The 6 Best iPad Pro Wallpapers of 2021

Personalize your iPad in new ways

by
Andy Wolber
Andy Wolber
Freelance Contributor
Andy Wolber is a former Lifewire writer who has been writing about technology for 15+ years. His focus is G Suite, iOS, and nonprofit sector apps.
our editorial process
Andy Wolber
Updated on January 04, 2021

Apple ships your iPad Pro with the wallpaper and lock screen image set to an image they select, which varies by device and iOS operating system version.

But you can change both the wallpaper and lock screen image. To access and adjust your iPad Pro wallpaper, open Settings, then tap Wallpaper, then tap Choose a New Wallpaper. Select an image from Apple’s included wallpaper options or any other image. After you’ve selected an image, set it as the wallpaper for your Home Screen, Lock Screen, or Both.

For the iPad Pro, you will likely want to select a landscape-oriented image. That’s especially true if you use the iPad Pro with the Smart Keyboard attached, since you’ll often view your device in landscape orientation.

While there are plenty of iOS apps that help you find photos you can use as iPad wallpaper, the six sources below may be all that most people need.

01
of 06

Use Your Own Photo

Screenshot of Apple Photos search for "Paris" (with about 18 photos found in example)
What We Like

  • Any image you’ve captured or created that means something to you will make a fantastic lock screen or home screen image.

  • You have complete control over images you make!

What We Don't Like

  • It can be hard to choose an image. (Remember, you can change your wallpaper at any time!)

  • Keyword search for images doesn't always return results you expect.

Many people like to look at a photo of friends, family members, pets, or a favorite place on an iPad lock screen or home screen. That makes sense, as the most personal wallpaper may be an image you capture or create. So, open the Apple Photos app and browse through your photo albums to select an image that means something to you, then set it as your wallpaper.

02
of 06

Atlas

Screenshot of Atlas wallpaper in black and white, centered on New York map
What We Like

  • Easy to create a moderately abstract 2D or 3D map wallpaper.

  • Most cities offer a distinct view.

What We Don't Like

  • No option to show location names.

  • Can't display satellite images of sites.

Atlas lets you create an image of a map of any location on the planet. First, find a location by name or auto-locate your current position with GPS. Next, choose from several different stylized color-schemes to customize the look of the map. A one-time fee of $1.99 gives you to ability to create a custom style, where you can select the map color for land, water, roads, and parks.

03
of 06

NASA Images

Screenshot of images.nasa.gov search site
What We Like

  • Stunning images of space and Earth.

  • Nearly all images free for personal use.

What We Don't Like

  • May take a few tries to determine the appropriate size to select when downloading an image.

  • Some NASA images can be extremely large.

NASA provides a searchable site for photos from space and space-related images. Tap “Most Popular” to see some of the most iconic images, including photos of Mars, the entire planet Earth, or images from the moon landing. When you download an image, select from several sizes (e.g., small, medium, large, or original resolution). Almost all NASA content is not copyrighted and is available free for personal, non-commercial use.

04
of 06

SimpleScreen

Screenshot of SimpleScreen (shows "Reward if Returned" with email and phone)
What We Like

  • Easy to select background, adjust, and edit text.

  • Fairly basic for a paid app.

What We Don't Like

  • Very limited number of text box display options.

  • Can create similar images with free presentation tools.

SimpleScreen ($0.99) helps you create a wallpaper that includes your name and contact instructions that display on your lock screen. This may be helpful in the event you misplace your iPad Pro. A few of the options allow you offer a reward for the return of the device.

05
of 06

Unsplash

Screenshot of Unsplah search box, with New Photos and Explore Themes options displayed
What We Like

  • Keyword search typically returns a solid set of relevant photos.

  • Many quality photos available.

What We Don't Like

  • No way to restrict results by image resolution or orientation.

  • May need time to scroll through search results.

Open Unsplash, type a search term, then browse through photos. When you find an image you like, tap it to see it full-screen, then tap the down arrow in the lower-right corner of your screen to save the image to your iPad. The Unsplash license lets your use any of these images for free.

06
of 06

Patternator

Screenshot of Patternator, shows donuts displayed in a pattern, with scale, spacing, angle, flip, and other options at bottom of screen
What We Like

  • Option to buy a t-shirt, phone case, pillow, or tote bag with your pattern on it.

  • Easy to create a repeating pattern.

What We Don't Like

  • Monthly $1.99 fee to remove watermark and export high definition image may be more than some people want to pay for a wallpaper app.

  • Can create some very visually unappealing combinations.

The app does exactly what the name suggests. It lets you select an image (or images) and repeat it in a pattern. You can adjust the scale, spacing, and angle of the object, in addition to other adjustments. The free version lets you export a standard resolution image with “Patternator” overlaid in the lower right corner.

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