The fastest way to change your background

Right-click on any empty space on your desktop — not on an icon or window, but on the bare desktop itself. A menu will appear. Click Personalize, and Windows will open the Settings app to the background section. From there, you can choose a solid color, a picture from your computer, or one of the built-in Windows images. The change takes effect when ready.

If that menu does not appear, your right-click may have landed on a window or icon instead. Close any open windows first, then try again on the blank desktop area.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click the empty desktop and select Personalize to open the background settings directly.
  • You can choose from solid colors, Windows' built-in images, or any picture file stored on your computer.
  • If you use a picture, Windows can automatically fit it to your screen or tile it across multiple monitors.
  • Changes take effect when ready and do not require a restart.

Using a picture from your computer as your background

After you open Personalize from the right-click menu, look for the Background dropdown near the top. Make sure it is set to Picture. Below that, you will see a row of thumbnail images — these are Windows' built-in options. To use your own picture instead, click Browse.

A file browser window will open. Navigate to the folder where your picture is stored — usually Pictures in your user folder, but it can be anywhere on your computer. Click the picture you want, then click Choose picture. Windows will set it as your background right away.

If your picture is very small or a different shape than your screen, Windows will stretch it by default. You can change this by clicking the Choose a fit dropdown below the thumbnail preview. Your options are Fill (stretches to cover the whole screen), Fit (shrinks to fit without stretching), Stretch (distorts to fill), Tile (repeats the image), and Center (places it in the middle without resizing).

Choosing a solid color background

If you prefer a plain background without an image, open Personalize from the right-click menu and click the Background dropdown. Select Solid color.

A row of color swatches will appear. Click any color to use it when ready. If you want a color that is not in the preset list, click Custom color to open a color picker where you can choose any shade.

Using Windows' built-in background images

Windows 10 comes with a collection of images you can use without browsing your computer. Open Personalize, make sure Background is set to Picture, and look at the row of thumbnails below. These are the built-in options. Click any one to set it as your background.

If you want Windows to change your background automatically on a schedule, check the box next to Change picture every and choose how often — every minute, hour, or day. Windows will cycle through the built-in images at that interval. This only works if you are using the built-in images, not your own pictures.

Changing your background for multiple monitors

If you have more than one monitor connected to your computer, you can set different backgrounds on each one. Open Personalize and select your picture or color. Below the preview, you will see a dropdown labeled Choose a fit. If you select Tile, the same image will repeat across all your monitors. If you select Fill or Fit, the image will stretch across all monitors as one continuous background.

Windows 10 does not have a built-in way to set completely different images on each monitor from the Settings app. If you need that, you can use third-party software, but the standard approach is to use one image that works well when stretched across your setup.

Troubleshooting background changes that do not stick

If you set a background and it reverts to the default after you restart, a few things might be happening. First, check that you have permission to modify the picture file. If the file is in a protected folder or marked as read-only, Windows may not be able to use it. Right-click the picture file, select Properties, and make sure Read-only is not checked.

Second, if you are using a picture from an external drive or network location, Windows may lose access to it when you restart. Move the picture to a folder on your computer — your Pictures folder is the standard place — and set it as your background again.

Third, some malware or security software can prevent background changes. If you suspect this, run a full antivirus scan and check your security software settings to make sure it is not blocking personalization changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a picture from the internet as my background?

Yes. Right-click the image on a website, select Save image as, and save it to your computer. Then follow the steps above to set it as your background. Make sure you have the right to use the image — many images online are copyrighted.

What image formats does Windows 10 support for backgrounds?

Windows 10 supports JPG, PNG, BMP, GIF, and TIFF files. Most pictures you find online or take with a camera are JPG or PNG, so you should not run into format problems. If a file does not work, you can convert it using free online tools or image software.

Why does my background look blurry or stretched?

This usually means your picture is smaller than your screen resolution. Try changing the Choose a fit setting from Fill to Fit or Center. If the picture is very small, it will always look blurry when stretched — using a larger image will fix this.

Can I set a different background for each user account on my computer?

Yes. Each user account has its own background setting. When you log in as a different user and change the background, it only affects that account. Other users will still see their own chosen backgrounds when they log in.