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Changing the wallpaper on our smartphones is a common practice. It helps to personalize our device and make it reflect our style and preferences. However, sometimes we regret our decision and want to get back our old wallpaper. If you are an iPhone user and find yourself in this predicament, don’t worry! In this blog post, we will guide you through the steps to get your old wallpaper back on your iPhone. We will explore different methods and provide you with pros and cons for each. So, let’s dive in and learn how to restore your old wallpaper on iPhone.
Why You Need to Get Old Wallpaper Back on iPhone
- Accidental Change: Sometimes we accidentally change our wallpaper and lose the one we loved. Recovering it will bring back familiarity and a sense of comfort.
- Nostalgic Value: Certain wallpapers hold special memories and emotions for us. Reverting to an old wallpaper can evoke those feelings and create a sentimental connection.
- Aesthetic Appeal: You may have changed your wallpaper and found out that the new one just doesn’t suit your taste or match your device’s theme. Restoring the old wallpaper can help maintain the aesthetic appeal you desire.
Video Tutorial:
Part 1. Using Photos App
If you have ever set your old wallpaper as the lock screen or home screen background and have it saved in your Photos app, you can easily restore it using the following steps:
1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the "Albums" tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll down and look for the "Wallpapers" album. If you don’t see it, check other albums that might contain the image, such as "Camera Roll" or "Favorites".
4. Once you find the album containing your old wallpaper, open it.
5. Browse through the images and select the one you want to use as your wallpaper again.
6. Tap on the image to open it, then tap on the options icon (three dots) located at the top-right corner of the screen.
7. From the options menu, choose "Use as Wallpaper".
8. You will be presented with options to set the image as the lock screen, home screen, or both. Select your preference.
9. Adjust the positioning of the image if necessary by dragging it or scaling it accordingly.
10. Once you are satisfied, tap on "Set" to apply the wallpaper to your iPhone.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Convenient method if the old wallpaper is saved in the Photos app. | 1. Limited to using wallpapers that have been saved in the Photos app. |
| 2. Provides easy access to personal photos and memories. | 2. May require searching through different albums to find the desired image. |
| 3. Allows customization of lock screen and home screen wallpapers separately. | 3. Lack of flexibility in adjusting the position and scaling of the image. |
Part 2. Using iCloud Photo Library
If you have enabled iCloud Photo Library on your iPhone and the old wallpaper was synced to your iCloud account, you can retrieve it by following these steps:
1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on your Apple ID at the top of the Settings menu.
3. Select "iCloud" from the list.
4. Scroll down and find "Photos". Tap on it.
5. Toggle on the "iCloud Photos" option if it is not already enabled.
6. Wait for a few moments as your device syncs with your iCloud account and retrieves your photos.
7. Launch the Photos app and navigate to the "Albums" tab.
8. Look for the "Recently Deleted" album and open it.
9. Check if your old wallpaper is present in the album. If it is, tap on it to open it.
10. Tap on the options icon (three dots) at the top-right corner of the screen.
11. From the options menu, choose "Recover".
12. The image will now be restored and available for use as your wallpaper.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Works even if the old wallpaper was deleted from the Photos app. | 1. Requires iCloud Photo Library to be enabled and synced. |
| 2. Provides access to a wider range of photos saved on iCloud. | 2. May take some time for synchronization to complete, depending on the internet connection. |
| 3. Allows retrieval of recently deleted photos, including the old wallpaper. | 3. Limited to photos saved on iCloud and not available for non-iCloud users. |
Part 3. Using Third-Party Wallpaper Apps
If you downloaded the old wallpaper from a third-party wallpaper app, you can try using the same app to retrieve it again. Here’s how:
1. Locate the third-party wallpaper app on your iPhone’s home screen.
2. Open the app and navigate to the section where you originally found the old wallpaper.
3. Search for the specific wallpaper by scrolling through the app’s collection or using search functionality if available.
