To change your PS4 cover image on your phone, you use the phone only to transfer the image, the final setting is applied on the console itself. You send a photo through the PlayStation messaging app, open it on your PS4, save a screenshot, and then set that screenshot as your cover image.
What you need before you start
Before you begin, make sure you have a PS4 updated to system software 4.50 or later, a phone with the PS Messages app installed, and a PlayStation Network account. Custom cover images were introduced in system software 4.50, so an older version will not support this feature.
Step 1: Update your PS4 software
Custom cover images require PS4 system software 4.50 or higher. To check your current version, go to Settings > System Software Update on your PS4. If an update is available, download and install it. The update file is downloaded from PlayStation support and saved as PS4UPDATE.PUP in an UPDATE folder on a USB drive if you prefer to update manually.
Step 2: Download the PS Messages app on your phone
The official PlayStation messaging app is available for both iOS and Android. This app lets you send messages to your PSN friends, including image attachments.
Step 3: Sign in with your PlayStation Network account
Open the PS Messages app and sign in using the same PlayStation Network account credentials you use on your PS4. No special account settings are needed for cover images beyond signing in to use the messaging feature.
Step 4: Send the image to yourself using the app
In the PS Messages app, start a new message. Attach the photo you want to use as your cover image from your phone's gallery. Send the message to a friend or to a secondary PSN account that you can access on your PS4.
Step 5: Save the image as a screenshot on your PS4
On your PS4, open the message you just sent. View the attached image in full screen. Press the SHARE button on your controller to take a screenshot of the image. This screenshot is now saved to your PS4's capture gallery.
Step 6: Set the screenshot as your cover image
Go to the PS4 home screen, then Settings, then Theme, choose Custom, and select the screenshot you just took from the available images. Confirm your choice, and the PS4 will generate supporting background colors based on that image for your profile page. Your new cover image is now active.
Frequently Asked Questions
What devices are supported for this process?
The PS Messages app is available for iOS and Android devices.
What PS4 system software version is required?
PS4 system software 4.50 introduced custom cover images. Any version 4.50 or later will work.
Are there any limits on image size, dimensions, or file count?
Where is the final change actually applied?
The final change is made on the PS4 console itself, under Settings > Theme > Custom. There is no documented phone-side menu path for setting the cover image directly.
Are there any region restrictions for this feature?
Can I use the PlayStation app instead of the PS Messages app?
The verified workflow uses the PS Messages app to send the image, then the PS4 console to apply it.
For the wider topic, see changing wallpapers and themes.
