Apple's latest operating systems, including iOS 26, offer the ability to set chat wallpapers on iMessage.
Users can choose images from their Photos library or pick from built-in animations for their chat backgrounds.
An option to generate AI chat wallpapers with Image Playground is available for devices that support Apple Intelligence.
Chat backgrounds sync across all Apple devices updated to the latest operating systems.
Each chat can have a different background, but setting the same background for all chats at once is not an option.
Backgrounds are visible to all chat participants.
SMS and RCS text conversations cannot have a background.
To set a chat background on iPhone or iPad, open a conversation in Messages, select Backgrounds, and choose from options like Photo, Color, Playground, Sky, Water, or Aurora.
On an Apple Watch, chat backgrounds sync from the iPhone.
On a Mac, open Messages, select a conversation, choose Backgrounds, pick a style, and set the background.
There is no option for Image Playground on macOS 26 Tahoe beta.
Users can remove a chat background by selecting the 'None' option.
Chat wallpapers provide a way to customize iMessage conversations.
Whether users will utilize chat wallpapers to enhance their conversations is a personal choice.
For more messaging app tips, users can explore 65+ tips and tricks for the Messages app on iPhone and iPad.