How To Download Old iPhone Backgrounds


How To Download Old iPhone BackgroundsPin

Looking for old iPhone background wallpapers? Here’s where you can still download them.


Looking where to download old iPhone backgrounds? Look no further! We’ve rounded up a list of the best places to find Apple’s original iPhone background wallpaper – read on!

How To Download Old iPhone BackgroundsPin

A History Of iPhone Background Wallpaper

Everyone loves to make their smartphone look unique and one of the best ways to do this is to set your own custom wallpaper on your iPhone’s home screen and lock screen.

But what many iPhone users in 2022 might not know is that the iPhone didn’t always support custom wallpapers. As a matter of fact, until 2010, with the release of iOS 4, the iPhone didn’t allow custom wallpapers on the home screen. The home screen pre-iOS 4 was simply black, though users could select a wallpaper for their lock screen before iOS 4.

With each iOS release Apple also usually updated its collection of wallpapers pre-installed in iOS. And sometimes they also got rid of older iPhone wallpapers too. This means that over time, users lost access to classic Apple iPhone wallpapers like the clownfish.

Thankfully, enterprising Apple fans have retained original iPhone wallpapers for posterity’s sake and now there are a few different places you can download these old iPhone wallpapers on the web.

Related: Looking for an older macOS? Here’s how to download old versions of macOS

Download Old iPhone Backgrounds: Wallpaper Access

A wallpaper website called Wallpaper Access hosts a collection of the top 47 old iPhone backgrounds and wallpapers. You can see them all and download them individually here.

Download Old iPhone Backgrounds: iDownload Blog

A fantastic Apple news website called iDownload Blog also hosts a collection of old Apple wallpapers. What’s great about this collection is the old iPhone wallpapers – of which there are 45 – have been optimized for the higher resolution of today’s iPhone screen. This means they should look too shabby on a 5.5-inch iPhone screen even if they were originally designed for smaller iPhones.

iDownload Blog’s collection is made up of a roundup of Twitter user @AR72014‘s collection, an Apple fan and graphic designer with a large Twitter following. Interested readers should follow @AR72014 for all kinds of cool graphics, concepts, and posts.

Download Old iPhone Backgrounds: Reddit

Finally, Reddit user Nucleam has a post with links to a Google Photos library of all iOS wallpapers. You can check out the entire collection here.

How To Change Old iPhone Background Wallpapers

If you want to change your current iPhone wallpaper to an older Apple one, the process is fairly easy. Here’s what to do:

  1. On your iPhone, go to one of the sources above to find the old iPhone wallpaper background you want to download.
  2. Tap the download link next to the wallpaper or just tap and hold on the wallpaper and then tap Add to Photos from the popup menu that appears. This will save the wallpaper in your camera roll.
  3. Next, open up the Photos app on your iPhone and find the wallpaper you just saved.
  4. Tap on the wallpaper to bring it up in the Photos app.
  5. Tap the Share button.
  6. Tap Use as Wallpaper.
  7. Move and scale the wallpaper to your liking and then tap Set.
  8. From the pop-up menu, tap to set the wallpaper as the Lock Screen background, the home screen background, or both.

And that’s it! You’ve now set your iPhone’s background to an old Apple iPhone background image.

And check out:

Latest Smartphone Releases


  • Xiaomi 15S Pro

    The Xiaomi 15S Pro didn’t come with a flashy launch, but it brings some seriously heavy hardware to the table. A custom 10-core chip, Leica-engineered cameras, and one of the brightest displays on the market

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

    At just 5.8mm thick, it’s one of the thinnest Android phones ever made—but don’t let the slim profile fool you. This phone is all flagship under the hood.

  • Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

    It’s got the same slick design and OLED display, but adds a periscope zoom camera and a 50MP front-facing shooter.

  • Nothing Phone (3a)

    The Nothing Phone (3a) nails the formula: give people what they actually want, keep the price low, and make it look cooler than anything else in its class.

  • Motorola EDGE 60 Pro

    With a bold design, flagship-like display, and surprisingly refined camera system, it’s one of the most interesting mid-range phones of 2025.

  • Google Pixel 9

    I’ve been using the Pixel 9 for a few weeks now, and honestly? It nails all the basics—and a bit more. Killer stuff all round!

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro

    I’ve used the Pixel 9 Pro as my daily device, and it’s hands-down the best balance of power, practicality, and photography you’ll find on Android right now.

  • OnePlus 13

    I’ve been using the OnePlus 13 as my daily driver for a few months now—and I’ve got to say, it’s easily one of the best Android phones I’ve tested this year.

  • Xiaomi 15 Ultra

    After using the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for over a week, I can confidently say: this phone is an absolute beast. It’s made for camera nerds, power users, and creators.

  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

    If you’ve been holding out for a truly complete iPhone, the 16 Pro Max delivers—hard. After using it daily, I won't be going back…

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

    Big screen, big battery, and even bigger brains—this is the Pixel to get if you want Google’s best hardware and longest support.

  • Google Pixel 9a

    The Pixel 9a brings Google’s flagship-level smarts to a budget-friendly package, and it’s easily one of the best-value Android phones of 2025.

Best SIM-Only Plans & Deals


  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Premium Plan

    Boost’s top-tier option brings the heat: 50GB of premium data, hotspot, North America roaming, global talk & text, and $430 off select devices. All-in at $60/month with no contract.

    +

    Data: Unlimited (50GB premium speed)

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited+ Plan

    Level up with 40GB of premium data, hotspot access, global calling, and up to $300 in device savings. All for just $50/month. No contracts and flexible phone options included.

    +

    Data: Unlimited; Speed Caps After 40GB

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Plan

    Start strong with 30GB of premium data, unlimited everything, and a killer intro offer: just $15/month for the first 3 months, then $25/month forever. No contracts. No fluff. Big value.

    +

    Data: Unlimited (Speed Caps Over 30GB)

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    Another high-data, low-cost option with no contract. 108GB for just £9, full 5G access, and the same goodies you get with 12-month deals.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 20GB

    The lowest price option. 20GB for £6 with all the same perks as pricier plans. Great if you don’t use much data and want to save every penny.

    +

    Data: 20GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 110GB

    This plan gives you big data and zero commitment. 110GB for just £10 with all perks intact. If you need more data but want the freedom to cancel, this is the one.

    +

    Data: 110GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    More data, same price. For just £8/month, you get 60GB on a no-strings 1-month rolling plan. Ideal for users who stream often but don’t want long commitments.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 40GB

    Perfect if you want full flexibility. You get 40GB and all of iD Mobile's perks with no lock-in, annual increases, or setup fees. Great for short-term users.

    +

    Data: 40GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    One of the best pound-per-GB plans around. You get 60GB for £8 with £25 cashback, which means you’re effectively paying closer to £6/month. Includes roaming and data rollover.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    This deal gets you a healthy 108GB of 5G data for less than a tenner, with no upfront costs and £24 cashback. All the perks are included too: data rollover, roaming, and loyalty rewards.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: Unlimited Data

    This iD Mobile plan doesn’t just compete on price, it’s up there with the best of them. Unlimited everything, a year-long lock-in with no price rises, and £42 cashback straight to your pocket. It’s like getting nearly 3 months free.

    +

    Data: Unlimited, No Speed Caps

  • Mint Mobile 20GB Plan

    If you're looking to save some cash on your bills, this plan is an awesome option. You'll get 20GB of data per month and 20GB hotspot data allowance. For moderate to heavy users, that should be more than enough. I seldom use more than 10GB of data a month, and I'm always using my phone

    +

    Data: 20GB