How to set a wallpaper on a Google Pixel

Set a downloaded wallpaper from Google Photos or Wallpaper & style, and pick the colours that come with it.

Google Pixel phones use Google Photos as their gallery, and the wallpaper picker is part of an app called Wallpaper & style. You can start from either one. These steps were checked on Android 16. On older Pixels a few menu names are slightly different, which is noted where it matters.

1. Download the wallpaper

  1. Open the wallpaper and tap Download HD, or Download 4K if it has one.
  2. Wait for the countdown and tap Download now.
  3. Chrome saves it to the Download folder and shows a notification when it is done.

2. Set it from Google Photos

  1. Open Google Photos and tap Collections (called Library on older versions).
  2. Under On this device, open the Download folder. The newest file is first.
  3. Tap the wallpaper to open it.
  4. Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner.
  5. In the row of actions, scroll sideways and tap Use as, then choose Wallpaper. (Some versions list it as Photos wallpaper or Set as wallpaper.)
  6. Pinch and drag to frame it, then tap the tick or Set wallpaper.
  7. Choose Home screen, Lock screen, or Home and lock screens.

Or start from the Home screen

  1. Touch and hold an empty part of the Home screen.
  2. Tap Wallpaper & style.
  3. Tap More wallpapers (or Change wallpaper).
  4. Tap My photos and pick the wallpaper.
  5. Frame it, tap the tick, and choose where it goes.

Colours that follow your wallpaper

Pixels pick the colours of the system, such as the quick settings, keyboard and app icons, from your wallpaper. This is called Material You, or dynamic colour. After setting a new wallpaper, open Wallpaper & style again and look under Wallpaper colours for a few palettes taken from it. If you would rather keep one colour, choose it under Basic colours.

A wallpaper with one strong colour gives the clearest palette. A very colourful one can give colours you did not expect, so it is worth checking the options.

If something goes wrong

  • The wallpaper is not in Google Photos. Photos only shows device folders once it has scanned them. Open the Files app instead, tap Downloads, open the image, tap ⋮, then Set as or Open with and pick the wallpaper option.
  • “Use as” is missing. Update Google Photos from the Play Store, or use the Home screen route above. It always works.
  • It looks blurry or zoomed in. Pixel screens are taller than 16:9, so the picture is scaled up a little to fill them. See how to make a wallpaper fit and stay sharp.

Other guides

Looking for something to put on your phone? Browse the wallpapers.