The fastest way to change your background

On Windows, right-click any empty spot on your desktop and select Personalize. Click Background on the left side. Choose Picture from the dropdown menu, then click Browse to pick a photo from your computer. On Mac, open System Settings, click Wallpaper, select a category on the left, and click any image to apply it. Both take about 30 seconds.

If you want to use your own photo instead of a built-in image, the process is the same — you just navigate to wherever you saved the file on your computer. Windows and Mac both let you upload photos from your Pictures folder, Downloads folder, or anywhere else you store files.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click your desktop on Windows and select Personalize, then choose Background and pick a picture.
  • On Mac, go to System Settings, click Wallpaper, and select an image from the categories shown.
  • You can use photos you took yourself by browsing to them in your Pictures or Downloads folder.
  • If your background keeps changing back, check whether you have a screensaver or lock screen setting overriding it.

Changing your background on Windows 10 and 11

Right-click anywhere on your desktop where there is no icon or window open. A menu will pop up. Look for the word Personalize near the bottom and click it. A settings window will open on the right side of your screen.

On the left side of that window, you will see several options listed vertically. Click Background. A dropdown menu will appear that says Personalization at the top. Click the dropdown and select Picture. Below that, you will see a Browse button. Click it to open a folder where you can choose any photo saved on your computer. Once you pick a photo, it applies immediately.

If you do not have a photo you want to use, Windows also offers built-in backgrounds. Instead of clicking Browse, you can click one of the thumbnail images shown under the dropdown menu. These come with Windows and do not require you to find a file.

Changing your background on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. (On older Macs running Big Sur or earlier, this is called System Preferences.) In the settings window that opens, look for Wallpaper in the sidebar on the left and click it.

You will see several categories of images: Desktop Pictures, Solid Colors, Dynamic, and Collections. Click any category to see what is available. When you find an image you like, click it once and it becomes your background right away. If you want to use a photo you took yourself, click the + button at the bottom left, navigate to your photo, and click Open.

Using your own photos as your background

Both Windows and Mac let you set any photo on your computer as your background. The photo needs to be saved as a common image file type: JPG, PNG, or BMP are the most common. If you have photos in your Pictures folder or Downloads folder, those will work.

On Windows, after you click Browse in the Personalize menu, a folder window opens. Navigate to wherever your photo is saved. Click the photo once to select it, then click Choose image at the bottom. On Mac, after you click the + button in Wallpaper settings, find your photo in the folder that opens, click it, and click Open. The photo does not need to be a certain size — both systems will automatically fit it to your screen.

Fixing a background that keeps changing

If you set a background but it changes back to something else when you restart your computer, you may have a screensaver or lock screen setting interfering. On Windows, right-click your desktop again, select Personalize, and click Lock screen on the left. Make sure the dropdown at the top says Windows spotlight or Picture — if it says Windows spotlight, Windows may be rotating images automatically. Change it to Picture and pick one image to stay put.

On Mac, the background should stay the same unless you have a screensaver enabled. Open System Settings, click Lock Screen, and look for Start after. If it is set to a low number of minutes, your screensaver may be covering your background. You can either increase the time or turn it off entirely by clicking the dropdown and selecting Never.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you cannot find the Personalize option on Windows, make sure you are right-clicking on an empty part of the desktop — not on an icon, folder, or window. If you right-click on a file or folder, you will see a different menu. Move your mouse to an area with nothing on it and try again.

On Mac, if System Settings does not open when you click the Apple menu, your computer may be running an older version. Try clicking the Apple menu and looking for System Preferences instead. The Wallpaper option will be in the same place. If you cannot find Wallpaper at all, your Mac may be running an older operating system — in that case, click Desktop & Screen Saver instead.

If a photo you chose is too small or too large for your screen, both Windows and Mac will automatically stretch or shrink it to fit. You cannot control this behavior, but the image will still display as your background. If the photo looks distorted, try a different image that is closer to your screen's width and height.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a different background for each monitor if I have two screens?

On Windows 11, yes. Right-click your desktop, select Personalize, click Background, and choose your first image. Then right-click on your second monitor's desktop and repeat the process with a different image. On Mac, you can set different backgrounds for each space, but not for each physical monitor — Mac treats multiple monitors as one extended display.

What image file types work as backgrounds?

JPG, PNG, BMP, GIF, and TIFF files all work on both Windows and Mac. Most photos from phones or cameras are JPG files, so those will work without any conversion. If you have a file type you are unsure about, try setting it as your background — if it does not work, you will get an error message.

Will changing my background slow down my computer?

No. Your background is just a static image file, and it uses almost no processing power. Animated or dynamic backgrounds use slightly more power than still images, but the difference is not noticeable on modern computers.

Can I schedule my background to change automatically at certain times?

On Windows 11, yes. In the Personalize menu, click Background, then click the dropdown that says Picture. Select Slideshow instead. You can then choose a folder of photos and set how often Windows switches between them. On Mac, this feature is not built in, but you can download third-party apps from the Mac App Store that do this.

What happens to my background if I update Windows or Mac?

Your custom background will stay in place after an update. If you were using a built-in background, it may change if that image was removed in the new version, but your own photos will not be affected.