How to set iMessage group wallpaper on iPhone

iOS 26 now lets you set custom backgrounds for each iMessage group chat. This new feature gives you colorful backgrounds to choose from if you want a simple group chat interface, or you can also upload your own photos to use as the background for iMessage group chats on iPhone. Here are instructions for changing iMessage backgrounds on iPhone.

Instructions for setting iMessage group wallpaper on iPhone

Step 1:

You access the iMessage chat group on iPhone you want to set the wallpaper for, then click on the chat group name and select Backgrounds to choose the wallpaper.

Below you will see many wallpapers for us to choose from. There are different wallpaper themes for us to use according to our preferences.

Step 2:

When you tap on a wallpaper, you'll see a different color option to apply to the moving wallpaper in an iMessage group on iPhone.

Step 3:

In addition, we can choose available photos in the album to set as the background of the iMessage chat group on the iPhone. You click on Photos to display the available photos in the album on the phone. After selecting the photo to set as the background of the iMessage chat group on the iPhone, you click the v in the upper right corner to save.

Marvin Fry

Update 18 June 2025