Yes, you can change your Messages backgrounds on iPhone - but there's a catch

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For years, iPhone users were left out of a feature that Android owners got to take advantage of: Customizing your message windows so that you don't accidentally text the wrong person (because who hasn't). But with iOS 26's release last year, iPhone users can finally set a message background -- either a preset option from Apple, or a picture from their camera roll.

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However, there is one big catch that isn't immediately apparent: Whatever you set your chat's background to, all other members of the chat will see it as well, so long as they're also on iOS 26. So if you change, say, your iPhone-using ex's chat background to a Demagorgon, they're going to see that immediately. It's similar to when you name a group chat; It changes the name for all members of the group.

Not daunted? I'll walk you through how to change your text backgrounds in the Messages app. Along with iOS 26, these steps should also work for iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, visionOS 26, and later.

Change the background image on your individual text threads easily. Here's how.

Select the thread you want to theme from your list of messages.

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This will work whether you have an individual text thread or a group chat.

Under the contact name(s) or group name and the icons for call, FaceTime, or email, you'll see a few different tabs: Info, Backgrounds, Photos, and Links. Tap Backgrounds.

You'll see four "dynamic" options from Apple: Color, Sky, Water, and Aurora. You can tap any of those and then swipe to see several different options for each. Or, tap Photo, and select a picture from your camera roll. Your phone will suggest some options (on mine, it pulled up scenic shots I've taken on trips), or you can access all of your photos and collections. Crop the photo by pinching in or out, and swipe left to add a filter.

When you find the option you want, tap the blue check mark button in the top right corner of your phone.

This immediately changes the background and adds a note in the chat on your end that says "You changed the background" with the date and time stamp. That note also appears for the other people on the thread, saying "(Your name) changed the background."