Ever feel like your iPhone looks... boring? You change your clothes, your hair, your mood — why not your phone? Switching up your background color is one of the easiest ways to refresh your iPhone’s whole vibe.
Whether you're going for sleek and minimal or loud and vibrant, learning how to change background color on iPhone is a quick way to give your device a major glow-up.
From accessibility tweaks to total aesthetic makeovers, this step-by-step guide will show you how to switch up your background, photo, or even app icons, with or without third-party apps. We’ll also cover how to find the best background color, where to get custom wallpapers, and what to do if your iPhone colors look weird.
Why Change Your iPhone Background Color?
Accessibility and Visual Comfort
If certain color schemes strain your eyes, you're not imagining it. Changing your background color, or even using tools like Smart Invert, can make your screen easier to read and reduce glare. These small changes can drastically improve visual comfort, especially in low-light environments.
Personalization and Style
Maybe you just want your iPhone to look cooler. Setting a custom background, trying a solid color, or swapping your photo library image for something sleeker adds a personal touch and helps define your unique style.
How to Change Background Color Using iPhone Settings
Using Smart and Classic Invert
Here’s how to change background color on iPhone quickly:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Accessibility → Display & Text Size.
- Scroll to Smart Invert or Classic Invert, then toggle one on.
These features automatically detect color-heavy areas and reverse them, giving you an instant dark or light theme with minimal effort.
Adjusting Display Accommodations
Want to customize further? In Display Accommodations, you can:
- Use Color Filters to adjust hues
- Lower screen brightness with Reduce White Point
- Add a Color Tint to shift the entire tone of your display
These settings are great for subtle shifts in background color without changing your wallpaper.
Customizing Your iPhone Background with Wallpapers
How to Choose and Set a New Wallpaper
- Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
- Pick an image or photo from your photo library.
- Tap Edit (top right corner) to access editing tools.
- Use the color tool, filters, or crop to fit.
- Tap the Share icon → Use as Wallpaper → Set.
Choose between your Home Screen, Lock Screen, or both.
Recommended Wallpaper Sources
- Browse Zedge Wallpapers for vibrant options
- Try minimalist designs from Zedge Wallpaper Apps
- Use your own iPhone photos or design a plain solid color background with photo editors
👉 Need to update or remove an old wallpaper? Follow this guide to delete wallpapers.
How to Use Zedge.com for Unique iPhone Backgrounds
What is Zedge.com?
Zedge is a go-to platform for free and premium wallpapers, ringtones, and notification sounds. It's packed with high-res designs for every aesthetic and device.
How to Download and Set Zedge Wallpapers
- Visit Zedge Wallpapers
- Browse by category, color, or vibe
- Download your favorite background color or design
- Open the Photos app, select your image
- Tap Edit (if needed), then Share → Use as Wallpaper
Tap Add to apply it to your screen
👀 Want more ringtones to match your new aesthetic? Check out Zedge Ringtones and Notification Sounds.
Tips for Choosing the Best Backgrounds on Zedge
- Look for high-contrast backgrounds to make app icons pop
- Use the search bar to find specific color tones (e.g., “lavender gradient”)
Try backgrounds with minimal distraction if you use a lot of widgets or editing tools
Advanced Customization Options
Changing App Icon Colors
Use the Shortcuts app for full visual control:
- Open Shortcuts
- Tap + in the top right corner
- Tap Add Action → Search “Open App”
- Choose the app, then tap the three dots
- Tap Add to Home Screen
- Tap the icon → Choose Photo or a solid color image
- Rename and tap Add
Now you’ve created a fresh icon with a new background color.
Using Third-Party Apps for More Control
Apps like Photoshop Express, Lightroom, and Canva give you powerful photo editing tools and background removal features. You can:
- Isolate your subject
- Change the background color to a specific color
- Export and use it as wallpaper or a custom app icon
🔥 Want to go pro? This step-by-step guide to changing iPhone wallpaper walks you through all the basics.
Troubleshooting: When Your iPhone Displays Unusual Colors
If your screen looks inverted, washed out, or glitchy, check these:
- Go to Settings → Accessibility → turn off Invert Colors
- Remove problematic third party apps
- Reset your wallpaper or background color
- Force restart your device
Use standard images from the photo library to test if it's a display issue
Final Thoughts: Your iPhone, Your Rules
Customizing your background color isn't just about aesthetics. It's about feeling good every time you unlock your phone. From high-impact hues to subtle vibes, you've now got all the tools to change the background, fine-tune your layout, and design your perfect digital space.
🔗 Explore more personalization tips in our best wallpaper apps guide
🎨 Want to design something new? Head to Zedge Wallpapers and start scrolling!
FAQs
How do I change iPhone background color back to normal?
Go to Settings → Accessibility → turn off Smart/Classic Invert and reset your wallpaper using the Photos app.
How do I turn off the black background on my iPhone?
Disable Invert Colors under Display Accommodations.
How do I change my iPhone screen from black to white?
Turn off any display filters, and switch to a light-colored wallpaper or use a solid white image from Zedge.