Wallpaper vs. Background on Phone: What’s the difference? And what pic did you use for yours?
@Melanie_Marie (2254)
St. Clair, Michigan
August 14, 2025 7:40pm CST
On my iPhone, I can click on Wallpaper and put in any photo I want, then I can put it on another part of the phone too. It can be another pic, or the same one.
One is a background, one is a wallpaper.
But they never specify which is which.
One shows up the minute my phone turns on but doesn’t do anything, and then the other photo shows up when I start doing something on my phone like logging in to work, etc.
Would that ^ be the background? Or is it the wallpaper?
Which photo(s) have you chosen for yours?
Mine is a pic I took from YouTube, it’s this nonstop Christmas music with changing scenes (live) and I like to have it going in my room.
This is what the apartments I’m moving to will look like during the Holidays! :) The setup is almost identical. 
You can see it in the photo I’ve attached.
And Mr. MyLot why did you delete my last discussion, I didn’t break any rules
You can see it in the photo I’ve attached.
And Mr. MyLot why did you delete my last discussion, I didn’t break any rules2 people like this
2 responses
@DaddyEvil (157338)
• United States
15 Aug
Technically, the background on a phone is what shows up when you first turn your phone on. It's whatever you have beneath the widgets and apps on your home screen. The wallpaper is whatever you choose to show when you're going from app to app... (Honestly, the words "wallpaper" and "background" are used interchangeably.)
I use a plain black background/wallpaper on my Android phone. I'm really surprised nobody has explained to you that you get more battery life if you DON'T have something moving on your screen all the time. (I use a black background because my eyes are very sensitive and moving pictures hurt almost as much as the white background that myLot uses.) I have a phone with the largest battery that a phone can use without blowing up. 
With regular use: phone calls, text messages and reading books, my battery lasts several days before I need to recharge it.
Edit to add: You are supposed to send GAA a pm if you have questions about the site or the actions GAA takes. They may not answer but they often delete discussions that ask "why did you do this" on myLot. Just letting you know.
With regular use: phone calls, text messages and reading books, my battery lasts several days before I need to recharge it.
Edit to add: You are supposed to send GAA a pm if you have questions about the site or the actions GAA takes. They may not answer but they often delete discussions that ask "why did you do this" on myLot. Just letting you know.1 person likes this
@Melanie_Marie (2254)
• St. Clair, Michigan
15 Aug
Thanks DaddyE, I think I get it now. And my background (right?) is not moving, I just took a photo of the video going and used that. It’s a still-shot.
Oh my phone would get smokin’ hot with a live background going 24/7.
And I can see how a solid black background could be soothing to the eyes. I have a lot of trouble with brightness too. My “brightness” on my phone is set to 30 or something. Very low and dim and it’s nice.
Side note: “I have a phone with the largest battery that a phone can use without blowing up” ….. LMAOooo
Thnx for response 
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (157338)
• United States
15 Aug
@Melanie_Marie You're very welcome.
Even a stationary picture uses a lot of battery unless it's plain black.
I have Graves' Disease and it affects my eyes by them swelling closed or by making my vision too blurry for me to read even with the book settings at the largest print the app can manage.
The brightness on my phone is set so low that I can't see anything on the phone if an overhead light is on. I keep blackout curtains in my house drawn at all times and only turn on a light with a 25 Watt bulb in it after dark. My daughter and I have nightlights through the house to see where we're walking.
