How to Change Your iPhone or Android Wallpaper Based on the Time of Day

We offer two solutions to help you change the wallpaper on your mobile phone at different times or on different days of the week. You can enjoy a new wallpaper every day, whether you use an iPhone / iOS or an Android device.

While mobile phones may look similar on the outside, once you look at the home screen, each one is unique. Changing the wallpaper is often the first thing people do when they get a new phone. Some may choose a landscape, while others might select a picture of their partner, children, or friends. In short, wallpapers reflect personal tastes.

This article is for those who can’t decide which wallpaper to start their day with. If you have a large collection of images or photos, the best solution is to use them all. You can set your device to change the wallpaper several times a day or every day of the week. While iOS and Android don’t have built-in features for this, there are ways to make it happen.

For Android users, we’ll use apps from Google Play. For iOS users, we’ll create a rule using the Shortcuts app, allowing the wallpaper to change based on your selected images whenever you want.

How to Change Your Wallpaper on Android Based on the Time of Day

By default, Android has limited options for changing wallpapers automatically. However, where Android falls short, these apps step in to help:

• Google Wallpapers: This free app, made by Google, lets you explore new photos for your device. It has a feature that allows you to automatically change the wallpaper daily, either from your own collection or a selection provided by others.
• Dynamic Wallpaper: This free app (supported by ads) offers a large collection of wallpapers sorted into categories. You can set it to change your wallpaper automatically every time you unlock your screen, every few hours, or even every few days.
• Resplash – Wallpapers: A free, ad-supported app that stands out with over a million high-resolution photos. It offers automatic wallpaper changes at intervals you choose, or even when you plug your phone in to charge.

Each app works a little differently, but they make it easy to set automatic wallpaper changes. You select the wallpapers or categories you like, choose how often you want them to change, and enjoy a new wallpaper on your Android home screen daily.

How to Change Your Wallpaper on iOS Based on the Time of Day

For iPhone users, we’ll use the Shortcuts app. This pre-installed app is designed to automate tasks. You’ll create a shortcut that uses a photo album to automatically change the wallpaper.

How to Create a Shortcut for Automatic Wallpaper Switching

1. Create a photo album with your favorite images in the Photos app.
2. Open the Shortcuts app and tap the “+” button to create a new shortcut.
3. Search for the “Find Photos” action and add it to your shortcut.
4. Tap “Add Filter” and select the album you created by tapping “Select”.
5. Set the “Sort by” field to “None” and enable the “Limit” option to “Get 1 item”.
6. Search for the “Set Photo as Wallpaper” action. You can customize it to change the home screen wallpaper, lock screen, or both.
7. Disable the “Show Preview” option.
8. Tap the shortcut’s name, choose “Rename”, and give it a name.
9. In the Automation tab, tap the “+” button and select “Time of Day” as the trigger.
10. Customize the timing, select “Run Immediately”, and choose the shortcut you created.

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing the Background on Your iPhone

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Create a new album by clicking the “+” button.
3. Name the album and select the images you want.
4. Save the album.
5. Open the Shortcuts app.
6. Click “+” to create a new shortcut.
7. Search for “Find Photos” and add it.
8. Click “Add Filter”, then “Select”, and choose your album.
9. Set “Sort By” to “None” and activate the “Limit” option to “Get 1 item”.
10. Search for “Set Photo as Wallpaper” and edit to change the home screen or lock screen.
11. Disable the “Show Preview” option.
12. Rename your shortcut and tap “OK”.
13. Go to the Automation tab in the Shortcuts app.
14. Click the “+” button and choose “Time of Day” as the condition.
15. Enable “Run Immediately” and select the shortcut.

Now your iPhone will automatically change the wallpaper based on the time you set.