The fastest way to change your Mac desktop background

Open System Settings, click Wallpaper in the left sidebar, then select a new image from the gallery or upload your own. That is the entire process — it takes about 30 seconds. The background you choose will appear behind all your open windows and on your login screen unless you change the login screen separately.

If System Settings does not open when you click it, or if you cannot find Wallpaper in the sidebar, your Mac is running an older version of macOS. The steps below cover both current and older versions so you can follow whichever matches what you see on your screen.

Key Takeaways

  • On newer Macs (Ventura and later), open System Settings, click Wallpaper, and choose an image from the built-in gallery or upload your own.
  • On older Macs (Big Sur and earlier), right-click the desktop, select Change Desktop Background, and pick from the available options.
  • You can set different backgrounds for your desktop and login screen, or use the same image for both.
  • Any image file on your computer — a photo, a screenshot, a downloaded picture — can become your desktop background.

Changing the background on Ventura, Sonoma, and newer Macs

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then click System Settings. Wait for the settings window to open — it may take a few seconds the first time.

In the left sidebar, scroll down until you see Wallpaper, then click it. A gallery of built-in images will appear on the right side of the window. Click any image to preview it on your desktop. The change happens when ready, and you do not need to click a Save button.

If you want to use a photo from your computer instead of the built-in gallery, click the plus sign (+) at the bottom of the window, navigate to the folder where your image is stored, select it, and click Open. The image will appear in your wallpaper options and become your new background.

Changing the background on Big Sur, Monterey, and older Macs

Right-click anywhere on your desktop — the empty space behind your windows, not on a folder or file. A small menu will appear. Click Change Desktop Background.

A window will open showing folders on the left side: Desktop, Documents, Recents, and others. Click any folder to see the images inside it. The Desktop and Pictures folders usually contain photos you have saved. Click any image to preview it, and it will become your background when ready.

If you want to use an image that is not in any of these folders, click the plus sign (+) at the bottom of the window to browse your entire computer. Navigate to wherever the image is stored, select it, and click Choose.

Using different backgrounds for your desktop and login screen

By default, the image you choose appears both on your desktop and on the login screen you see when you turn on your Mac or wake it from sleep. If you want a different image for your login screen, you can set them separately.

On Ventura and newer: Open System Settings, click Wallpaper, then look for a dropdown menu at the top that says Desktop or Lock Screen. Click it and choose Lock Screen, then select a different image. Switch back to Desktop and choose your desktop image. Both will now be set independently.

On Big Sur and older: Right-click the desktop and select Change Desktop Background as usual. At the bottom of the window, you will see a checkbox that says "Change picture." If you check this box, your background will rotate through multiple images automatically. To set a separate login screen background, you need to open System Preferences, click Users & Groups, select your user account, click the Lock icon to unlock it, and then click the picture well next to your account name to upload a new login image.

What image files work as backgrounds

Any image file on your computer can become a desktop background: photos you have taken, screenshots, pictures you downloaded from the internet, artwork, or images you created yourself. The most common formats are JPG, PNG, and HEIC (the format newer iPhones use).

If you have a very large image file, your Mac may slow down slightly because it has to keep that image in memory. If you notice your Mac running slower after changing the background, try a smaller image instead. Most built-in wallpapers are optimized for speed, so they are a good choice if your Mac is older or has limited storage.

Troubleshooting when the background will not change

If you click an image and it does not appear on your desktop, the image file may be corrupted or in a format your Mac does not recognize. Try a different image to confirm the problem is with that specific file, not with your Mac.

If System Settings or the desktop background window will not open at all, restart your Mac. Click the Apple menu, select Restart, and wait for your Mac to turn back on. Then try opening System Settings again. If it still does not work, your Mac may need a software update — click the Apple menu, select System Settings, click General, then click Software Update to check.

If you are using a work Mac managed by your company, your administrator may have locked the desktop background so you cannot change it. Contact your IT department to ask whether they can unlock it or change it for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo from my iPhone as my Mac background?

Yes. Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable, open Finder, click your iPhone in the sidebar, then navigate to Photos. You can drag any photo from your iPhone to your Mac desktop to save it, then use it as a background. Alternatively, if you use iCloud Photos, the photos sync automatically between your devices and appear in the Pictures folder on your Mac.

What if I want my background to change automatically every day?

On Ventura and newer, open System Settings, click Wallpaper, select an image, then look for an option that says "Change picture." You can set it to change daily, hourly, or when you wake your Mac. On older Macs, right-click the desktop, select Change Desktop Background, check the "Change picture" box at the bottom, and set the interval.

Will changing my background slow down my Mac?

Not noticeably, unless your image file is extremely large or your Mac is very old. If you do notice slowness after changing the background, try one of Apple's built-in wallpapers instead — they are optimized for performance. You can also try compressing your image file using Preview before setting it as a background.

Can I set a different background for each desktop space?

Yes, if you use multiple desktop spaces (also called virtual desktops). Right-click the desktop, select Change Desktop Background, choose your image, then switch to a different space and repeat. Each space will remember its own background. On newer Macs, you can also do this through System Settings by changing the background, switching spaces, and changing it again.