With iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, Apple has introduced a new way to personalize conversations in Messages by allowing users to apply custom backgrounds to individual chats. This feature adds a visual touch to messaging, making conversations feel more distinctive and easier to recognize at a glance.
Instead of viewing every chat against the same plain backdrop, users can now assign unique images, colors, or animated scenes to different conversations. Whether it’s a family chat, a group of friends, or a work-related thread, custom backgrounds help create a more personalized messaging experience while also making it easier to identify chats without reading the latest messages.
To use this feature, all participating devices must be running iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or compatible versions of Apple’s latest operating systems. Background selections automatically sync across supported devices linked to the same account, ensuring a consistent appearance on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
It’s worth noting that chat backgrounds can be visible to other participants in the conversation. Devices running older software versions will continue displaying the default message view and will not show the customized backgrounds.
To change a conversation background, open the Messages app and enter the chat you want to customize. Tap the conversation name at the top of the screen, then open the Backgrounds section. From there, choose one of the available background options and customize it as desired. Once you’ve selected your preferred style, confirm the choice and return to the conversation.
The feature includes several categories of backgrounds. Users can select personal photos from their image library, browse gradient-based color themes, or choose animated environments. Available animated options include dynamic sky scenes that change based on lighting conditions, underwater visuals with moving light effects, and colorful aurora-inspired displays. There is also an AI-powered creation tool that can generate unique backgrounds from written descriptions.
Photo-based backgrounds allow users to pick images from their personal collection, while color themes offer customizable gradient combinations. Animated options provide subtle motion effects that add extra personality without distracting from the conversation itself.
If you decide to return a chat to its original appearance, the process is simple. Open the conversation settings, navigate back to the Backgrounds section, and select the option labeled “None.” The chat will immediately revert to the standard Messages background.
The addition of conversation backgrounds brings a new level of customization to Messages, giving users more control over how their chats look while helping individual conversations stand out from one another.