How to Change MacBook Wallpaper

This article explains how to change MacBook wallpaper to an image provided by Apple, a solid background color, or a picture of your choice.

How Do I Customize My MacBook Desktop?

One of the fastest and easiest ways to customize your MacBook is by changing your desktop wallpaper to an image you love, whether it's one Apple provided or a photo from your collection. You can always opt for a solid background color if that's more your style, but the choice is yours.

You can change your background by following these steps. If you can't decide which picture you like most, you can even set up your wallpaper so it rotates through select images throughout the day.

1. Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen, and select System Preferences.

2. Click Desktop & Screen Saver.

   An even faster way to access your Desktop & Screen Saver settings is by right-clicking anywhere and selecting Change Desktop Background. You can also right-click on the image you want as your wallpaper, and click Set Desktop Picture to see immediate changes.

3. Click Desktop Pictures, Solid Colors, or Folders > Pictures. If your Pictures folder is empty, click the + icon on the bottom left of the window to add images from another file.

4. Select an image you like from Desktop Pictures, Solid Colors, or Folders.

5. If you want your wallpaper to change throughout the day, click the box next to Change picture and select how often from the drop-down menu. Your wallpaper will rotate among other images in the folder you selected. If you check the box next to Random Order, your wallpaper will be randomly shuffled.

6. Your desktop will automatically display your newly selected wallpaper or wallpapers.

Why Can’t I Change the Desktop Background on My MacBook?

If you’re having difficulty changing your desktop background on your MacBook, here are a few suggestions to help resolve the issue.

•  If you’ve selected an image from the Internet or one of your own photos, first make sure that the file is saved in an accepted format. This includes JPEG, PICT, TIFF, or PNG.
• Press command + shift + G. In the pop-up window type in /Library/Desktop Pictures and make sure there are images in this folder.
• If the desktop background you picked isn’t showing up when you turn on your computer or restart, make sure that your image was stored on your startup disk. According to Apple, “images stored on a different disk might not load reliably after restarting your Mac, depending on how quickly the other disk becomes available after startup.”