Open System Settings and find the Desktop & Screen Saver panel

To change your desktop background on a Mac, start by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions). The Settings window will open.

In the sidebar on the left, look for Desktop & Screen Saver and click it. On newer Macs running macOS Sonoma or later, this option may be labeled Wallpaper instead. Either way, you'll see a panel with preview images of available backgrounds.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings from the Apple menu, then navigate to Desktop & Screen Saver (or Wallpaper on newer Macs).
  • Choose from Apple's built-in collections like MacOS, Nature, or Abstract, or select a photo from your own computer.
  • Click once on any image to preview it, then it becomes your background when ready — no separate save button needed.
  • You can set different backgrounds for each desktop space if you use multiple spaces, or use the same one across all of them.
  • If your chosen image is smaller than your screen resolution, macOS will stretch or tile it automatically.

Select a background from Apple's built-in collections

The Desktop & Screen Saver panel shows several categories of backgrounds on the left side. These include MacOS (the default system wallpapers), Nature, Abstract, Solid Colors, and others depending on your macOS version. Click any category to see the images inside it.

Once you click a category, thumbnail images appear in the main area. Click any thumbnail once to set it as your background. The change happens when ready — you'll see your desktop update behind the Settings window. There is no separate "explore" or "save" button; clicking the image is all you need to do.

Use a photo from your computer as your background

If you want to use your own photo instead of an Apple collection, look for the Add button (usually a plus sign) at the bottom of the categories list, or look for a folder icon labeled Recents or Folders. Click it to browse your computer.

A file browser window will open. Navigate to the folder containing your photo — this is often Pictures, Downloads, or a folder you created yourself. Click the photo once to select it, then click Choose or Open. The image will appear in your collections list and become your background when ready.

If you use the same photo regularly, you can drag it directly from Finder onto the background preview area in System Settings. This adds it to your collections for quick access later.

Adjust how your image fits the screen

When you select a photo, macOS may ask how you want it positioned. Look for options like Fill Screen, Fit to Screen, Stretch to Fill, or Center. These appear as buttons or a dropdown menu below the preview.

Fill Screen crops the image to cover your entire display without stretching it. Fit to Screen shrinks the image to fit completely, which may leave colored borders if the photo's shape doesn't match your screen. Stretch to Fill expands the image to cover the screen, which can distort it if the proportions don't match. Center places the image in the middle without resizing it. Choose whichever looks best for your photo.

Set different backgrounds for multiple desktops

If you use macOS Spaces (multiple virtual desktops), you can assign a different background to each one. In the Desktop & Screen Saver panel, look for a checkbox or toggle labeled Change picture or Rotate picture. Some versions also show a dropdown that says When using multiple displays or similar.

If you want each Space to have its own background, check the option that says something like Set different pictures on each Space or Per-Space backgrounds. Then switch to each Space (using Mission Control or swiping with three fingers on your trackpad) and set a different background for each one. If you prefer the same background across all Spaces, leave this option unchecked.

Troubleshoot common background problems

If your background doesn't change after clicking an image, close System Settings completely and reopen it. Sometimes the preview doesn't update properly. If the image looks stretched or distorted, try a different positioning option — Fill Screen usually works best for photos that don't match your screen's exact proportions.

If you're trying to use a photo that won't appear in the file browser, make sure the file is in a format macOS recognizes, such as JPEG, PNG, or HEIF. Very old or unusual file formats may not work. If a photo is extremely small (smaller than your screen resolution), macOS will enlarge it, which can make it look blurry. For the sharpest results, use photos that are at least as wide and tall as your screen resolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a different background for each monitor if I have multiple displays?

Yes. In System Settings, look for an option that says Change picture when using multiple displays or similar wording. Enable it, then click on each monitor's preview and select a different background for each one. The setting sticks even after you close System Settings.

What if I want my background to change automatically throughout the day?

In the Desktop & Screen Saver panel, find the checkbox labeled Change picture and turn it on. Then choose how often you want it to change — options usually include every 30 minutes, hourly, daily, or when you wake your Mac. macOS will cycle through images in the collection you selected.

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

macOS does not support video or animated files as desktop backgrounds. You can only use still images in formats like JPEG, PNG, or HEIF. Some third-party apps claim to add this feature, but they are not built into macOS itself.

Why does my background look different after I restart my Mac?

This usually happens if you selected a photo that was in a temporary folder or on an external drive that is no longer connected. macOS reverts to a default background when it can't find the original file. To fix it, choose a background that's stored permanently on your Mac — your Pictures folder or Desktop are good choices.

How do I remove a background I added so it doesn't show up in my collections?

Right-click on the background thumbnail in System Settings and select Remove or Delete from the menu. This removes it from your collections list but does not delete the original file from your computer.