5 Quick Ways to Change Your Desktop Wallpaper on Windows

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Personalize your Windows PC background with this user-friendly guide
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Want to see something different on your desktop or laptop computer's background? You can personalize the wallpaper with a new photo, a specific color, or multiple colors in a slideshow. As long as you have Windows activated, you have full control of your background. Here's how to change your desktop background in Windows 11, 10, and earlier.

Setting a New Wallpaper in Windows

To change your background in Windows, right-click any blank area on the desktop and click Personalize . You can set your wallpaper background as a photo, solid color, or even a slideshow of an album.

Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Using Windows 11

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  1. This will open a menu with various options. If you have multiple monitors , right-click on the monitor you want to change.
    • Keep in mind you must have a Windows license to change your desktop background.
    • To quickly change your background, right-click a photo and click Set as desktop background .
  2. This should be the last option in the menu, and will open personalization settings in the settings app. [1]
    • A new page will open.
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  3. This will be at the top of the list. [2]
  4. Click the drop-down menu next to Personalize your background to change it. You can choose the display option from the different types below: [3]
    • Picture - Allows you to select a picture to display on your desktop.
    • Solid color - Allows you to select a solid color (e.g., gray) to fill your Windows desktop.
    • Slideshow - Displays a series of photos from your computer's default "Pictures" folder in a slideshow.
  5. Depending on your choice in the previous step, you'll be able to select a photo, a color, or an album to use as your background.
    • Picture - There will be a selection of stock images, and images from your computer listed. Alternatively, click Browse and choose a picture from your computer files. You can use the drop-down menu next to "Choose a fit" to change the way the picture is displayed (e.g., filling your entire screen).
    • Solid color - Select a color from the selection, or click Custom color to select a new one.
    • Slideshow - To change this folder, click Browse and select a new folder. You can also choose the frequency of how often the image is changed, under the dropdown menu next to 'Change picture every:'. Finally, you can choose to shuffle the order of the pictures, or to turn off the slideshow on battery power (this will help conserve your battery life).
      • It's best to make a new folder dedicated for your desktop background slideshow that contains the pictures you want as a background. For example, you could create a folder called "Desktop Slideshow" under the "Pictures" section of File Explorer , and save all your background images here.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Using Windows 10

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  1. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu.
    • Keep in mind you must have a Windows license to change your desktop background.
    • To quickly change your background, right-click a photo and click Set as desktop background .
  2. This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu. [4]
    • A new window will open.
  3. You can click one of the following options: [5]
    • Picture - Allows you to select a picture to display on your desktop.
    • Solid color - Allows you to select a solid color (e.g., gray) to fill your Windows desktop.
    • Slideshow - Displays a series of photos from your computer's default "Pictures" folder in a slideshow.
  4. Depending on your choice in the previous step, you'll be able to select a photo, a color, or an album to use as your background.
    • Picture - Recent and sample pictures will be listed and can be used by clicking one. You can also click Browse and choose a picture if you don't like the stock photos. Furthermore, you can click the box beneath "Choose a fit" to change the way the picture is displayed (e.g., filling your entire screen).
    • Solid color - Select a color from the selection, or click Custom color to select a new one.
    • Slideshow - To change the folder, select Browse and select a new folder.
      • It's best to make a new folder dedicated for your desktop background slideshow that contains the pictures you want as a background. For example, you could create a folder called "Desktop Slideshow" under the "Pictures" section of File Explorer.
    • When you're finished, click X to exit the window.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Using Windows 7 and 8

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  1. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu. [6]
  2. This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu. [7]
  3. This link should be in the bottom-left corner of the window.
  4. Doing so will select it as your desktop background. [8]
    • You can also click the Windows Desktop Backgrounds dropdown menu near the top of the window to pick a different pictures folder (e.g., "Pictures").
    • If you want to look for a specific picture, click Browse .
    • Clicking the checkbox in the top-left corner of two or more pictures will place them on a slideshow rotation. You can change the default time between photos and transition style from the bottom of the window.
  5. You'll see options for displaying your picture here. A few common options include:
    • Fill - Your picture will take up the whole screen.
    • Tile - Multiple thumbnails of your picture will display in a grid on your desktop.
    • Center - Your picture will be centered in the middle of your screen with a black border.
  6. You'll see a preview.
  7. It's at the bottom of the "Desktop Background" window. Your changes will be applied. [9]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Using Windows Vista

