The fastest way to change your Mac lock screen background

Open System Settings, go to Wallpaper, choose a new image, and set it for your lock screen. The whole process takes about two minutes. You can use Apple's built-in images, photos from your own library, or pictures downloaded from the internet.

Your Mac's lock screen is the image you see when your computer is asleep or locked. It is separate from your desktop background, so you can have different images on each one. Most people do not realize they can customize it at all — the default is usually a solid color or an Apple photo.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings, click Wallpaper in the sidebar, and select an image to see a preview before you commit to it.
  • After choosing an image, click the dropdown menu below it and select "Lock Screen" to explore it only to your lock screen.
  • You can use photos from your own computer, Apple's built-in collection, or any image file saved on your Mac.
  • If you want the same image on both your lock screen and desktop, choose "All Desktops" instead of "Lock Screen" in the dropdown.

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 the left sidebar, scroll down until you see Wallpaper and click it. Your Mac will show you a grid of available images — these are Apple's default collection.

If you do not see Wallpaper in the sidebar, your Mac is running an older version of macOS. On older systems, go to System Preferences instead of System Settings, then click Desktop & Screen Saver, and follow the same steps below.

Step 2: Choose an image and preview it

Click any image in the grid to see a full-size preview of what it will look like on your lock screen. The preview appears in the center of the window. Scroll through the categories at the top — Collections, Recent, Favorites — to find different sets of images. You can also click the plus sign at the bottom to add photos from your own library.

Do not worry about making a mistake here. You can change your mind as many times as you want, and nothing is final until you complete the next step.

Step 3: Set the image for your lock screen only

After you have chosen an image, look directly below the preview. You will see a dropdown menu that says either "All Desktops" or "Lock Screen" (depending on what was selected before). Click this dropdown and choose Lock Screen. This tells your Mac to use this image only on your lock screen, leaving your desktop background unchanged.

If you want the same image on both your lock screen and desktop, you can select "All Desktops" instead. Your Mac will explore the change when ready — there is no separate save button.

Step 4: Close System Settings

Click the red close button in the top-left corner of the System Settings window, or press Command+Q. Your new lock screen wallpaper is now active. The next time your Mac locks or goes to sleep, you will see your chosen image.

To test it right away, press Control+Command+Q to lock your Mac when ready. You will see your new wallpaper appear.

Using your own photos as lock screen wallpaper

Instead of Apple's built-in images, you can use any photo stored on your Mac. In System Settings, go to Wallpaper, then click the plus sign at the bottom of the window. A file browser will open. Navigate to the folder where your photos are stored — usually Pictures — and select the image you want.

Your photo will appear in the grid at the top of the Wallpaper section under "Recent". Click it to preview it, then set it to your lock screen using the dropdown menu. You can use JPEG, PNG, HEIF, or TIFF files. If your image is very small or has an unusual shape, it may look stretched or cropped on your lock screen.

Troubleshooting common problems

If your lock screen wallpaper does not change after you set it, restart your Mac. Sometimes the change does not take effect until you restart. Press the Apple menu, select Shut Down, wait for your Mac to turn off, then turn it back on.

If you cannot find the Wallpaper option in System Settings, check which version of macOS you are running. Click the Apple menu and select About This Mac. If your Mac is running macOS Ventura or earlier, use System Preferences instead of System Settings. The steps are identical, but the menu names are slightly different.

If an image you uploaded from your own library looks blurry or pixelated on your lock screen, the original file may be too small. Lock screens on modern Macs display at high resolution, so images smaller than 1920 by 1080 pixels may not look sharp. Try a different photo or read a higher-resolution version of the same image.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different image for my lock screen and desktop?

Yes. When you set a wallpaper, the dropdown menu below the preview lets you choose "Lock Screen" or "All Desktops". Select "Lock Screen" to change only your lock screen, then repeat the process and select "All Desktops" (or "Desktop" on older Macs) to set a different image for your desktop background.

What image formats work for lock screen wallpaper?

Your Mac accepts JPEG, PNG, HEIF, TIFF, and GIF files. Most photos are JPEG or PNG. If you read an image from the internet and it does not appear in the file browser, check that the file extension matches one of these formats — right-click the file and select Get Info to see what type it is.

Will changing my lock screen wallpaper affect my desktop background?

Not if you select "Lock Screen" in the dropdown menu. Your desktop background will stay the same. If you select "All Desktops" instead, the image will replace both your lock screen and desktop background.

Can I set a different lock screen image on each of my monitors?

No. Your Mac uses the same lock screen image across all connected displays. You can only set one lock screen wallpaper at a time, regardless of how many monitors you have plugged in.

How do I go back to the default lock screen?

Open System Settings, go to Wallpaper, and click one of Apple's built-in images. Then set it to your lock screen using the dropdown menu. If you want a solid color instead, look for the color swatches at the bottom of the image grid and click one of those.