What "changing your desktop" means
Desktop refers to the main screen you see when you turn on your computer or close all your open windows. Changing your desktop usually means one of two things: swapping the background image, or rearranging the icons and layout of that screen.
The background is the picture or color behind everything else. The layout is where your icons sit — the small pictures that represent your files, folders, and programs. Both are straightforward to change, and the steps differ depending on whether you use Windows or Mac.
Most people change their desktop background for appearance, but some change the layout to make frequently used programs easier to find. You can do either one without affecting your files or how your computer runs.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, right-click an empty area of your desktop and select "Personalize" to change the background image or color.
- On Mac, open System Settings, go to Wallpaper, and choose a new image or color for your desktop background.
- You can move desktop icons by clicking and dragging them to a new spot, or hide them entirely if you prefer a cleaner look.
- Windows lets you create multiple desktops (called virtual desktops) to organize different groups of open windows.
- Changing your desktop appearance does not affect your files, programs, or how your computer performs.
Changing your background on Windows
Right-click on an empty area of your desktop — anywhere that does not have an icon on it. A menu will appear. Click "Personalize" near the bottom of that menu.
A settings window will open. On the left side, you will see "Background" listed. Click it. You will then see three options: "Picture", "Solid color", or "Slideshow". If you want a single image, choose "Picture". If you want a plain color, choose "Solid color". If you want your background to change automatically every few minutes, choose "Slideshow".
For "Picture", click "Browse" and navigate to a folder on your computer that contains images. Windows comes with built-in images in the Pictures folder. You can also use any photo you have downloaded or taken yourself. Select the image you want and click "Choose picture".
For "Solid color", click the color box and pick from the palette that appears, or enter a specific color code if you know one.
Changing your background on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen. Select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older versions). In the sidebar on the left, look for "Wallpaper" and click it.
You will see thumbnails of available wallpapers organized by category — Dynamic, Still, Collections, and others. Click any image to preview it. Once you have chosen one, it applies when ready to your desktop.
If you want to use your own photo, click "Add" (usually a plus sign) at the bottom of the window, navigate to your photo, and select it. Mac will set that photo as your wallpaper.
Moving icons and organizing your desktop layout
On both Windows and Mac, you can move any icon on your desktop by clicking it and dragging it to a new location. Release the mouse button to drop it in place. This is useful if you want your most-used programs at the top or in a corner where they are straightforward to find.
On Windows, you can also right-click an empty area and select "View" to change how icons are arranged. You can choose "Auto arrange icons" to have Windows organize them automatically, or uncheck it to arrange them manually. You can also select "Align icons to grid" to snap them into neat rows and columns.
If you want a cleaner desktop, you can hide icons entirely. On Windows, right-click an empty area, go to "View", and uncheck "Show desktop icons". On Mac, click the Finder menu, select "Preferences", go to the "General" tab, and uncheck "Show these items on the desktop". Your files are still there — they are just not visible on the desktop.
Using virtual desktops on Windows
Windows 10 and later versions let you create multiple separate desktops. This is called virtual desktops. You might use one desktop for work, another for personal projects, and another for entertainment. Each one can have different open windows and a different background.
To create a virtual desktop, press the Windows key and the D key together, then click "Task view" in the bottom-left corner. You will see a "New desktop" button. Click it to add another desktop. You can switch between desktops by clicking on them in Task view, or by pressing Windows key + Tab.
This does not change your desktop appearance in the way background or icon arrangement does, but it lets you organize your work in a way that keeps your screen less cluttered.
Resetting your desktop to default settings
If you want to undo your changes and return to the original Windows or Mac desktop, you can do so without losing any files.
On Windows, go back to Settings > Personalization > Background and choose one of the default images that came with Windows. For icons, right-click an empty area, select "View", and check "Auto arrange icons" to return them to their standard positions.
On Mac, open System Settings > Wallpaper and select one of the default wallpapers that came with your Mac. Icons on the Mac desktop are usually just files and folders you have placed there, so you can delete them by dragging them to the Trash without affecting the actual files (as long as they are also stored in your Documents or other folders).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo from the internet as my desktop background?
Yes. read the image to your computer, then follow the steps above to browse to that file and select it. Make sure you have the right to use the image — some photos online are copyrighted. Free image sites like Unsplash and Pexels offer photos you can use without permission.
Will changing my desktop background slow down my computer?
No. Your background is just a picture displayed behind your windows. It does not affect how fast your computer runs or how much memory it uses. Even a slideshow that changes every few minutes has no noticeable impact on performance.
What is the difference between desktop and taskbar?
Your desktop is the entire background screen. Your taskbar is the bar at the bottom of the screen (on Windows) or top (on Mac) that shows your open programs and system information. You can customize both separately.
Can I have different backgrounds on two monitors?
Yes, on both Windows and Mac. When you set a background, you can choose which monitor it applies to. On Windows, go to Settings > Personalization > Background and look for monitor selection options. On Mac, hold Option while clicking a wallpaper to choose which display it applies to.
If I move an icon off my desktop, does it delete the file?
No. Moving or hiding a desktop icon only changes what you see on your screen. The actual file stays on your computer in its original location. You can find it again by opening your file manager and navigating to the folder where it is stored.