NEW iMessage Backgrounds: How to Customize Chats on iOS 26
Customize Your iMessage Background in iOS 26 on iPhone 17
With the release of iOS 26 with the upcoming iPhone 17 release, Apple is finally giving users a way to customize iMessage backgrounds. For the first time, you can transform your conversations with photos, gradients, dynamic themes, and AI-generated wallpapers.
This feature makes iMessage feel more modern, personal, and fun—while keeping the signature Apple simplicity.
What’s New in iOS 26 iMessage Backgrounds
When you update to iOS 26, you’ll unlock the ability to set unique chat backgrounds with:
-
Photos: Pick any picture from your photo library.
-
Color Gradients: Choose from bold or subtle tones.
-
Dynamic Themes: Animated options like Sky, Water, and Aurora.
-
AI-Generated Wallpapers: Use Apple Intelligence to instantly create one-of-a-kind designs.
These backgrounds are applied per conversation and sync seamlessly across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac (running iPadOS 26 or macOS Tahoe).
Take It Further with Video Wallpaper
While iOS 26 doesn’t support videos for iMessage backgrounds, you can enhance your customization by using Video Wallpaper, app designed to make your backgrounds even more personal by saving a snippet of your video as a live photo.
How It Works
-
Open Video Wallpaper on your iPhone.
-
Import a favorite video from your library.
-
Trim it down to 1-2 seconds.
-
Save and apply it as your iMessage background.
With Video Wallpaper, you can bring your chats to life using moments that matter most—vacations, concerts, or even funny moments in family clips that you didn’t capture as a photo.
Benefits of iMessage Backgrounds in iOS 26
Here’s a chart showing why this feature makes your iPhone 17 more fun:
Get Ready for iPhone 17 and iOS 26
When Apple unveils the iPhone 17 and releases iOS 26, iMessage background customization will be one of the headline features. You’ll finally have the tools to make your chats feel personal, modern, and fun.
And with Video Wallpaper, you can go even further by capturing the perfect scene from a video that turn your everyday conversations into something unforgettable.