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  1. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu.
  2. This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu. [10]
  3. It's the second link from the top of this window. [11]
  4. Doing so will select it as your desktop background.
    • You can also click the Windows Wallpapers box near the top of the window to pick a different pictures folder (e.g., "Pictures").
    • If you want to look for a specific picture, click Browse .
  5. This section is beneath the "How should the picture be positioned?" heading. Your options (from left to right) include a full-screen version of the picture, a grid comprised of your photo, and a centered version of the picture.
  6. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will apply your selected picture to the desktop background.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Using Windows XP

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  1. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu. [12]
  2. It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu. [13]
  3. You'll see this at the top of the "Properties" window. [14]
  4. You'll see several options below the "Background" heading; clicking one will preview it in the window near the top of the page. [15]
    • You can also click Browse to pick a custom picture.
    • For a solid color, click None as the background. Then click the box below "Color" in the bottom-right corner of the window, and pick a color.
  5. It's at the bottom-right side of the "Properties" window. You'll see three options here:
    • Stretch - Your picture will take up the whole screen.
    • Tile - Multiple thumbnails of your picture will display in a grid on your desktop.
    • Center - Your picture will be centered in the middle of your screen with a black border.
  6. Doing so will apply the position to your picture.
  7. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will save your changes.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    The monitor screen goes black and I don't know if it is turned off or asleep. I am afraid that I will accidentally push the power button when it is in sleep mode and it will crash the system.
    Jacob Rubesch
    Community Answer
    If you don't know whether or not your computer is asleep or turned off, just try to type something on the keyboard. If the monitor stays black, then the computer is off, if the monitor turns back on, it was asleep.
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  • Question
    Where do I create a folder?
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    You can create the folder anywhere on your PC but it is recommended to create it in Pictures.
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  • Question
    My settings are managed by my organization, so how do I change that?
    Liam Townsley
    Community Answer
    You won't be able to change your background as your employer or school has disabled your access to do so.
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      Warnings

      • If you're using a computer with user restrictions (e.g., a school computer or a work computer), you may not be able to change the background.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-your-desktop-background-image-175618be-4cf1-c159-2785-ec2238b433a8
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-your-desktop-background-image-175618be-4cf1-c159-2785-ec2238b433a8
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-desktop-background-and-colors-176702ca-8e24-393b-15f2-b15b38f69de6
      4. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-desktop-background-and-colors-176702ca-8e24-393b-15f2-b15b38f69de6#ID0EBF=Windows_10
      5. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-your-desktop-background-image-175618be-4cf1-c159-2785-ec2238b433a8#WindowsVersion=Windows_10
      6. ↑ https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/windows8/personalizing-your-desktop/1/
      7. ↑ https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/windows8/personalizing-your-start-screen/1/
      8. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/guided-help-shuffle-your-desktop-backgrounds-in-windows-7-4f9cbcb6-62c4-6d2f-24b9-683da11af11a
      9. ↑ https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/windows8/personalizing-your-desktop/1/
      1. ↑ https://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=5196
      2. ↑ https://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=5196
      3. ↑ https://www.nparks.gov.sg/-/media/nparks-real-content/gardens-parks-and-nature/heritage-trees/suggested-activities/screensavers/xp-manual.ashx
      4. ↑ https://www.nparks.gov.sg/-/media/nparks-real-content/gardens-parks-and-nature/heritage-trees/suggested-activities/screensavers/xp-manual.ashx
      5. ↑ https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/windowsxp/customizing-windows-xp-using-the-control-panel/1/
      6. ↑ https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/windowsxp/customizing-windows-xp-using-the-control-panel/1/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Right-click the desktop.
      2. Click Personalize .
      3. Click Background .
      4. Select an option from the "Background" menu.
      5. Select a color or photo.

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