How to Set Any Picture Your Computer's Wallpaper: Full Guide

PDF download Download Article
Freely customize your computer's wallpaper with this simple guide
PDF download Download Article

You can use any image file as a background for your desktop or phone. On both mobile and desktop platforms, you will need to access the wallpaper interface through the settings, preview and adjust your wallpaper, and then confirm your selection. Wallpapers can also be set directly from the desktop or web browser on non-mobile devices. Here's how to make any picture your computer's wallpaper on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Set Any Picture As Your Desktop Background

To set a picture as your computer's wallpaper, look for the picture you want to use. You can download an image from a website or transfer photos from another device. On Windows 11 or 10, right-click the desktop and select Personalize . Click Background > Picture > and then select the picture.

Section 1 of 5:

Using Windows 11

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Right-click an empty space on the desktop. This will open a pop-up menu.
    • Be sure to save the picture on your computer. Images used directly from websites are kept in temporary storage on your computer. If you change your wallpaper again after, you'll have to search the internet to change back to that image again unless you downloaded it separately.
    • Keep in mind you must have a Windows license to change your desktop background.
  2. 2
    Click Personalize . This should be the last option in the menu, and will open personalization settings in the settings app.
    Advertisement
  3. 3
    Click Background . This will be at the top of the list.
  4. 4
    Select Picture in the drop-down menu. This lets you select a picture to display on your desktop. You can also choose to select a solid color or a slideshow.
  5. 5
    Select your background. You'll see a selection of stock images by default. Click the Browse photos button to open the File Explorer. Find and select the image you want to use.
    • The picture will be set as your Windows background.
  6. 6
    Select a fit type. Select an option from the "Choose a fit for your desktop image" drop-down menu. You can select the following:
    • Fill will adjust the image so that there is no blank space around the image, but may crop some of the image so the entire image doesn't display on the desktop.
    • Fit will adjust the image so that the entire image fits on the screen.
    • Tile will fill all space with repeated copies of the image. This option is best for smaller images.
    • Center will use the exact size of the image and center it.
    • Span will stretch the image so that it covers the entire screen, but may do so in a way that distorts the image.
    7. Advertisement
Section 2 of 5:

Using Windows 10

PDF download Download Article
  1. This option is at the bottom of the context menu that appears and will take you to the “Personalization” menu. Some sample images will be displayed under the “Choose your picture” header.
    • For simplified, on-the-fly wallpaper changes, simply right-click a photo on your computer and select “Set as desktop background” from the context menu. This lacks some of the customization options of the Personalization menu.
  2. You will be prompted to browse the folder on your computer to select an image file.
  3. The photo will be set as your wallpaper and appear in the “Choose your picture” image list.
  4. This option is useful for images that are smaller or larger than your desktop resolution.
    • Fill will adjust the image so that there is no blank space around the image, but may crop some of the image so the entire image doesn't display on the desktop.
    • Fit will adjust the image so that the entire image fits on the screen.
    • Tile will fill all space with repeated copies of the image. This option is best for smaller images.
    • Center will use the exact size of the image and center it on the desktop.
    • Stretch will stretch the image so that it covers the entire screen, but may do so in a way that distorts the image.
  5. If you want, you can select an album to use as a slideshow background. This will display a different picture as the wallpaper every so often. Use the following steps to set an album as a slideshow wallpaper: [1]
    • Select "Slideshow" from the drop-down menu below "Background".
    • Click Browse below "Choose albums for your slideshow".
    • Select a folder of images and click Choose this folder .
    • Use the drop-down menu below "Change picture every" to select how often the picture changes.
  6. This finalizes your decision once you have settled on a wallpaper choice and optional settings. The settings are auto-saved as you select them.
    7. Advertisement
Section 3 of 5:

Using Mac

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Open the Settings. Click the Apple menu in the top toolbar and select System Settings . On older devices, this will be System Preferences . [2]
  2. 2
    Click Wallpaper . This is in the sidebar. On older devices, you'll need to click Desktop & Screensaver .
    • For a quick wallpaper change, simply hold the Control key and click a photo on your computer. Then click Set Desktop Picture from the context menu. This lacks some of the customization options of the Display Settings.
  3. 3
    Select Add Photo . This will allow you to select and upload a photo.
  4. 4
    Select your photo. If the photo is in your Photos app, select From Photos and then select a photo. If you have the file on your desktop or another location, select Choose , select the file, and then click Choose .
    • The picture will be set as your wallpaper and can be viewed in the background. You can change the background as many times as you like by selecting other pictures in the browsing window.
  5. 5
    Select how the image fits on your desktop. Use the drop-down menu at the top of the menu to select how to make the image fit your desktop. The options are as follows:
    • Fill Screen will fill the entire desktop with the image. However, parts of the image may be cropped and not displayed on-screen.
    • Fit to Screen will fit the entire image on the desktop. However, it may leave some space on the sides or top and bottom.
    • Stretch to Fill Screen will stretch the image so it fills the entire desktop. This may distort the image.
    • Center uses the exact image size and centers it in the middle of the screen.
    6. Advertisement
Section 4 of 5:

