The fastest way to change your desktop picture

On Windows, right-click any empty space on your desktop, select Personalize, then click Background. Choose a picture from the built-in collection, or click Browse to use a photo you already have. On Mac, open System Settings, go to Wallpaper, click the + button, and select a photo from your computer or the built-in library. Both take about 30 seconds.

The picture you choose becomes your desktop background — the image that shows behind your icons and open windows. You can change it as often as you want, and Windows and Mac both let you set different pictures for each monitor if you have more than one.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click your desktop on Windows and select Personalize, then Background to pick a new picture in seconds.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, go to Wallpaper, and click the + button to choose from your photos or the built-in collection.
  • You can use any photo stored on your computer, or pick from thousands of free images that come with your operating system.
  • Both Windows and Mac let you set different backgrounds for each monitor, and you can change your picture whenever you want.

Changing your desktop picture on Windows

Start by right-clicking on an empty area of your desktop — anywhere that does not have an icon or window open. A menu will appear. Look for the word Personalize near the bottom and click it. This opens the Settings app to the Personalization section.

On the left side of the window, you will see a list of options. Click Background. The main area will show you a preview of your current desktop picture and a dropdown menu that says Personalize your background. Make sure Picture is selected in that dropdown (it usually is by default).

Below that, you will see a row of thumbnail images — these are the built-in pictures that come with Windows. Click any one to preview it on your desktop. If you want to use one of these, you are done. If you want to use a photo you already have on your computer, click the Browse button, navigate to the folder where your photo is saved, select it, and click Choose picture.

Changing your desktop picture on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. In the sidebar on the left, scroll down and click Wallpaper. You will see thumbnails of your current desktop picture and any recent wallpapers you have used.

To choose a new picture, click the + button at the bottom of the window. A file browser will open. Navigate to the folder where your photo is saved — usually Pictures or Downloads — select the photo, and click Open. The picture will appear on your desktop immediately.

If you want to use one of Apple's built-in wallpapers instead, click + and then look for the Desktop Pictures or Wallpapers folder in the sidebar. These contain hundreds of free images organized by category.

Using photos from your computer

Any photo file on your computer can become your desktop picture. The most common formats are JPG, PNG, and BMP — if you have a photo in one of these formats, both Windows and Mac will recognize it. You do not need to resize or edit the photo first; your operating system will automatically fit it to your screen.

The best place to store photos you want to use as wallpapers is your Pictures folder, since both Windows and Mac default to looking there. If your photo is in a different folder — like Downloads or a folder you created yourself — you can still use it; just navigate to that folder when you click Browse (Windows) or the + button (Mac).

What to do if your picture does not fit your screen properly

After you choose a picture, you may notice it looks stretched, squished, or has empty space around it. This happens because your photo's shape does not match your monitor's shape. On Windows, go back to the Background settings and look for a dropdown that says Choose a fit. Your options are Fill (stretches the image to cover the whole screen), Fit (shrinks it to fit without stretching), Stretch (forces it to match your screen exactly), Tile (repeats the image), and Center (places it in the middle with empty space around it).

On Mac, after you select a picture, a dropdown menu will appear with options like Fill Screen, Fit, and Center. Choose whichever looks best to you. There is no single right answer — it depends on the photo and your preference.

Setting different pictures for multiple monitors

If you have more than one monitor connected to your computer, you can set a different picture for each one. On Windows, go to Personalize > Background, and you will see a dropdown at the top that lets you choose which monitor to customize. Select the first monitor, pick a picture, then repeat for each additional monitor.

On Mac, the process is similar but less obvious. Open System Settings > Wallpaper, and you will see a list of your monitors at the top. Click the one you want to change, then select a new picture. Repeat for each monitor. If you have the same picture on multiple monitors and want to span it across all of them, look for a Span across displays option in the wallpaper settings.

Finding free pictures to use as wallpaper

Both Windows and Mac come with thousands of built-in wallpapers you can use without downloading anything. On Windows, the built-in pictures are organized by category and appear when you open the Background settings. On Mac, they are in the Desktop Pictures and Wallpapers folders you can access through the + button in Wallpaper settings.

If you want pictures beyond what comes with your operating system, websites like Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay offer free high-quality photos you can download and use. Download a photo to your Pictures or Downloads folder, then follow the steps above to set it as your wallpaper. Make sure the photo is in JPG or PNG format — these work on any computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set my desktop picture to change automatically?

Yes. On Windows, go to Personalize > Background, and in the Choose a fit dropdown, select a folder instead of a single picture. Windows will rotate through all the photos in that folder at an interval you choose. On Mac, open System Settings > Wallpaper, select a picture, and look for a Change picture option that lets you set it to rotate every hour, day, or week.

What if I delete a photo after setting it as my wallpaper?

Your desktop picture will disappear and revert to a solid color or the default wallpaper. To fix it, follow the steps above to choose a new picture. Always keep a copy of any photo you want to use as wallpaper in a folder you do not plan to delete.

Can I use a video or animated image as my desktop background?

Windows does not support video or animated wallpapers through the standard settings. Mac does not either, though both systems have third-party apps available that can do this. For most users, a still photo is the simplest and most reliable option.

Does changing my desktop picture affect my computer's speed?

No. Your wallpaper is just an image file that sits in the background. It does not use meaningful processing power or slow down your computer, no matter how large the file is or how often you change it.