The Distracting Slideshow
Ubuntu (specifically the standard GNOME desktop environment) allows users to set a dynamic wallpaper. If you select a folder containing multiple images, or choose one of the default wallpapers that has a small “clock” icon overlaid on it, Ubuntu will automatically change the desktop background image at set intervals. While this dynamic slideshow is visually appealing and keeps the desktop feeling fresh, it can be highly distracting. The sudden shift in color and brightness can break your focus while working, and the background process responsible for fading between the high-resolution images consumes unnecessary CPU cycles.
Locking the Desktop Background
To maintain a consistent aesthetic and stop Ubuntu from automatically changing the wallpaper, you must select a static image instead of a dynamic slideshow.
Open the main Ubuntu application launcher (press the Super/Windows key) and type Settings. Click the icon to open the configuration panel. In the left-hand navigation sidebar, click on Appearance. In the main panel, look at the “Background” section. You will see a grid of available wallpapers. If your current wallpaper has a tiny clock icon in the bottom right corner of its thumbnail, it is a dynamic slideshow. To stop the automatic changes, you simply need to click on a different thumbnail that does not have the clock icon. Alternatively, click the Add Picture button at the top to select a specific, static image from your own Pictures folder. Once a static image is selected, the slideshow immediately halts.