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Apple's iOS 26 adds customizable backgrounds to Messages

Apple's iOS 26 update now lets iPhone users set custom backgrounds in Messages, with animated wallpapers and photo options for iMessage conversations. The feature, previously absent compared to rivals, also includes a toggle to disable it.

AI News Feed · 2026-09-02 10:19

To set a background, users open a conversation in Messages, tap the contact or group icon at the top, and then select the Backgrounds tab. There they will find a selection of Apple-designed animated wallpapers under the categories Color, Sky, Water, and Aurora. They can also choose a photo from their own library by tapping the Photo option, or pick from a list of suggested backgrounds based on photos the system considers attractive. Engadget notes that every participant in the conversation will see the same background, not just the person who changes it.

The feature has some constraints. Custom backgrounds are available only for iMessage conversations, meaning chats with Android users over SMS or RCS will continue to display a plain background. Users also need iOS 26 or later. For those with an iPhone 15 Pro or later, the Playground feature can generate backgrounds using Apple Intelligence.

If the option is missing, Engadget advises checking that the other party uses iMessage and that the iPhone runs the latest software. For users who find the backgrounds distracting, Apple has added a toggle under Settings > Apps > Messages called Conversation Background. Turning it off will hide all custom backgrounds, even if a contact has set one for a conversation.