Changing your desktop background, or wallpaper, is a simple way to personalize your Windows computer. Whether you prefer a stunning landscape, a cherished photo, or a simple solid color, Windows offers a variety of options to customize your desktop to reflect your style. This guide will walk you through the process of changing your background image.
Changing Your Desktop Background Image
Here’s how to change your desktop background in Windows:
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Access Personalization Settings: Open the Settings app and select “Personalization.” Alternatively, right-click on your desktop and choose “Personalize.”
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Navigate to Background: In the Personalization settings, click on “Background.”
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Choose Your Background Type: You’ll see several options under “Personalize your background”:
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Picture: Select a single image from your computer or the default Windows images. You can also right-click an image file directly and select “Set as desktop background.” If you’re in the Photos app, use the three-dot menu to “Set as” > “Background.”
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Solid Color: Choose a single color for a minimalist background.
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Slideshow: Select a folder of images that will rotate as your background. Customize the time interval and whether to shuffle the images. Right-click on your desktop and select “Next desktop background” to manually advance to the next image.
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Windows Spotlight: Enjoy a fresh, new image from around the world each day.
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Choosing the Right Image Fit
When using a single picture or a slideshow, you can choose how the image fits your screen:
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Fill: The image expands to cover the entire screen, potentially cropping some edges.
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Fit: The image is resized to fit the screen without cropping, potentially adding black bars.
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Stretch: The image is stretched to fill the screen, which might distort the image.
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Tile: The image is repeated across the screen, suitable for small patterns.
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Center: The image is displayed in its original size in the center of the screen.
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Span: The image is stretched across multiple monitors if you have a multi-monitor setup.
Screenshot of Settings – configuring the fitting for a desktop background.
Multiple Displays and Desktops
With multiple displays, you can set a different background picture for each screen when using the “Picture” option. Right-click the chosen image and select your preference. Note that this isn’t possible with multiple virtual desktops. With a slideshow, each monitor will display a different image from your chosen folder.
For users with multiple virtual desktops, you can set a different background for each desktop. Right-click the image preview in “Recent images” and choose “Set for all desktops” or select a specific desktop. However, per-monitor backgrounds and slideshows are not supported with multiple desktops.
Screenshot of Settings – configuring a background for multiple desktops.
Alternative: Bing Wallpaper
The Bing Wallpaper app offers a convenient way to automatically update your desktop with stunning daily images from around the world. Each image includes a short description, providing context and visual interest.
Changing your background is a quick and easy way to refresh your digital space. Experiment with different images and settings to find the perfect look for your Windows desktop.
