The fastest way depends on what device you're using

Changing your background picture — called your wallpaper on computers or home screen background on phones — takes about 30 seconds once you know where to look. The steps are different for Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android, but they all follow the same basic path: find the settings for your screen, pick a new image, and confirm the change.

You can use a photo you already have, a picture you download from the internet, or one of the built-in images that come with your device. Most people find it easiest to start with the built-in options, since they're already on your device and don't require finding or downloading anything.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, right-click your desktop, select "Personalize," then "Background" to choose from built-in images or upload your own.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, go to "Wallpaper," and click the image you want from the gallery or drag in a photo from your computer.
  • On iPhone, open Settings, tap "Wallpaper," then "Add New Wallpaper" to pick from Apple's collections or your own photos.
  • On Android, press and hold your home screen, tap "Wallpapers," and choose from the gallery or your phone's photo library.
  • You can set different backgrounds for your lock screen and home screen on phones, but most computers show the same background everywhere.

Changing your background on Windows 10 or 11

Right-click anywhere on your desktop (the empty space, not on an icon or folder). A menu will pop up. Click "Personalize" near the bottom of that menu.

A settings window will open. On the left side, you'll see "Background" — click it. You'll now see three options: "Picture," "Solid color," or "Slideshow." Most people choose "Picture." Under that, you'll see a row of thumbnail images. Click any one to set it as your background immediately.

If you want to use a photo you already have on your computer, scroll down past the thumbnails and click "Browse." Navigate to the folder where your photo is saved, select it, and click "Choose picture." The image will appear as your background right away.

Changing your background on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older Macs). In the sidebar on the left, look for "Wallpaper" and click it.

You'll see collections of images organized by category — Dynamic, Still, Collections, and Photos. Click any category to see what's inside. When you find an image you like, click it once to set it as your background. The change happens immediately.

To use a photo from your computer, click the "+" button at the bottom of the window, navigate to your photo, and click "Select." You can also drag a photo directly from Finder into the wallpaper window.

Changing your background on iPhone

Open the Settings app (the gray gear icon). Scroll down and tap "Wallpaper." Then tap "Add New Wallpaper" at the top.

You'll see options like "Featured," "Collections," and "Photos." Tap "Collections" to browse Apple's built-in images organized by theme. When you find one you like, tap it, then tap "Add" in the bottom-right corner. A menu will ask whether you want to set it as your lock screen, home screen, or both. Choose what you want, then tap "Set."

To use a photo you took yourself, tap "Photos" instead of "Collections." Find the photo in your library, tap it, adjust the zoom if you want, and tap "Add." Then choose lock screen, home screen, or both.

Changing your background on Android

Press and hold your home screen (the main screen you see when you unlock your phone) until a menu appears at the bottom. Tap "Wallpapers" or "Wallpaper" — the exact wording depends on your phone's brand.

You'll see a gallery of built-in images. Tap any one to preview it, then tap "Apply" or "Set wallpaper." Some phones let you choose whether to apply it to your home screen, lock screen, or both. Others apply it to both automatically.

To use a photo from your phone's camera roll, look for a "Photos" or "My Photos" option in the wallpaper menu. Tap it, find your photo, and follow the same steps to apply it.

Using your own photos as a background

Any photo on your device can become your background. The photo doesn't have to be a certain size or format — your device will automatically fit it to your screen. If the photo is taller or wider than your screen, you may see a zoom slider that lets you choose which part of the image to display.

If you want to download a photo from the internet to use as a background, right-click the image (on a computer) or press and hold it (on a phone), then select "Save image" or "Download image." Once it's saved to your device, follow the steps above to set it as your background.

Why your background might not change

If you've followed the steps but your background hasn't changed, the most common reason is that your device is still showing the old image in memory. Try restarting your device — turn it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. When it boots up, the new background should appear.

On Windows, if you're using a work computer managed by your employer, they may have locked the background setting so you can't change it. You'll see a message saying "Some settings are managed by your organization" if that's the case. Contact your IT department if you need to change it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different backgrounds for my lock screen and home screen?

Yes, on iPhones and most Android phones. When you apply a wallpaper, you'll see an option to choose lock screen, home screen, or both. On Windows and Mac, the background is the same everywhere on your desktop, though you can set a separate image for your lock screen on Windows 10 and 11 through the same Personalize menu.

What image size works best for a background?

Your device automatically resizes any image to fit your screen, so size doesn't matter. A photo taken on your phone or downloaded from the internet will work fine. If the image doesn't fill your screen perfectly, you'll usually see a zoom slider to adjust which part shows.

Can I make my background change automatically?

Yes. On Windows, choose "Slideshow" instead of "Picture" in the Personalize menu, then select a folder of images. On Mac, click "Dynamic" in the Wallpaper settings to use images that change throughout the day. On phones, some built-in collections like "Dynamic" or "Live" change automatically.

Will changing my background slow down my computer or phone?

No. A background image uses very little storage or processing power. Even a slideshow that changes every few minutes won't noticeably affect your device's speed.

How do I remove a background and go back to the default?

On Windows, go back to Personalize and choose one of the built-in images. On Mac, open Wallpaper settings and pick one of Apple's default images. On phones, tap "Wallpaper" and select one of the pre-installed options. You can always switch back to whatever you started with.