Mac Tutorials
How to Change Your Desktop Wallpaper on Your Macbook: A Simple Guide
Everyone loves personalizing their devices and what better way to do that than by changing your desktop wallpaper on your MacBook! 🖥 This process is not only fun, but it’s also incredibly easy. 😃 In this article, we’re going to guide you through simple steps to achieve this customization.⚙
Minimize or Close Open Programs
Firstly, you need to close or minimize any programs or applications you have open. Clearing your desktop will make the process smoother. 👌
Select System Preferences
Next up, head to the finder bar at the top of your screen and click on the apple icon. 🍏 From the drop-down menu, select system preferences.👆
Choose Desktop and Screen Saver
After selecting system preferences, find and click on desktop and screen saver. This option lets you access your wallpaper settings. 😎
Select Wallpaper Options
In the wallpaper settings, you’ll see an option labeled graphic. This might be set to automatic. Click on the drop-down menu to explore the different options. 🏞 You can choose from light or dark modes and Apple-recommended desktop photos. If you feel adventurous, you can even set a custom RGB code! 🎨 Also, if you prefer simplicity, you can just set it to a default color. 🔵
Choose From Your Own Photos or Folders
Last but not least, you can always select a custom photo from your own library. 📂 This choice allows you to pick from your favorites section, shared images, or any albums on your computer. To do so, you can either navigate to your pictures folder or click the plus button to add a new location. 🗂 This feature gives you full control over personalizing your desktop wallpaper.
Conclusion: 🏁
To sum it up, changing your desktop wallpaper on a MacBook is a straightforward process that offers a multitude of options for customization. 🌈 Whether you want to stick with Apple’s fancy wallpapers, an interesting color gradient, or a special personal photo, the choice is all yours. Go ahead and do some experimenting and refresh your MacBook’s look today! 🚀
FAQ
How can I change my desktop wallpaper on my MacBook?
Navigate to System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop tab. From there, choose a folder with your desired image, select the image and it will automatically set as your desktop wallpaper.
Can I use any picture as wallpaper on my MacBook?
Yes, you can use any picture saved on your MacBook as wallpaper. Make sure the resolution of the picture is good enough for a wallpaper.
How do I set a GIF as my wallpaper on my MacBook?
Natively, MacOS does not support GIFs as wallpapers. However, there are several third-party applications that allow you to set GIFs as wallpapers, such as Irvue and Wallpaper Wizard.
Can I set a different wallpaper for each monitor in my MacBook?
Yes, you can set different wallpapers for different monitors. You have to open ‘System Preferences’, choose ‘Desktop & Screen Saver’, and there, you can choose an image for each screen.
Can I set a video as my wallpaper on MacBook?
By default, MacOS does not support videos as wallpapers. However, using third-party applications like VLC or Deskfun you can set video as your wallpaper.
Can I use a Live Photo as my MacBook wallpaper?
At the moment, MacOS does not support live photos as wallpapers. You can only use static images.
How do I download free wallpapers for my MacBook?
There are many websites that offer free wallpapers such as Unsplash, Walli, and Zedge. Once you’ve downloaded the image, you can set it as your wallpaper in the ‘System Preferences’.
Do I need special software to change my wallpaper on my Mac?
No, changing the wallpaper on a Mac doesn’t require any special software. You can do it from ‘System Preferences’ in MacOS.
Can I make my MacBook change wallpapers automatically?
Yes, you can. In the ‘System Preferences’, under ‘Desktop & Screen Saver’, select a folder and then check the box ‘Change picture’. You can choose the frequency of change from the drop-down menu.
What image format can I use for my MacBook wallpaper?
You can use most common image formats, such as .jpg, .png, .gif and .bmp, for your MacBook wallpaper.
Why can’t I change my wallpaper on my MacBook?
This issue might occur due to several reasons, such as a system glitch, a locked desktop picture, or insufficient permissions. Trying a system reboot often helps solve the issue. If the issue persists, you may need to contact Apple Support.
How do I make a picture fit my screen on MacBook?
