Change your Mac desktop background through System Settings

To change your Mac desktop background, open System Settings, go to Wallpaper, and select a new image. The whole process takes about two minutes. You can use Apple's built-in images, photos from your own library, or a solid color.

The steps are the same whether you use an M-series Mac, an Intel Mac, or an older model running an earlier version of macOS. The location of the Wallpaper setting has stayed consistent across recent versions.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings, click Wallpaper in the sidebar, and choose from Apple's image library or your own photos.
  • You can set different backgrounds for your lock screen and desktop, or use the same image for both.
  • If you want to use a photo from your Mac, drag it directly into the preview window instead of browsing through folders.
  • Your background choice syncs across all your displays if you have multiple monitors connected.

Step 1: Open System Settings and find Wallpaper

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. On older Macs running macOS Monterey or earlier, this was called System Preferences instead.

In the System Settings window, look for Wallpaper in the sidebar on the left. Click it. If you don't see Wallpaper listed, scroll down in the sidebar—it appears near the bottom of the list.

Step 2: Choose where to set the background

At the top of the Wallpaper window, you'll see three tabs: Desktop, Lock Screen, and Desktop & Lock Screen. Click the one you want to change. Most people choose Desktop to change only what shows on the main screen when nothing is open.

If you select Desktop & Lock Screen, the same image will appear both on your desktop and on the login screen that appears before you unlock your Mac. This is useful if you want a consistent look.

Step 3: Pick an image from Apple's library or your own photos

The window shows categories of images on the left: Collections, Colors, Dynamic, and others. Click any category to see what's inside. Collections holds landscape photos, abstract designs, and nature images. Colors gives you solid backgrounds in different shades. Dynamic shows images that change throughout the day.

To use a photo you already have on your Mac, click Recents or Favorites if the photo appears there. If not, click the + button at the bottom of the window, navigate to the folder where your photo is stored, and select it. You can also drag a photo directly from Finder into the preview window at the top.

Step 4: Confirm your choice and close the window

Once you click an image, it appears in the preview window at the top and becomes your background when ready. You don't need to click a Save or Confirm button—the change takes effect right away.

Close the System Settings window by clicking the red button in the top-left corner or pressing Command+Q. Your new background is now set.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is looking for the background setting in the wrong place. On newer Macs, it's in System Settings under Wallpaper. On very old Macs running macOS Catalina or earlier, it was in System Preferences under Desktop & Screen Saver. If you can't find Wallpaper, check which version of macOS you're running by clicking the Apple menu and selecting About This Mac.

Another mistake is uploading a photo that's too small or the wrong shape. If your image looks stretched or blurry, it's probably a low-resolution file. For best results, use a photo that's at least 1920 by 1200 pixels. If you're not sure of your photo's size, right-click it in Finder, select Get Info, and look under Image for the dimensions.

If you set a background and it doesn't appear, try restarting your Mac. Occasionally the change doesn't register until you do. Press Command+Q to close System Settings, then restart by clicking the Apple menu and selecting Restart.

How to use different backgrounds on multiple displays

If you have two or more monitors connected to your Mac, you can set a different background on each one. Open System Settings, go to Wallpaper, and choose Desktop. You'll see a thumbnail of each display at the top of the window. Click the display you want to change, then pick a new image.

If you want the same image to stretch across all your displays as one continuous background, that option isn't available in System Settings. Instead, you would need to create a single wide image in a photo editor and set it as your background on all displays at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a video or animated GIF as my background?

No. macOS only supports still images as desktop backgrounds. You can use the Dynamic category in Apple's image library, which shows images that shift throughout the day, but you cannot upload a video or animated file.

What image file types does Mac accept?

Mac accepts JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, and HEIF files. Most photos from your camera or phone are already in one of these formats. If you have a file in a different format, you can convert it using Preview (right-click the file, select Open With, then Preview, and save it as JPEG or PNG).

Why does my background look different on my lock screen than on my desktop?

This happens when you set them separately. Go back to Wallpaper in System Settings and click Desktop & Lock Screen instead of choosing Desktop and Lock Screen separately. This forces both to use the same image.

Can I schedule my background to change automatically?

Yes. In the Wallpaper window, after you pick an image, look for a dropdown menu that says Change picture. Select how often you want it to change—every hour, every day, when you wake your Mac, or when you lock your screen. Your Mac will then rotate through images in that category on the schedule you set.

Does changing my background slow down my Mac?

No. A background image uses almost no processing power or memory. Even a large, high-resolution photo has no noticeable effect on your Mac's speed or battery life.