How to Change the Desktop Wallpaper on a Mac

Your Mac’s desktop wallpaper is the first thing you see when you turn on your computer and the backdrop for everything you do. Staring at the default abstract macOS graphics can get boring very quickly.

Fortunately, Apple makes it incredibly simple to change your desktop background. You can choose from Apple’s stunning high-resolution photography, set up a rotating gallery, or use your own personal photos.

Method 1: The Fastest Way to Use Your Own Photo

If you have a specific photo saved on your computer that you want to use right now, you don’t even need to open the settings menu.

1. Open Finder and locate the image file you want to use (e.g., in your Downloads or Pictures folder).
2. Right-click (or Control-click) on the image file.
3. Look near the bottom of the pop-up menu and select Set Desktop Picture.

Your wallpaper will instantly change to the selected image. If the photo doesn’t perfectly fit your screen, macOS will automatically crop it to fill the display.

Method 2: Using the System Settings Menu

If you want to explore Apple’s official wallpapers, use dynamic backgrounds, or fine-tune how your image fits on the screen, you must use the system settings.

1. Click the Apple Logo in the top-left corner of the menu bar.
2. Select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions of macOS).
3. Scroll down the left-hand sidebar and click on Wallpaper.

In this menu, you will see several different categories of wallpapers:

Dynamic Wallpapers

These are special wallpapers created by Apple (usually landscapes or cityscapes) that change automatically based on the time of day. If you select a dynamic landscape, the image will show bright daylight in the morning, a sunset in the evening, and pitch darkness at night.

Light & Dark Wallpapers

These wallpapers have two versions. They will automatically switch to a bright version when your Mac is in Light Mode, and a darker, more subdued version when your Mac enters Dark Mode.

Pictures and Colors

You can select standard static images, or if you prefer a completely distraction-free environment, you can select a solid color (like pure black or dark gray) to serve as your background.

How to Make Your Wallpaper Change Automatically

If you can’t decide on just one photo, you can tell your Mac to cycle through an entire folder of images.

1. In the Wallpaper settings menu, scroll down to the bottom and click Add Folder.
2. Select a folder on your Mac that contains multiple images and click Choose.
3. The folder will now appear in the Wallpaper menu. Click the Auto-Rotate button next to the folder name.
4. A new drop-down menu will appear, allowing you to choose how often the image changes (e.g., every 5 minutes, every hour, or every time you wake the Mac from sleep).