Go to ‘System Preferences’ > ‘Desktop & Screen Saver’ > ‘Desktop’. After choosing an image, you can select a suitable option from ‘Fill Screen’, ‘Fit to Screen’, or ‘Stretch to Fill Screen’.
How can I set a web page as my desktop wallpaper on MacBook?
You can’t directly set a web page as wallpaper on MacBook. However, you can make a screenshot of the web page and set the saved screenshot as your wallpaper.
What’s the ideal resolution for an image to be used as wallpaper on my MacBook screen?
The ideal resolution depends on the model of your MacBook. For example, MacBook Pro with a 13-inch screen has a resolution of 2560 x 1600px, while the 15-inch model’s resolution is 2880 x 1800px. Always select an image with a resolution close to or higher than your display’s resolution.
Can I set a slideshow of pictures as my wallpaper on MacBook?
Yes, you can. Just choose a folder which contains the photos you want to display in ‘System Preferences’ > ‘Desktop & Screen Saver’ > ‘Desktop’. And then, tick ‘Change picture’ and select a time interval.
How do I set a picture as my wallpaper without downloading it?
You can do this by right-clicking on the image in your web browser and selecting ‘Set As Desktop Background’.
How do I choose a wallpaper from my Photos library?
You can do this by going to ‘System Preferences’ > ‘Desktop & Screensaver’ and selecting ‘Photos’ from there you can select the photo you want to use as your background.
Why does my wallpaper keep changing when I restart my Mac?
If your wallpaper keeps changing, you probably have the ‘Change Picture’ option selected in your Desktop preferences. You can disable this by unchecking the ‘Change Picture’ option in the ‘Desktop & Screen Saver’ settings.
How can I change the login screen background on my Mac?
Changing the background of your login screen is not directly supported in macOS. The background is automatically set to the default Mojave desert image or your current desktop wallpaper depending on your system settings.
How do I change my screen saver on my Mac?
To change your screen saver, go to ‘System Preferences’ > ‘Desktop & Screensaver’ > ‘Screen Saver’ tab, then make your selection and modify settings as needed.
Can I set multiple pictures as my wallpaper on my Mac?
Yes, you can set multiple pictures to alternate as your wallpaper. Simply select a folder of pictures in ‘Desktop & Screensaver’ settings, then tick ‘Change Picture’ and select the frequency.
Is there a shortcut to change the wallpaper on my MacBook?
No, there isn’t a dedicated shortcut to change the wallpaper. You will need to go through the ‘System Preferences’.
How do I set a picture from the web as my wallpaper?
You could right click on the picture in the web and choose ‘Set As Desktop Background’. If the option does not exist, download the image, and then set it as your wallpaper via ‘System Preferences’.
How to use a solid color as my MacBook wallpaper?
Go to ‘System Preferences’ > ‘Desktop & Screensaver’. Under the ‘Desktop’ tab, you can select ‘Solid Colors’ from the left sidebar and then select the color you want.
Can I use dynamic wallpapers on my MacBook?
Yes, starting from macOS Mojave, Apple introduces dynamic wallpapers that automatically change to match the time of the day.
Can I use different wallpapers for different desktops on my MacBook?
Yes, you can. Open each desktop separately in Mission Control, and then change the wallpaper of each from the ‘System Preferences’.
How to create my own dynamic wallpapers?
Creating dynamic wallpapers requires a series of images and a .plist file which assigns each image to a specific time of day. There are several third-party tools, like ‘Dynaper’ or ’24 Hour Wallpaper’, which can make this process easier.
Can my MacBook play a slideshow of my photos as my screensaver?
Yes, go to ‘System Preferences’ > ‘Desktop & Screensaver’ > ‘Screensaver’ tab. From there, you can select ‘Photo Library’ and choose the folder you want to slideshow.
How do I set my current screensaver as my desktop wallpaper?
macOS doesn’t directly support screensaver as wallpaper. But with help of third-party applications, like ‘Wallpaper Engine’ or ‘Wallsaver’, it’s possible to set screensaver as your wallpaper.
Can I change the wallpaper on someone else’s MacBook?
Yes, if you have access to their MacBook and know their password, or they have allowed guest access. Simply follow the same steps to change the wallpaper.