Can’t get the iMessage background to change in iOS 26? Here’s the fix

Go through all these troubleshooting steps if you can’t change the iMessage background on your iPhone in iOS 26 or if a background added by the other person doesn’t appear on your end.

The Apple Messages app finally allows you to add a photo or dynamic graphic as the conversation background (goodbye plain white or black chat backgrounds).

When you add a background to a chat, the people in that single or group chat will also see the same background. This is in stark contrast to WhatsApp and Telegram chat backgrounds, which are visible only to you and not to the person on the other end.

Secondly, the background can be set for each conversation individually; there is no master switch to set a background for all your iMessage chats at once.

The problem

• You don’t get the option to add a background.
• Even though your friend on the other end of a personal or group chat has added a custom background, that background doesn’t appear on your iPhone or iPad.

The solutions below will help fix these issues on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. We’re using an iPhone for steps and screenshots below.

Update to the latest version of iOS 26

iMessage chat background is only available with iOS 26. So, make sure you, as well as the person you’re chatting with, have updated to iOS 26. The background won’t appear for either one of you if you’re still on iOS 18.

This only works for iMessage and not SMS

You can add a chat background only to an iMessage conversation, that is, messages sent to other iPhone, iPad, and Mac users. You can’t add a background to SMS or RCS chats.

Force quit and reopen the Messages app

If the new background set by your friend doesn’t appear on your device, simply force close and reopen the Messages app a few times, and it should show up.

Make sure your internet is working fine

If force-closing didn’t help, double-check to ensure you have a stable Wi-Fi or cellular data connection. Turn off the VPN if you’re using one.

Send a file

Sending a text, picture, video, or other file may force the background change on your friend’s device or vice versa. Try this if the new background isn’t showing on both people’s devices.

Turn on Conversation Backgrounds

When you tap the person’s name at the top of an iMessage conversation, you should see a tab for ‘Background,’ as shown in the screenshot below.

But if you don’t see this option, go to iOS 26 Settings > Apps > Messages and turn on Conversation Backgrounds. Then force close and reopen the Messages app, and you should get the option to add a custom background.

Toggle Conversation Backgrounds off and back on

If Conversation Backgrounds was already enabled (as it is by default) but you still don’t see the option to add a background or the background set by the other side doesn’t appear on your device, then return to Messages app settings and toggle Conversation Backgrounds off and back on.

Restart your iPhone

After following the above steps, if the problem persists, turn your iPhone off and back on. Now, go back to the Messages app, and you should see the option to add a background or be able to see the chat background set by your friend.

Check iMessage server status

In rare cases, it can happen that the background is set correctly, but there is a server-level issue with iMessage that prevents both you and the person you’re chatting with from seeing the conversation background. Visit Apple’s System Status page and make sure iMessage, iCloud Account & Sign In, and Apple Account are working correctly.

Just wait a while

Simply waiting for a few hours or overnight, with the iPhone plugged into a charger and connected to Wi-Fi, may also magically fix the problem. Try this if the above solutions have failed for you.

Ask the other side to do the following

If you and the person you’re texting don’t share the same background, and you have already followed the above tips, ask the other person to follow them as well. Here’s a refresher:

• Ask them to update to the latest version of iOS 26.
• Force quit and reopen their Messages app.
• Restart their Apple device.
• Check their internet.
• Ask them to share their name and Contact Poster with you if they see the option to do so.
• Ask your friend to add a different photo or graphic as the chat background.

Use the same background on both sides

As mentioned earlier, either you or the person you’re chatting with can change the conversation background, and it will appear on both ends. However, if this fails, you can both set the same image or graphic as the background on your respective ends to achieve a uniform look.

If you don’t get the option to use Image Playground

You can use Apple’s Image Playground AI tool to generate an iMessage background. If you don’t see this, make sure you have an iPhone 15 Pro or later with Apple Intelligence set up.

Reset all network settings

In case nothing has worked, reset all network settings and try adding the background again. You can also just wait for a new software update to fix the issue.

Which of the above solutions worked for you in addressing the missing iMessage chat background issue?

Also, check out: 18 settings to change and new features to try in iOS 26

Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2025/11/19/fix-imessage-background-not-changing/