If the wallpaper on your RealMe 16 refuses to change, it can make the phone feel stuck or unresponsive, even though everything else works fine. You apply a new wallpaper, tap confirm, and nothing happens. This issue is usually caused by theme settings, system restrictions, or temporary software glitches, and most of them are easy to fix once you know where to look.
Why Your RealMe 16 Wallpaper Is Not Changing
- The current theme is overriding your wallpaper choice.
- The launcher cache is corrupted or outdated.
- Live Wallpaper permissions are restricted.
- Battery optimization is blocking system UI changes.
- A temporary software bug is preventing the wallpaper from applying correctly.
Disable the Current Theme
Themes on RealMe devices can lock wallpapers in place. When a theme is active, it may ignore any wallpaper you try to set from the Gallery.
Open Settings, and then tap Personalizations.
Tap Themes, and switch back to the default theme.
Once applied, try changing the wallpaper again.
Change the Wallpaper From Settings
Setting a wallpaper directly from the Gallery can sometimes fail due to permission or preview issues. Using the system wallpaper menu forces the phone to apply the change properly.
Open Settings, and then tap Personalizations.
Tap Wallpaper, and choose Home screen or Lock screen.
Select your image and apply it.
Clear Launcher Cache
The launcher controls how your home screen looks, including the wallpaper. If its cache is corrupted, visual changes may not register.
Open Settings, and then tap Apps.
Tap App management, and find System Launcher.
Tap Storage, and clear the cache.
Check Live Wallpaper Restrictions
Live wallpapers need extra permissions to run in the background. If they are restricted, the phone may silently fail to apply them.
Open Settings, and then tap Apps.
Tap App management, and select the Live Wallpaper app.
Tap Battery usage, and allow background activity.
Restart Your Phone
A restart refreshes system services that handle visual elements like wallpapers. This can fix temporary glitches that block wallpaper changes.
Open Settings, and then tap Additional settings.
Tap Restart, and allow the phone to reboot.
Once it turns back on, try changing the wallpaper again.
Update the System Software
Older software versions may contain bugs that affect customization features. Installing updates can restore normal wallpaper behavior.
Open Settings, and then tap Software update.
Check for updates, and install any available version.
After updating, test the wallpaper feature again.
Wallpaper issues on the RealMe 16 are usually tied to themes or launcher behavior rather than hardware problems. Once you reset the theme, refresh the launcher, or update the system, the wallpaper should apply normally again.
FAQs
Why does my wallpaper revert back after I change it?
This usually happens when a theme or launcher setting is forcing a default wallpaper. Switching to the default theme fixes this.
Do live wallpapers cause wallpaper problems on RealMe phones?
They can, especially if background activity is restricted. Granting proper permissions helps live wallpapers work correctly.
Will changing wallpapers affect battery life?
Static wallpapers have no noticeable impact. Live wallpapers may use slightly more power, depending on their animation and background activity.
