Click: How to Change Your Desktop Background in Windows

This updated guide examines Click: How to Change Your Desktop Background in Windows and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1of 4:

Using Windows 10

1. Right-click an empty space on the desktop. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu.
2. ClickPersonalize. This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
3. Click the box beneath the "Background" heading. You can click one of the following options:
   • Picture - Allows you to select a picture to display on your desktop. A bunch of recent and sample pictures will be listed and can be used by clicking one. You can also clickBrowseand choose a picture if you don't like the stock photos. Furthermore, you can click the box beneath "Choose a fit" to change the way the picture is displayed (e.g., filling your entire screen).
   • Solid color - Allows you to select a solid color (e.g., gray) to fill your Windows desktop.
   • Slideshow - Displays a series of photos from your computer's default "Pictures" folder in a slideshow. You can change this folder by clickingBrowseand selecting a new folder.
     • It's best to make new folder dedicated for your desktop background slideshow that contains the pictures you want as a background. For example, you could create a folder called "Desktop Slideshow" under the "Pictures" section of File Explorer.
4. Exit the "Personalization" window to see your new background. To do so, click the X in the top-right corner of the page. Your selected wallpaper option will have automatically been applied to the desktop when you changed the settings.

Method 2of 4:

Using Windows 7 and 8

1. Right-click an empty space on the desktop. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu.
2. ClickPersonalize. This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
3. Click "Desktop Background". This link should be in the bottom-left corner of the window.
4. Click a picture. Doing so will select it as your desktop background.
   • You can also click theWindows Desktop Backgroundsdropdown menu near the top of the window to pick a different pictures folder (e.g., "Pictures").
   • If you want to look for a specific picture, clickBrowse.
   • Clicking the checkbox in the top-left corner of two or more pictures will place them on a slideshow rotation. You can change the default time between photos and transition style from the bottom of the window.
5. Click the box beneath the "Picture position" heading. You'll see options for displaying your picture here. A few common options include:
   • Fill - Your picture will take up the whole screen.
   • Tile - Multiple thumbnails of your picture will display in a grid on your desktop.
   • Center - Your picture will be centered in the middle of your screen with a black border.
6. Click a picture position option.
7. ClickSave changes. It's at the bottom of the "Desktop Background" window. Your changes will be applied.

Method 3of 4:

Using Windows Vista

1. Right-click an empty space on the desktop. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu.
2. ClickPersonalize. This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
3. Click "Desktop Background". It's the second link from the top of this window.
4. Click a picture. Doing so will select it as your desktop background.
   • You can also click theWindows Wallpapersbox near the top of the window to pick a different pictures folder (e.g., "Pictures").
   • If you want to look for a specific picture, clickBrowse.
5. Click a picture positioning option. This section is beneath the "How should the picture be positioned?" heading. Your options (from left to right) include a full-screen version of the picture, a grid comprised of your photo, and a centered version of the picture.
6. ClickOK. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will apply your selected picture to the desktop background.

Method 4of 4:

Using Windows XP

1. Right-click an empty space on the desktop. Doing so will prompt a drop-down menu.
2. ClickProperties. It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
3. Click theDesktoptab. You'll see this at the top of the "Properties" window.
4. Click a desktop image option. You'll see several options below the "Background" heading; clicking one will preview it in the window near the top of the page.
   • You can also clickBrowseto pick a custom picture.
   • For a solid color, click None as the background. Then click the box below "Color" in the bottom-right corner of the window, and pick a color.
5. Click the box below the "Position" heading. It's at the bottom-right side of the "Properties" window. You'll see three options here:
   • Stretch - Your picture will take up the whole screen.
   • Tile - Multiple thumbnails of your picture will display in a grid on your desktop.
   • Center - Your picture will be centered in the middle of your screen with a black border.
6. Click a picture position. Doing so will apply the position to your picture.
7. ClickOK. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will save your changes.