4. Once you find the old wallpaper, tap on it to open it in full screen.
5. Look for an option to set it as your wallpaper, either directly on the image or through a menu.
6. Select the appropriate option to set the wallpaper as your lock screen, home screen, or both.
7. Depending on the app, you may have additional options to adjust the positioning or scaling of the wallpaper.
8. Once you have customized the wallpaper to your liking, confirm your selection to apply it to your iPhone.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Offers a wide variety of wallpapers to choose from. | 1. Limited to third-party apps that you have previously downloaded. |
| 2. Provides access to exclusive wallpapers not available in the default wallpaper selection. | 2. Requires locating and using the specific app where the old wallpaper was originally found. |
| 3. Can offer advanced customization options for adjusting the wallpaper appearance. | 3. May contain ads or require premium features for certain wallpapers. |
Part 4. Using iCloud Backup
If you have backed up your iPhone to iCloud and the old wallpaper was included in the backup, you can restore your device to a previous backup to retrieve it. It’s important to note that restoring your iPhone from an iCloud backup will erase all the data and settings on your phone, so make sure to create a recent backup of your current data before proceeding. Here’s how to do it:
1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on your Apple ID at the top of the Settings menu.
3. Select "iCloud" from the list.
4. Scroll down and tap on "iCloud Backup".
5. Check the date and time of the latest backup. If you have a recent backup where the old wallpaper was present, proceed to the next steps.
6. Erase the content and settings on your iPhone by going to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
7. Confirm the erasure and wait for your iPhone to restart.
8. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your iPhone as a new device.
9. When prompted to restore from a backup, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup".
10. Sign in to your iCloud account using your Apple ID and password.
11. Select the most recent backup that contains the old wallpaper.
12. Wait for the restore process to complete, and your iPhone will restart.
13. After the restart, your iPhone will have all the data and settings from the old backup, including the old wallpaper.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Allows retrieval of not only the old wallpaper but also other data and settings from the selected backup. | 1. Erases all current data and settings on your iPhone, requiring a complete setup process. |
| 2. Ideal for situations where multiple settings and data need to be restored in addition to the wallpaper. | 2. Requires a recent backup that includes the old wallpaper. |
| 3. Can be used to revert to a previous state of your iPhone if desired. | 3. Backup restoration time can vary depending on the data size and internet connection speed. |
What to Do If You Can’t Restore the Old Wallpaper on iPhone
If you are unable to restore the old wallpaper using the methods mentioned above, here are three alternative solutions you can try:
1. Re-download the Wallpaper: If you downloaded the old wallpaper from a website or received it through messaging apps, try to locate the original source and re-download it. You can use search engines or ask the person who shared the wallpaper with you for assistance.
2. Screen Recording: If you still have the old wallpaper displayed on your iPhone, you can use the screen recording feature to capture it. Start a screen recording and navigate to the screen where the wallpaper is visible. Allow the recording to capture the wallpaper, and then trim the recording to remove any unwanted footage. Finally, save the trimmed recording as a video file and use it as your wallpaper.
3. Find a Similar Wallpaper: If all else fails, consider finding a similar wallpaper that matches your desired style or theme. There are numerous websites and apps dedicated to providing a wide range of wallpapers for various devices. Browse through their collections and select a wallpaper that closely resembles your old one.
Bonus Tips
Here are three bonus tips to enhance your wallpaper experience on iPhone:
1. Create a Wallpaper Album: Organize your favorite wallpapers in a dedicated album within the Photos app. This will allow easy access to your preferred wallpapers without having to search through different albums or third-party apps.
2. Explore Dynamic Wallpapers: iOS offers dynamic wallpapers that animate and change appearance based on factors like time of day or device motion. Experiment with dynamic wallpapers to add a lively touch to your device’s background.
3. Customize Perspective Zoom: When setting a new wallpaper, consider using or adjusting the Perspective Zoom feature. This option adds a parallax effect to the wallpaper, creating an illusion of depth and interactivity.
The Bottom Line
Changing wallpapers is a common practice for iPhone users, but sometimes we want to go back to a previous wallpaper that we loved. In this blog post, we explored different methods to restore your old wallpaper on iPhone. Whether you have the image saved in the Photos app, synced through iCloud, downloaded from a third-party app, or backed up in iCloud, you have a variety of options to retrieve it. If all else fails, try re-downloading the wallpaper, capturing it through screen recording, or finding a similar one to suit your preferences. So, don’t let a misplaced wallpaper bring you down – bring back the familiar charm and aesthetic appeal to your iPhone.