When Google announced Android 14, a brand-new generative AI wallpaper tool was one of the biggest developments. Like any other AI image creator, users feed in a set of words or prompts, and the AI whips up a unique image based on the input.
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While this feature rolled out exclusively on the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, it’s now available on the Samsung S24 series. There are plans to make the tool available on other Android devices, but we don’t know when. Of course, you can still use a third-party image generator to create wallpaper for your phone. It’s not as practical as the built-in service, but just as functional.
As for the feature that comes with Android 14, the process is simple and fun. While you are limited to certain themes and keywords, and you can’t generate an image with your own words, there are enough options for near-endless choices, and even entering the same prompt twice in a row creates unique wallpapers.
Here’s how to use Android 14’s AI wallpaper generator.
How to generate AI wallpapers on Android 14
What you’ll need: For now, a Google Pixel 8, Google Pixel 8 Pro, Samsung S24, or Samsung S24+ running on Android 14. But ultimately, any device running Android 14.
To generate an AI wallpaper, head to your ‘Wallpaper & style’ settings. You can get to this area through the Settings app or by tapping and holding on your wallpaper.
For Pixel devices, tap ‘More wallpapers’ and select ‘AI wallpaper’.
Also: The first thing you should do after upgrading to Android 14
For Samsung devices, select ‘Change wallpapers’ and then choose ‘Generative’ under the Creative section. You’ll see the basic wallpaper options here but you will want to go beyond the preset offerings. Tap ‘More wallpapers’. There’s a ‘Create a Wallpaper’ option at the top. Tap ‘AI wallpaper’ under that option.
You’ll have to give the AI a starting point. Choose one of the preset themes like imaginary, painting, night, terrain, mineral, volcanic, or x-ray. This theme sets the overall tone for your wallpaper. If you want to change it at any point, tap the drop-down menu at the top.
In just a few steps, Android 14 gives you a unique AI-created wallpaper.
Screenshots by June Wan/ZDNET
The image generator will now give you a huge list of keywords you can add — everything from ‘spaceship’ to ‘castle’ to ‘flower’. The keywords are limited to each theme, so you will see certain keywords on one theme that you won’t see on another. You can also change the overall color scheme here.
Once you have the keywords you want, tap ‘Create wallpaper’. The AI will take a few seconds to present your options.
You’ll be given four options based on the keywords and theme you entered. You can swipe to see them all, and if there’s one you like, tap the checkmark on the top right to automatically make it your wallpaper, lock screen, or both.
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The color pallet for your phone will automatically adjust to the wallpaper you select. If you don’t like any of the creations, start over. You’ll get different images even if you enter the same prompts again.
If you’re not feeling too creative or want to trust the AI gods to pick your wallpaper, click ‘Inspire me’. When you choose that option, AI generates a wallpaper at random.
FAQs
Are AI wallpapers on Android 14 completely customizable?
Unlike other AI image creators, you don’t have the option to enter your phrases and keywords. Android 14 offers about a dozen themes to start, and once you’ve selected one, a large list of keywords to inspire the image. While the approach isn’t 100% customizable, there are enough options to keep everyone intrigued.
What Android devices support the AI wallpaper feature?
Google limits the AI wallpaper generation feature to the new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones. But the feature will roll out to other devices and should ultimately be available on any device operating Android 14.
