Android Nougat allows you set different wallpapers for home screen and lock screen.
This guide explains how to set up Android Nougat lock screen wallpaper (different from home screen wallpaper).
One of the overdue features in stock Android is the lack of separated lock screen wallpaper, which is always identical to the home screen wallpaper up to Android Marshmallow.
Many Android vendors changed this stock option and let users choose wallpapers for the lock screen and home screen individually.
Google finally listened to the requests.
You can now finally set Android Nougat lock screen wallpaper independently from the wallpaper for the home screen.
It seems it may be just a cosmetic change for the lock screen.
But for some users, this is a long anticipated feature.
For example, some users like to use family or personal photos as the wallpaper. But for privacy concerns, they may not want to show such photos on lock screen, which can be seen by anyone holding the phone, including thieves.
You may follow these steps to set up Android Nougat lock screen wallpaper.
Step 1: Enter Home screen edit mode
Tap and hold any blank area in the home screen to enter edit mode as shown below.
Please note, pinch to enter home screen edit mode is NOT a standard Android gesture. It is a gesture used by a few Android vendors including Samsung and LG.
Step 2: Tap Wallpapers
This would enter wallpaper settings.
In some Android phones that support themes, it may be named as wallpapers and themes (e.g,, as in Galaxy S7).
In addition, some Android vendors may add other options in the home screen edit mode (you may refer to this page on Galaxy S8 home screen edit mode).
The screenshots shown were taken from stock Android (Pixel or Nexus phones). So you may see more options if you are not using stock Android.
In Wallpapers page, you can preview current wallpapers as shown below.
In this case, the wallpapers for home screen and lock screen are identical.
Step 3: Select a picture
You can use any pictures in the phone as a wallpaper.
In all Android phones, there are always a few sets of wallpapers pre-installed.
For example, you can select a picture in the phone.
Step 4: Set the selected picture as home screen wallpaper or lock screen wallpaper
As shown in the screenshot below, you will be asked to use this selected picture as:
You may wonder what should you do if you want to use the select picture only as lock screen wallpaper.
The two options you seen above is for the situation when wallpapers for home screen and lock screen are identical.
If home screen and lock screen wallpapers are different as shown below, you will see different options after selecting a picture.
As shown below, there are 3 options for the wallpaper.
You can set the select picture as wallpaper of:
Anyway, whether you get 2 or 3 options depends on current home screen and lock screen wallpapers.
If they are identical, you will get 2 options. If they are different, you will get 3 options.
Step 5: Enjoy the new Android Nougat lock screen wallpaper.
You can tap Back button to exit the edit mode.
The lock screen wallpaper will be applied automatically after exiting home screen edit mode.
If you have any questions or encounter any problems on Android Nougat lock screen wallpaper, please let us know in the comment box below.
The community will try to help you.
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For questions on Android Nougat (Android 7.0 and 7.1), please check Android Nougat guides page.
For questions on Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0), please check Android Marshmallow guide page.
For question on Android Lollipop (Android 5.0 and 5.1), please check Android Lollipop guide page.
For other Android questions or problems, please check Android 101 page.
View Comments
I already set a wallpaper for both lockscreen and home screen,now I'm trying to change it (one for lockscreen and another for home) but it's just showing option to change both. I'm not getting the option to change lockscreen separately. Please help.
If you choose a photo, then tap Set wallpaper, will you get a pop-up window asking whether you want to set it for the home screen, or lock screen or both? In Nexus devices, it works in this way.
What's your phone model and Android version?
i got a bluboo s1 android 7 phone, when i try to change it doesnt give me any options to change the lock screens, and it only changes the front screens, while i want it to change both of them it doesnt give me any option to do that..
It also depends on the launcher. I am not sure about your phone.
But most launchers should have the option to set wallpaper for the home screen and lock screen.
You need to click on the picture option it takes from your gallery (should have a gear symbol in the corner of it) and then it will give you the option