Having a fresh, updated wallpaper can instantly revive the look and feel of your desktop. Whether you want to add some personality with a favorite photo or artwork, or just need a change from the default wallpaper, it’s easy to change up your computer’s background image. Here’s a step-by-step guide to changing your wallpaper on both Windows and Mac operating systems.
Things to Consider Before Changing Your Wallpaper
Before diving into the how-to steps, here are a few things to keep in mind as you pick out a new wallpaper:
- Resolution – Choose an image with a resolution that matches your computer screen. For best results, pick a wallpaper resolution that is the same or larger than your display resolution.
- Orientation – Make sure the orientation of the image (portrait vs. landscape) works with the orientation of your display.
- Personalization – Consider choosing a wallpaper that reflects your personality, interests or hobbies. Or, pick something uplifting to see each day.
- Backup – Have a backup wallpaper or two ready in case you want to quickly switch up your look again.
- Performance – A busy or hi-res image may slow down your computer’s performance. Opt for a simple or lower-res image if needed.
How to Change Wallpaper on Windows
Changing the wallpaper on your Windows desktop only takes a few clicks. Here are the steps:
- Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select “Personalize” from the pop-up menu.
- On the Personalization window, click the Background dropdown menu.
- Select the wallpaper location you want:
- Solid Color – choose from a palette of solid background colors.
- Picture – select a photo from your computer to use.
- Slideshow – cycle through a folder of images.
- Windows Spotlight – automatically rotate through Bing images.
- If you chose “Picture” or “Slideshow”, click the Browse button and navigate to the image or folder you want to use.
- Select the image/folder and click Choose Picture (or Choose Folder if picking a slideshow).
- You will be taken back to the Personalization window, where you can preview your selected wallpaper.
- Click “Save Changes” if you are happy with the wallpaper preview.
That’s all there is to updating your wallpaper on a Windows machine! Feel free to tweak any other Personalization settings while you’re at it, like accent color or theme.
Tips for Windows Wallpaper
- For a slideshow, create a dedicated wallpaper folder and add images you want to cycle through.
- Check the “Shuffle” box if you don’t want the images to always display in alphabetical order.
- Click the “Change Image Every” dropdown to adjust timing. Default is 10 minutes.
- Click the “Choose a fit” dropdown to select how the image fits on your screen.
- Right-click the desktop and select “Next desktop background” to manually change slideshow images without waiting.
How to Change Wallpaper on Mac
Customizing your Mac desktop background is just as easy as on Windows. Here’s how:
- Go to System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver.
- Click the Desktop tab if not already selected.
- Choose Apple, Photo, or Folder from the left sidebar.
- Apple – Select one of Apple’s pre-loaded backgrounds.
Photo – Pick an image file from your computer.
Folder – Choose a folder of images to use as a rotating slideshow. - Double-click your selection to preview it on your desktop.
- Adjust settings like screenshot position for photos or change timer for slideshows.
- Click “Change Desktop” when you’ve picked an image/album to use.
The settings will be applied immediately so you can enjoy your fresh wallpaper right away. Continue exploring the Desktop & Screen Saver options to further customize your Mac’s background, screensaver, and more.
Tips for Mac Wallpaper
- For rotating wallpapers, add image files to a Folder and select it.
- Use the Screen Saver tab to determine timing and shuffle order.
- Try clicking “Random order” for surprise wallpapers.
- Configure Multiple Displays with different backgrounds as needed.
- Click “Change picture” while previewing to quickly swap to another image.
Finding Great Wallpaper Images
The key to an eye-catching, inspirational wallpaper is finding the perfect image. Here are some great places to find wallpapers for free:
- Wallpaper Sites – Websites like Unsplash, Pexels, and WallpaperAccess offer thousands of HD wallpapers submitted by photographers.
- OS Gallery – Apple and Microsoft both include galleries of default wallpapers with their operating systems.
- Subreddits – Communities like r/Wallpapers and r/Wallpaper provide user-submitted background images.
- Google Images – Search for topics like “landscape wallpaper” or “minimalist wallpaper” and filter for high resolution.
- Apps – Tools like Walloop and Muzei source creative commons wallpapers from multiple sites.
When searching for wallpaper, look for images with dimensions that match your display resolution. Always credit or ask permission from photographers before using their images.
Optimizing Wallpaper for Best Performance
While almost any image can work as wallpaper, you may need to optimize images for best performance. Here are some tips:
- Use a high resolution image that matches your screen.
- JPEG compression works better than PNG for wallpaper.
- Crop images to exact dimensions of your display.
- Downsize and compress overly large files.
- Pick solid colors or simpler images if needed.
- Rotate portrait images to match screen orientation.
- Reduce motion with static images instead of GIFs or videos.
Testing different resolutions and file formats can help balance visual appeal with system performance. You may need to compromise on image quality for speed.
Top Wallpaper Tools and Utilities
Specialized tools can give you more control over customizing and managing your wallpaper collection. Here are some top utilities to try:
| Tool | Platform | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| DisplayFusion | Windows | Customize multi-monitor wallpapers, automated changes, wallpaper playlists |
| Wallpaper Engine | Windows | Animated & interactive wallpapers, workshop for finding wallpapers |
| Variety | Linux | Automatic downloading & changing of wallpapers from predefined sources |
| Wallpapoz | Mac | Advanced control of desktop image rotations and slideshow timing |
| Muzei | Android | Regularly updates home screen wallpaper with new artwork |
These apps and programs give you options like extending wallpapers across multiple monitors, creating playlists of wallpapers, timing automatic rotations, and finding fresh artwork online.
Cool Things You Can Do with Your Wallpaper
Beyond just static images, there are some creative things you can do to customize your wallpaper even further:
- Animate It – Use Wallpaper Engine or apps to set animated or video backgrounds.
- Themed Wallpapers – Match your wallpaper to your phone case, favorite sports team, holiday, etc.
- Slideshows – Cycle through a folder of wallpapers for variety.
- Dual Monitors – Span a single panoramic image across two displays.
- Automate Changes – Use third-party tools to program periodic wallpaper changes.
- Hidden Icons – Blend app icons into background imagery for clean look.
Take some time to find or create a custom wallpaper that really makes your desktop your own. Change it up seasonally or anytime you want an updated look. A wallpaper refresh can be inspiring!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is wallpaper free?
Yes, most wallpaper images online are available for free for personal use. Many are shared under creative commons licenses. Always check the license and give credit to the artist.
Where does Windows 10 save wallpapers?
Windows 10 wallpapers are saved in C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper. You can access the folder to delete, add, or modify images.
How do I find the original wallpaper image file on my computer?
If you don’t remember where you got a wallpaper from, try using your computer’s search function. Search for keywords related to the image subject or filename. Reverse image search via Google may also help you locate the source.
How can I automatically change wallpaper?
Tools like Wallpaper Engine (Windows), Variety (Linux), and Wallpapoz (Mac) allow you to schedule automatic rotating wallpapers from set intervals. Some also can pull wallpapers from online sources.
How do I set different wallpapers for multi-monitor setup?
DisplayFusion (Windows), UltraMon (Windows), and Wallpapoz (Mac) are apps that allow setting different wallpaper images for each monitor in a multi-display configuration.
Conclusion
Personalizing your desktop with fresh, inspiring wallpaper is a great way to update your computer’s look and feel. Follow the steps outlined above to change wallpaper on both Windows and Mac machines. Take time to find an image that suits your style – there are endless possibilities available for free online. Consider utilizing specialized utilities for even more customization options. Change up your wallpaper regularly to keep your desktop environment engaging and productive.