How do I retrieve missing wallpaper on my iPad to use on other devices?

Where can I retrieve my Wallpaper photo? It's my photo, but it's not in the photos app on my iPad. I want to retrieve it for use on other devices.. It's my photo, but it's not in the photos app on my iPad. I want to retrieve it for use on other devices..



[Edited by Moderator]

iPad Air 3, iPadOS 18

Posted on Sep 6, 2025 01:13 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 7, 2025 04:55 AM

You can use almost any photo (or image) that you like to set as a Home or Lock Screen Wallpaper. The method to do so is outlined within the iPad User Guide:

Change the wallpaper on iPad - Apple Support


You should note, however, that a Home/Lock Screen wallpaper image cannot be directly extracted from the iPad. If you can kept the original image (perhaps in your Photo Library or elsewhere), you can use the image again - but it is simply not possible to extract it from iPad Wallpaper settings.


If you not kept a copy of the original image, you'll not be able to recover the image directly from your iPad. However, you might be able to retrieve most of the image by taking a screenshot of a Home Screen page that you have not installed any Widgets, App or folder icons. The screenshot image can be cropped, if necessary, to remove borders.


Take a screenshot on your iPad – Apple Support

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 7, 2025 04:55 AM in response to KarlWiderquist

You can use almost any photo (or image) that you like to set as a Home or Lock Screen Wallpaper. The method to do so is outlined within the iPad User Guide:

Change the wallpaper on iPad - Apple Support


You should note, however, that a Home/Lock Screen wallpaper image cannot be directly extracted from the iPad. If you can kept the original image (perhaps in your Photo Library or elsewhere), you can use the image again - but it is simply not possible to extract it from iPad Wallpaper settings.


If you not kept a copy of the original image, you'll not be able to recover the image directly from your iPad. However, you might be able to retrieve most of the image by taking a screenshot of a Home Screen page that you have not installed any Widgets, App or folder icons. The screenshot image can be cropped, if necessary, to remove borders.


Take a screenshot on your iPad – Apple Support

How do I retrieve missing wallpaper on my iPad to use on other devices?

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