Change Your Desktop Background in Windows

This article teaches you how to alter the image displayed on your PC's desktop background.

Steps

Using Windows 10

  1. Right-click the desktop. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu.
  2. Click Personalize. This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Background. It's near the top-left side of the page.
  4. Click the box beneath the "Background" heading. You can click one of the following options:
    • Picture - Allows you to select a picture to display on your desktop. 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 - Allows you to select a solid color (e.g., grey) to fill your Windows desktop.
    • Slideshow - Displays a series of photos from your computer's default "Pictures" folder in a slideshow. You can change this folder by clicking Browse and selecting a new folder.
  5. Exit the "Personalization" window. To do so, click the X in the top-right corner of the page. Your selected wallpaper option will automatically be applied to the desktop.

Using Windows 7 and 8

  1. Right-click the desktop. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu.
  2. Click Personalize. This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Desktop Background. This link should be in the bottom-left corner of the "Personalization" page.
  4. Click a picture. Doing so will select it as your desktop background.
    • You can also click the Windows Desktop Backgrounds 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.
    • 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. Click the box beneath the "Picture Position" heading. 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. Click a picture position option. Doing so will apply it to your desktop background picture.
  7. Click Save changes. It's at the bottom of the "Desktop Background" window. Your changes will be applied.

Using Windows Vista

  1. Right-click the desktop. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu.
  2. Click Personalize. This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
  3. Click Desktop Background. It's the second link from the top of this window.
  4. Click a picture. Doing so will select it as your desktop background.
    • You can also click the Windows Desktop Backgrounds 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. Click a picture positioning option. 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. Click OK. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will apply your selected picture to the desktop background.

Using Windows XP

  1. Right-click the desktop. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu.
  2. Click Properties. It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
  3. Click the Desktop tab. You'll see this at the top of the "Properties" window.
  4. Click a desktop image option. You'll see several options below the "Background" heading; clicking one will preview it in the window near the top of the page.
    • You can also click Browse to search for a specific picture.
    • For a solid color, click None, click the box below "Color" in the bottom-right corner of the window, and click a color.
  5. Click the box below the "Position" heading. It's in 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. Click a picture position. Doing so will apply the position to your picture.
  7. Click OK. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will save your changes.

Tips

  • To quickly set a specific image as a background, right-click it (or tap and hold if you're using a touchscreen device) and select Set as desktop background.

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 your background.
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