Using Android

PDF download Download Article
  1. The Gallery typically has an icon that resembles a stack of photos. You can usually find it on your Home screen.
  2. Tap Album to browse photos by Album. Tap Pictures to browse pictures by date.
  3. This displays a full-screen preview of the image.
  4. It's the icon with three vertical dots in the upper-right corner. This displays a drop-down menu.
  5. It's in the drop-down menu that appears when you tap the icon that resembles three dots. This gives you three options for setting it as a wallpaper.
  6. Setting the image as your Home screen wallpaper displays the image on your phone's main panels when your phone is in use. Setting an image as your Lock screen wallpaper displays the image in the background during the screen that displays when you unlock your phone. Setting it as Lock and Home screen sets the image as a wallpaper for both the Home screen and Lock screen.
    7. Advertisement
Section 5 of 5:

Using iPhone or iPad

PDF download Download Article
  1. It has an icon that resembles two gears. Tap the Settings app icon on your Home screen to open the Settings.
  2. This button, located in the left sidebar, opens the wallpaper options.
  3. 3
    Tap +Add New Wallpaper . You can select from Apple's gallery or your Photos app.
  4. 4
    Select Photos . This will let you browse from photos saved to your Camera Roll. You can also tap a category to browse Apple's Gallery.
  5. 5
    Select the photo. This will open the customization menu.
  6. 6
    Adjust the wallpaper. You can tap and drag the image to move it around, pinch in or out to zoom in/out, set color filters , and more.
  7. 7
    Tap Add . This will add the wallpaper to your lock screen.
  8. 8
    Tap Set as Wallpaper Pair . This will set your home screen as a blurred version of the lock screen. If you want to set another image as your home screen, select Customize Home Screen and repeat the steps to upload and edit a new wallpaper.
    9. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How can I use a photo that was emailed to me as my screen's wallpaper?
    Community Answer
    Right click the image and click "Save as". Save it to your desktop. Go to your desktop and right click the newly saved file, then select "Set as desktop background".
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 9
  • Question
    How do I make a photo in my email into my computer wallpaper?
    Community Answer
    Download the photo from your email, then follow the steps that apply to your operating system.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 6
  • Question
    How do I use a photo as my computer background?
    Community Answer
    Save a photo you like, then go to your screen where you want the picture. Right click the screen and select "Customize" and choose "Background Picture." Go to the file where you saved the photo and click "Set as Background."
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 15 Helpful 9
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • For best results, use an image that matches your screen resolution. You can check the resolution of an image by right-clicking it and going to “Properties > Details” (Windows), Ctrl + clicking and selecting “Get Info” (Mac), or selecting a photo and tapping the “info” button (Android).
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • If a picture looks grainy or otherwise poor quality, it may be because the image resolution is lower than that of your display.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 5
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      Safely Clean a Laptop Screen Using Household Products
      How to
      Check Your Screen Resolution on PC, Mac, & Chromebook
      2 Easy Ways to Customize the Background Wallpaper on a Mac
      5 Quick Ways to Change Your Desktop Wallpaper on Windows
      How to
      Change Your Desktop Background in Windows 10
      How to
      Add Desktop Wallpaper to Your Computer
      How to
      Put Multiple Pictures on Your Desktop Background on Mac
      How to
      Change the Background on an iPhone: Complete Guide
      How to
      Change the Home Screen Wallpaper on an iPad
      How to
      Download Wallpapers from Google
      How to
      Set Different Wallpapers on Dual Monitors on Windows
      How to
      Change the Lock Screen on a Mac
      2 Simple Ways to Get Animated Desktop Wallpapers
      How to
      Make Your Mac's Background a Slideshow: Step-by-Step Guide
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-your-desktop-background-image-175618be-4cf1-c159-2785-ec2238b433a8
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/choose-your-desktop-picture-mchlp3013/mac

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Right-click the desktop.
      2. Click Personalize .
      3. Click Browse .
      4. Select a photo.
      5. Click Chose picture .
      6. Select a fit.
      7. Click the X to close the window.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 402,883 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement