However, this is not to say you cannot delete wallpaper on your iPhone if you do not want it.

Therefore, here are the steps to take to delete wallpapers on your iPhone without deleting the original photo.

Note: If you delete your current wallpaper on your iPhone your device will set a default background wallpaper.

  • Press your “iPhone Power Button” to lock the screen.
  • Unlock the phone using your “Face ID.” This is my favourite method to unlock my iPhone.
  • Press and hold the “iPhone Screen” to see all installed wallpaper on the device.
  • Locate the “Wallpaper” you want to delete and “Swipe it up.”
  • Hit the “Trash” icon beneath the wallpaper.
  • Hit “Delete This Wallpaper” from the pop-up.

The selected wallpaper will be deleted from both the lock screen and the home screen. You cannot delete the default wallpaper on your iPhone.

How to Check Whether your Wallpapers are Deleted

You can easily confirm whether your wallpaper was deleted or not. Here are the steps to take.

  • Open the “Settings App” on your “iPhone.”
  • Tap “Wallpaper.”

With this guide on how to delete wallpaper on your iPhone, you should be able to delete unwanted wallpaper on your iPhone and set a new one.

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