One of the easiest ways to make your Windows 11 PC feel uniquely yours is by changing the desktop background (also known as the wallpaper). Whether you prefer a calming landscape, a photo of your family, or a solid minimalist colour, Windows 11 makes customising your workspace very simple.
Method 1: Right-Clicking the Desktop
This is the fastest method to access the background settings.
- Close or minimize any open windows so you can see your desktop.
- Right-click anywhere on an empty space on the desktop.
- Select Personalise from the context menu that appears.
- The Settings app will open. Click on Background at the top of the list.
- Under the “Personalise your background” section, you can choose between a Picture, a Solid colour, a Slideshow, or Windows Spotlight (which downloads fresh daily images from Microsoft).
- If you select “Picture”, you can click one of the recent images shown, or click the Browse photos button to select an image saved on your hard drive.
Method 2: Setting a Picture Directly
If you are browsing through your files and find a photo you want to use immediately, you do not need to open the Settings app at all.
- Open File Explorer and locate the image you want to use.
- Right-click the image file.
- Select Set as desktop background from the dropdown menu.
Your wallpaper will instantly change to the selected image. If the image looks stretched or distorted, you may need to go back to the Personalise settings menu and change the “Choose a fit for your desktop image” option to “Fill” or “Fit”.