The simplest way to change your background

Your computer background — also called a wallpaper or desktop background — is the image or color you see behind your files and programs. Changing it takes less than a minute and requires no special software or downloads.

On a Windows computer, right-click on any empty space on your desktop (the main screen you see when you turn on your computer). A menu will appear. Select "Personalize" at the bottom. On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top left corner, select "System Settings," then click "Wallpaper" in the left sidebar. Both paths open the same type of screen where you choose a new background.

Your computer comes with dozens of built-in backgrounds already installed. You can also use any photo you have saved on your computer, or read new images from the internet. The steps differ slightly between Windows and Mac, but the idea is the same: pick an image and tell your computer to display it behind everything else.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click your desktop on Windows or open System Settings on a Mac to reach the background settings in under one minute.
  • Your computer includes free built-in backgrounds you can use when ready without downloading anything.
  • You can use any photo stored on your computer as a background by browsing to it in the settings menu.
  • If you read an image from the internet, save it to your Downloads folder first, then select it from the background settings.

Changing your background on Windows

Start by right-clicking on an empty area of your desktop — this means clicking the right mouse button (or two-finger tap on a trackpad) on a blank spot where no files or folders are visible. A small menu will pop up. Look for the word "Personalize" near the bottom and click it.

A settings window will open. On the left side, you will see "Background" listed. Click it. The main area will now show thumbnail images of backgrounds you can choose from. Scroll through the options and click any image you like. Your desktop background will change when ready.

If you want to use a photo you already have on your computer, look for a button that says "Browse" or a plus sign (+). Click it, then navigate to the folder where your photo is stored (usually "Pictures" or "Downloads"). Select the photo and click "Choose picture." Your new background will appear right away.

Changing your background on Mac

Click the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen. A dropdown menu will appear. Select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older Macs). The settings window will open.

Look for "Wallpaper" in the left sidebar and click it. You will see a grid of built-in backgrounds organized by category — Nature, Solid Colors, Dynamic, and others. Click any image to preview it, then click again to set it as your background. The change happens when ready.

To use your own photo, click the plus sign (+) at the bottom of the window. A folder browser will open. Navigate to where your photo is stored, select it, and click "Choose." Your photo will now appear as your desktop background.

Using photos from the internet as your background

If you find an image online that you want to use, you must save it to your computer first. Right-click the image and select "Save image as" (the exact wording varies by browser). Choose a folder — your Downloads or Pictures folder works well — and click Save.

Once the image is saved, follow the steps above for your operating system. On Windows, click Browse and navigate to the folder where you saved it. On Mac, click the plus sign and do the same. Select the image and confirm. Your new background will appear on your desktop.

Be cautious about image size. Very small images (under 800 pixels wide) may look blurry or stretched when used as a background. Images that are 1920 pixels wide or larger will display clearly on most modern screens. If you are unsure of an image's size, you can right-click it on your computer, select "Properties" (Windows) or "Get Info" (Mac), and look for the dimensions.

Fixing a background that looks stretched or blurry

If your new background does not look right — stretched, zoomed in too far, or fuzzy — you can adjust how it displays. On Windows, go back to the Personalize menu and look for a dropdown that says "Choose a fit." Options include "Fill" (stretches the image to cover the screen), "Fit" (shows the whole image without stretching), and "Tile" (repeats the image). Try each one to see which looks best.

On Mac, right-click your desktop, select "Change Desktop Background," and look for options like "Scale to fit" or "Stretch to fill." These do the same thing as Windows options — they control how the image is sized to fit your screen.

If the image still looks poor, the original file may be too small. In that case, you will need to find a larger version of the image or choose a different one.

Returning to a default background

If you want to go back to one of your computer's built-in backgrounds, the process is straightforward. On Windows, open Personalize again and click on any of the default images shown at the top. On Mac, open System Settings and click Wallpaper, then select any of the built-in options.

You can change your background as often as you like. There is no limit to how many times you can switch it, and changing it does not affect any of your files or programs. If you ever want to restore the original background your computer came with, just follow these same steps and select it from the built-in options.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Windows 11 allows animated backgrounds, though the option is not available on all versions. Mac does not support video backgrounds on the desktop itself. If your computer does not offer this feature, you are limited to still images.

Will changing my background slow down my computer?

No. Your background is straightforward an image file displayed behind your other windows. It uses minimal resources and will not affect how fast your computer runs or how much storage space you have left.

What if I delete a photo I used as a background?

If you delete the original image file from your computer, your background will disappear or revert to a default image. To avoid this, keep the photo file in a permanent folder like Pictures rather than Downloads, which people often clear out.

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

Yes. On Windows, right-click your desktop, select Personalize, and look for an option to set backgrounds per monitor. On Mac, you can set different wallpapers for each space or monitor through System Settings. The exact steps depend on your setup.

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

This usually means the change did not save properly. Go back to your background settings, select the image again, and make sure you see a confirmation message or button before closing the settings window. If it keeps reverting, the image file may be corrupted or in a location your computer cannot access.