Apple has released iOS 26.5, a free software update that brings a brand new Pride Luminance wallpaper to all compatible iPhones. The wallpaper features animated color strips that transition smoothly as you swipe from the lock screen to the home screen, creating a lively, celebratory effect. While the default palette is a rich rainbow honoring the LGBTQ+ community, the wallpaper is surprisingly customizable—users can select their own colors to match any aesthetic. This article provides a detailed walkthrough of how to install, edit, and personalize the new wallpaper, along with instructions for creating a matching watch face on the Apple Watch.

How to Update to iOS 26.5

Before you can access the new wallpaper, your iPhone must be running iOS 26.5. The update was released earlier this week and is available for iPhone models starting from the iPhone 12 onward. To install it, go to Settings → General → Software Update. If the update appears, tap ‘Download and Install’. Make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi and has sufficient battery or is plugged into power. The update typically takes a few minutes to download and install. Once your iPhone restarts, you can proceed to add the Pride Luminance wallpaper.

How to Get the Pride Luminance Wallpaper

After updating, unlock your iPhone and long-press on the lock screen to enter the Wallpapers gallery. This screen shows all your currently set wallpapers and a ‘+’ button to add new ones. Tap the plus icon and scroll down until you see the ‘Pride’ section. If the Pride wallpapers are not already installed, you will see a ‘Get’ button—tap it to download them from Apple’s servers. The new Pride Luminance wallpaper is the first option in that collection. Tap on it to open the editing interface.

Customizing the Pride Luminance Wallpaper

The editing screen shows a preview of your lock screen with the new wallpaper. At the bottom, you can swipe left or right to cycle through approximately ten built‑in preset styles. These presets range from bold rainbow hues to softer pastels, and each one is a complete color scheme prepared by Apple’s design team. If none of those appeal to you, swipe all the way to the right until you reach the ‘Custom’ option.

Selecting Custom brings up a small pencil icon. Tap it to open the color picker, which allows you to define a palette of up to 12 colors. You can choose any colors from the standard iOS color wheel or use the eyedropper tool to sample colors from an image. The flexibility is enormous: you could create an autumnal mix of oranges and browns, a monochromatic gray scale, or a bright neon set. After selecting your colors, the wallpaper instantly updates to show them in the strip pattern.

Beyond the color strips, you can also modify the lock screen’s other elements. Tap on the time display to change the font and color. iOS 26.5 introduces a large, glassy font as the default, but you can switch to classic numerals or a modern thin typeface. Similarly, you can add or remove widgets—such as weather, calendar, or activity rings—by tapping the widget area. Once you are satisfied with the lock screen layout, tap the ‘Add’ button in the top‑right corner. The new wallpaper is saved and can be set as your active lock screen.

You can repeat this process to create multiple lock screens, each with different color palettes and widget configurations. Switching between them later is as simple as long‑pressing the lock screen and swiping through your collection. This feature has been a staple of iOS since the ability to have multiple lock screens was introduced, and the Pride Luminance wallpaper adds a fresh, vibrant option to the mix.

A Brief History of Apple’s Pride Wallpapers

Apple has long supported the LGBTQ+ community through its annual Pride collections. The first Pride watch face appeared in watchOS 4 in 2018, and iPhone wallpapers followed shortly after. Over the years, Apple has experimented with different designs: rainbow stripes, prismatic gradients, and now the animated luminance strips. The ‘Luminance’ name refers to the way the colors appear to glow and shift when the screen is locked or when the user interacts with it. This year’s design emphasizes personalization, allowing users to depart from the traditional rainbow and express themselves with any color combination. The move reflects a broader trend in iOS customization, where Apple gives users more control over the look and feel of their devices.

Historically, Pride wallpapers served as both a celebration and a statement of inclusion. They are released each year in May, often coinciding with the start of Pride Month in June. The iOS 26.5 update arrives later than usual (mid‑May), but the wallpaper is designed to be kept year‑round. Apple also donates to LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations in connection with these releases, though the company does not always disclose the exact amounts.

Matching Apple Watch Face – Pride Luminance

As with previous Pride releases, Apple has created a matching watch face for the Apple Watch. To get it, first update your watch to watchOS 26.5. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to the Face Gallery tab, and look for the Pride Luminance face under the ‘Pride’ category. Tap ‘Add’ to install it. You can also add it directly on your Apple Watch by pressing the Digital Crown, then long‑pressing the current face and swiping to the new one.

Customizing the watch face follows a similar process to the iPhone wallpaper. On your Apple Watch, long‑press the face and tap ‘Edit’. Swipe left until you reach the ‘Color’ page. Rotate the Digital Crown to cycle through presets; the first option is ‘Custom’. Selecting ‘Custom’ opens a color swatch where you can pick up to 12 colors. These colors will replace the default rainbow stripes on the watch face, creating a cohesive look with your iPhone. You can also adjust complications, choose a different style for the time, and change the background.

The watch face uses the same animated strip effect as the iPhone wallpaper, though on the smaller display the motion is more subtle. When you raise your wrist, the colors gently shift, and the seconds hand (if enabled) glides smoothly. The combination of a custom iPhone wallpaper and a matching watch face allows for a fully personalized device ecosystem that stands out from the default Apple designs.

Apple’s commitment to customization continues with each software release. The Pride Luminance wallpaper is just one example of how the company is giving users more ways to express their identity through their devices. Whether you stick with the traditional rainbow or craft a palette that reflects your favorite colors, the process is straightforward and fun. The ability to create multiple lock screens and switch between them means you can change your device’s appearance as often as you like, without any additional cost or complex steps.

In addition to the wallpaper and watch face, iOS 26.5 includes several other enhancements. Performance improvements, security patches, and minor bug fixes are all part of the update. But for many users, the headline feature remains the new Pride Luminance wallpaper—a small but meaningful addition that brings color and joy to everyday interactions with their iPhones.

Source: 9to5Mac News