You can set a photo, video, or GIF as your phone call background. More importantly, you can set different call backgrounds for specific contacts. Sound exciting? Let’s explore how to change the call screen background on Samsung Galaxy phones.

1. Change Background for All Phone Calls

Samsung allows you to change the call background that shows up when you make or receive calls. You can either set a photo or have it play a video in the background.

2. Set Custom Photo, Video, or GIF as Phone Call Background

If you don’t like the native call background options offered by Samsung, you can set any photo or video stored on your phone as a call screen background on your Samsung Galaxy phone.

Method 1: Using the Samsung Phone App

Note: if you are setting a video as a call background, you may need to trim it. Jump to tip #3 to learn how.

3. Trim Video Background

When setting a video as your call background, you will have to trim it first if the video is longer than 15 seconds, the maximum duration Samsung allows you to use. You can manually trim the video in any video-editing app before setting it as the call background or use the “Trim” option while setting the call background. For the latter, follow these steps: Tip: enable the toggle next to “Use video sound as ringtone” if you want to change your phone’s ringtone to the sound in the video.

4. Zoom In/Out of Photos

When you select a custom photo from your Gallery to set as a call background, use the pinch in and out gesture on the preview screen to zoom in and out of the photo or move the photo by dragging it. This allows you to set the preferred part of the picture as the call background.

5. Use AR Emojis

In addition to pictures and videos, you can set AR emojis as a call background on your Samsung Galaxy phone. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, AR (Augmented reality) emojis are animated characters you can create for yourself or someone else.

6. Change Call Layout

Samsung offers another way to customize the call screen. Choose from two different styles to display caller information. One has a bigger profile picture, while the other is comparatively smaller.

7. Change Phone Call Background for a Single Contact

Previously, Samsung didn’t allow users to set custom backgrounds for different contacts, but with Samsung One UI 4.1, you can personalize the incoming call backgrounds for any contact. Similarly, you can set different call backgrounds for other contacts. You can either create AR emojis for them or use their picture to set as the call background. Note: if a custom background doesn’t appear for a specific contact, open the contact from the Recents list in the Phone app, then tap on the “Edit” button.

8. Remove Phone Call Background for a Single Contact

If you don’t like the background you set for a contact, you can remove it or change it to a different one.

9. Delete Call Backgrounds

Any custom photo or video you use as a call background will appear in the list of call backgrounds. If this section has become cluttered or you don’t want a photo or video to show up, you can delete the backgrounds you no longer wish to see. Note: you cannot delete preinstalled video backgrounds.

Manage Your Contacts

If you want to continue customizing your contacts on your phone, you may be interested in learning how to add a contact on your phone’s home screen and hide calls and texts from a specific person.