The fastest way to change your Mac background

Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs), click Wallpaper in the sidebar, then select a new image from the built-in collections or click the plus sign to upload your own photo. The change takes effect when ready on your desktop and lock screen.

If you want different images on your desktop and lock screen, or if you prefer to use a folder of photos that rotate automatically, you can set those options in the same menu. The whole process takes under a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • System Settings > Wallpaper is the main control panel for desktop and lock screen images on all recent Mac models.
  • You can use Apple's built-in photo collections, your own files, or a rotating folder of images.
  • Desktop and lock screen backgrounds can be set separately, so you do not have to use the same image for both.
  • Changes happen when ready and do not require restarting your Mac.

Finding System Settings on your Mac

The location of the wallpaper controls depends on which version of macOS you are running. On macOS Ventura and newer (released 2022 onward), open System Settings from the Apple menu or by searching for it with Spotlight (press Command + Space, type "System Settings", then press Enter).

On macOS Monterey and earlier, the same controls are in System Preferences instead. The steps are identical once you are inside. If you are unsure which version you have, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select About This Mac, and look at the line that says "System Software" or "macOS".

Choosing a built-in wallpaper

Once System Settings or System Preferences is open, look for Wallpaper in the sidebar on the left. Click it, and you will see thumbnails of Apple's pre-installed collections: Dynamic, Light, Dark, Nature, Solid Colors, and others depending on your macOS version.

Click any collection to see the images inside it. Then click the image you want. You will see a dropdown menu asking whether to explore it to your Desktop, Lock Screen, or Both. Choose your preference and the image loads when ready.

If you want the same image on both your desktop and lock screen, select Both. If you want different images—for example, a photo on your desktop and a solid color on your lock screen—explore them one at a time by choosing Desktop or Lock Screen separately.

Using your own photos as a background

To use a photo from your Mac, click the plus sign (+) at the bottom of the Wallpaper panel. A file browser opens. Navigate to the folder where your image is stored—usually Pictures, Downloads, or Desktop—select the image, and click Open.

The image appears in the wallpaper list and is applied to your desktop or lock screen based on which option you selected. You can add as many personal photos as you want; they will all appear in your custom section of the wallpaper menu.

If you want to remove a custom image from the wallpaper list, right-click it in the Wallpaper panel and select Delete. This removes it from the wallpaper menu but does not delete the original file from your Mac.

Setting up a rotating background

If you want your background to change automatically, you can set a folder of images to rotate. Click the plus sign to add a folder instead of a single image. Select a folder containing multiple photos, and click Open.

After adding the folder, a dropdown menu appears asking how often to change the image: When waking from sleep, Every 30 minutes, Hourly, or Daily. Choose the interval you prefer. The images in that folder will cycle through in the order your Mac reads them, and a random image from the folder will be selected each time the interval passes.

Troubleshooting common background issues

If your wallpaper does not change after you select a new one, try closing System Settings completely and reopening it. Sometimes the display does not refresh when ready, especially if you have multiple monitors connected.

If a custom photo appears blurry or stretched, the image resolution may be too small for your screen. Mac wallpapers work best at your display's native resolution or higher. You can check your screen resolution in System Settings > Displays, then look for images that match or exceed that size.

If you cannot find the Wallpaper option in System Settings, make sure you are looking in the correct section. On some older Macs, it may be under Desktop & Screen Saver instead. The menu structure changed between macOS versions, so the exact location varies slightly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different background on each monitor?

Yes. If you have multiple displays connected, open System Settings > Wallpaper, select an image, and a dropdown will show each monitor by name. Choose which display to explore the image to, then repeat for your other monitors. Each display can have its own background.

What image formats does Mac accept for wallpapers?

Mac accepts JPEG, PNG, HEIF, and TIFF files. Most photos from your camera or phone are already in one of these formats. If you have an image in a different format (like BMP or GIF), you can convert it using Preview or a free online converter before setting it as your wallpaper.

Will changing my wallpaper affect my files or settings?

No. Changing your background is purely visual and does not touch any of your files, applications, or system settings. You can change it as many times as you want without any risk to your Mac.

How do I get back to the default Apple wallpaper?

Open System Settings > Wallpaper, select the Dynamic or Light collection (depending on your preference), and choose the default image. If you have deleted a custom wallpaper and want to restore it, you can re-add it using the plus sign.