# iOS 18 Wallpaper Customization: Progress or Regression?
Apple’s iOS updates have long been a blend of anticipation and exasperation for iPhone users. On one side, new features and capabilities enhance the device’s utility. Conversely, certain modifications can render previously simple tasks unnecessarily intricate. With the arrival of **iOS 18**, Apple has made a notable advancement in customization, albeit with some bumps along the journey.
One of the most prominent modifications in **iOS 18** is the ability to **tailor the iPhone Home Screen** like never before. However, this enhancement has also rendered a basic action like changing your wallpaper—an operation that has been easy for years—more complicated. Let’s explore what’s new, what’s been improved, and what has turned out to be more laborious in the wallpaper customization process of iOS 18.
## The Progression of Wallpaper Customization
For a long time, iPhone users savored the ease of modifying their wallpaper with just a few taps. In earlier iOS iterations, users could swiftly navigate to **Settings > Wallpaper > Choose a New Wallpaper** and pick an image from their gallery or Apple’s pre-installed selections. This procedure was quick, intuitive, and efficient.
Nevertheless, with the launch of **Focus Mode** in **iOS 15**, Apple started to incorporate more dynamic features into wallpaper customization. Focus Mode enabled users to set various wallpapers according to their ongoing activity or mood, such as working, relaxing, or exercising. This was a welcomed enhancement for many who wished for their iPhone to adapt to their daily lifestyle.
### iOS 17: The Initial Complexity
By the time **iOS 17** was launched, Apple had begun complicating the wallpaper-changing approach. While Focus Mode introduced versatility, it also made the wallpaper-switching process less direct. Users were required to maneuver through various menus to ensure their selected wallpaper was applied to the appropriate Focus Mode.
### iOS 18: Increased Customization, Increased Complexity
With **iOS 18**, Apple has intensified customization, granting users the ability to personalize their Home Screen in ways that were previously unattainable. You can now **insert widgets**, **customize app icons**, and **edit pages** to forge a genuinely unique experience. However, this newfound adaptability comes with a price—particularly regarding a fundamental task like changing your wallpaper.
In **iOS 18**, the procedure for altering your wallpaper has turned more intricate. Previously, a long-press on an empty spot on your Home Screen allowed for a quick wallpaper change. Now, attempting the same will only provide options to **Add Widgets**, **Customize App Icons**, or **Edit Pages**. The convenience of changing your wallpaper directly from this interface has been eliminated.
### The Revised Process: A Step-by-Step Manual
If you find it difficult to change your wallpaper in **iOS 18**, here’s a step-by-step manual to assist you through the new procedure:
1. **Long-Press on the Home Screen**: Like before, begin by long-pressing on an empty space on your Home Screen. However, instead of directly adding a new wallpaper, you’ll encounter options to add widgets or customize app icons.
2. **Select “Edit Pages”**: To modify your wallpaper, you’ll need to select the **Edit Pages** option.
3. **Navigate to Focus Mode**: Once in the Edit Pages menu, tap on **Options**. This will redirect you to your various **Focus Modes**.
4. **Eliminate Current Customizations**: To introduce a new wallpaper, you must first eliminate your existing screen customizations. This requires deleting any current Focus Mode-specific wallpapers before you can proceed with a new one.
5. **Introduce a New Wallpaper**: After removing the old customizations, you can finally add a new wallpaper. However, this approach is considerably more time-consuming than it previously was.
### Is There an Easier Method?
While **iOS 18** provides more customization choices than ever, the wallpaper changing process has become needlessly complicated. If you’re one who frequently alters their wallpaper, this new framework may seem like a regression.
Fortunately, there are a few methods to streamline the process:
– **Utilize the Settings App**: Instead of long-pressing on the Home Screen, you can still adjust your wallpaper via the **Settings** app. Navigate to **Settings > Wallpaper > Add New Wallpaper**. This approach is more clear-cut and avoids the intricacies of Focus Mode.
– **Establish Multiple Focus Modes**: If you prefer having different wallpapers for various activities, consider setting up multiple Focus Modes proactively. This way, you can seamlessly switch among them.
