Software & Apps Linux Steps for Customizing Desktop Wallpaper in Ubuntu Changing the wallpaper for GNOME Shell is point-and-click simple By Gary Newell Writer Gary Newell was a freelance contributor, application developer, and software tester with 20+ years in IT, working on Linux, UNIX, and Windows. our editorial process Gary Newell Updated March 20, 2020 Ian McKinnell / Getty Images Linux Switching from Windows Tweet Share Email After installing Ubuntu onto your computer, the next step is customization. After all, it's your computer and it should look and feel like it belongs to you. Appearance settings in Ubuntu are slightly different from other operating systems and may take some getting used to. This procedure works for Ubuntu Linux, version 19.10, using the default GNOME Shell. Procedures are similar for previous versions of the Ubuntu distribution — including Ubuntu 18.04 LTS — but differ for alternative desktop environments. 01 of 02 Access the Desktop Settings To change the desktop wallpaper settings within Ubuntu, right-click on the desktop. In the menu that appears, click Change background to reveal the Background Settings screen. You can also bring up these settings with the Dash by either pressing the Win key or clicking on the top item on the launcher and typing background into the search box. Click the Background icon when it appears. 02 of 02 Choose a Preset Desktop Wallpaper The Background Settings screen lists stock wallpapers. Click Add Picture to incorporate your own image into the list. Click any image to reveal a pop-up menu. Select Set Background, Set Lock Screen, or Set Background and Lock Screen as you prefer.