Help! Keep Same Wallpaper But Use Widgets

[gower2352]

What are you supposed to do if you don’t have the original photo file for the wallpaper you currently have? The widgets aren’t showing up on the wallpaper I’ve always had it wants me to add one of the iOS wallpapers to get them. Help!

 

[clayj]

Same question here.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I would prefer this, too.

Not picking one of the Apple suggested ones, that's for sure. That selection was a swing and a miss...by a mile...

Edit: Seems you need to make a new one, using Photos, find your old wallpaper and then you can add widgets to _that_. Smooth, Apple... [Now, where did I put that mega eyeroll emoticon?]

 

[jntdroid]

This isn't an answer, but fortunately I was able to find my original photo after swiping through my photos for a really long time, knowing roughly when it was taken. There was no way that I saw where you could add it with your existing photo.

However, it might not be worth your hassle. Adding depth affect looks cool, but if you add any widgets at all (like battery percentage, since that no longer shows while charging), it goes away.

 

[clayj]

I would prefer this, too.

Not picking one of the Apple suggested ones, that's for sure. That selection was a swing and a miss...by a mile...

Edit: Seems you need to make a new one, using Photos, find your old wallpaper and then you can add widgets to _that_. Smooth, Apple... [Now, where did I put that mega eyeroll emoticon?]

Super-lame, Apple. There should absolutely be a "use existing wallpaper" option. I've been using the same wallpaper for years now and there is no longer a copy of it in my Photos app.

 

[Paddle1]

You can't. This is one of the quirks with iOS 16's wallpaper functionality. I have a wallpaper with built in dark mode switching which is no longer available and no way to add it to a new screen.

At least you have the option of switching between lock screens if you really want a widget, but it's still not the same.