Add backgrounds in Messages on Mac
You can add a background to personalize your conversations. Other people in the conversation see the background on their devices too and can change the background for the group.
Note: To add, view, or change conversation backgrounds, you must use iMessage on macOS 26, iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, visionOS 26, or later.
Use a dynamic background
Go to the Messages app
on your Mac.
Open a conversation, or send a message to start a conversation.
Click the name of the person or group at the top of the conversation, then click Backgrounds.
Click Color, Sky, Water, or Aurora, click the pop-up menu in the lower left, then choose a style.
Tip: For Color, click the swatches to customize the two colors.
Click Set to add the background to your conversation.
Choose a photo or image as a background
Go to the Messages app
Open a conversation, or send a message to start a conversation.
Click the name of the person or group at the top of the conversation, then click Backgrounds.
Click Photo, then click to select a photo from your library.
If your image isn’t in your library, see Import photos from Mail, Safari, and other apps.
Click the pop-up menu in the lower left, then choose a style, such as Black & White.
Tip: For Duotone or Color Wash, click the swatch to change the palette.
Click Set to add the background to your conversation.
If someone shared a photo you want to use as a background, Control-click the image in the message, then choose Set as Background.
Note: You can have your (or a family member’s) Mac and other Apple devices display warnings before sensitive content is sent or received. See Check for sensitive images and videos on your child’s device and Avoid seeing unwanted sensitive images and videos.
Create original backgrounds with Image Playground
With Apple Intelligence, you can use Image Playground to create original images as backgrounds for your Messages conversations.
Note: Apple Intelligence on macOS 27 is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*
Go to the Messages app
Start a new message or select a conversation.
Click the name of the person or group at the top of the conversation, then click Backgrounds.
Click Playground, then choose Edit Background or Create Image.
Do any of the following:
Add a concept: Click
to browse concepts—suggestions, themes, or places—then choose an option.
Add a description: Click the “Describe an image” field, enter a description, then press Return.
Remove a concept: Click
. If you don’t see
Finish creating your image, then click Done.
Tip: To customize the look of your background even more, click the pop-up menu at the bottom of the dialog, then choose Natural, Black & White, Duotone, or Color Wash.
Click Set to add the background to your conversation.
You can turn off and restrict access to Apple Intelligence features like Image Playground in Screen Time settings.
Revert to a plain background
Note: Removing a background affects all participants in a conversation.
Go to the Messages app
Open a conversation, or send a message to start a conversation.
Click the name of the person or group at the top of the conversation, then click Backgrounds.
Click None.
Turn conversation backgrounds off
When you turn conversation backgrounds off, others in a conversation still see any background chosen for a conversation.
Go to the Messages app
Choose Messages > Settings, then click General.
Deselect “Conversation backgrounds.”