If you want to change iMessage background on your iPhone or iPad, you can now do it natively in iOS 26 and later, no third-party apps required. The built-in tool lets you pick from photos, colors, AI-generated images, or dynamic scenes like Sky, Water, and Aurora, so you can make each conversation feel uniquely yours.
How to change iMessage background
Customizing your iMessage background is a simple way to refresh your chat screen and make your messages more personal. On devices running iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, or visionOS 26 or later, Apple includes a dedicated Backgrounds menu right inside the Messages app. You can choose from Photo (your library), Color (solid or gradient presets), Playground (Apple Intelligence, generated art), Sky, Water, Aurora, or Suggestions, so there’s a style for every mood.
Step-by-step instructions for iPhone and iPad
Follow these verified steps to change the background of any iMessage conversation on your iPhone or iPad:
- Open the Messages app.
- Tap the conversation you want to customize.
- Tap the contact name or group name at the top of the conversation.
- Tap Backgrounds from the options that appear.
- Choose a category, Photo, Color, Playground, Sky, Water, Aurora, or Suggestions.
- Swipe left or right to preview the different styles or options within that category.
- Tap the checkmark button in the top-right corner to apply your selection.
That’s it. The background you pick will appear behind the message bubbles in that specific conversation, so you can set a different look for each chat if you like. On a Mac, the same steps work, but you’ll tap “Set” instead of the checkmark.
How to revert to the default background
If you ever want to remove a custom background and go back to the plain, default look, it takes just a few taps. Open the conversation, tap the contact or group name at the top, then tap Backgrounds. From there, tap the None option, it’s usually the first choice in the list, and the chat will immediately return to the standard white or dark background. There’s no need to delete anything else; the None option resets that conversation completely to Apple’s default appearance.
