How to Change the Wallpaper on Your Computer or Phone

This article explains how to change your desktop wallpaper across various operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.

How to Set the Windows Desktop Background

1. Locate an image you want to become your wallpaper and open it. (By default, it will open in Photos.)

2. Right-click or tap-and-hold it to choose either Set as > Set as background or, in older versions of Windows, Set as desktop background.

   

3. Alternatively, perform a similar step in File Explorer. Open File Explorer, right-click the image and select Set as desktop background.

   

Another way to change the desktop wallpaper in Windows is to open the Personalize option on the desktop:

1. Right-click the desktop and select Personalize. (Or in the Windows 10 menu, go to Settings > Personalization > Background.) In Windows 8/7/Vista access the Control Panel's Personalization applet.

   

2. Under the Background dropdown, select Picture.

   

3. Use an image from Microsoft or select Browse to find a different picture on your hard drive.

   

4. Optionally fit, stretch, or fill the screen with the photo, or even tile, center, or span it across several screens.

   Some versions of Windows offer additional options, like automatically changing the desktop wallpaper after a period of time, which comes in handy if you don't want to settle with just one background.

Changing the Wallpaper on Other Devices

Windows isn't the only operating system that can have its desktop wallpaper customized. Below are some instructions for other devices including how to change it on a wide variety of mobile phones.

On macOS and Linux

Right-click a photo on your Mac and choose Set Desktop Picture. Use photos online or ones saved to your computer.

Another way to change the desktop image on a Mac is to right-click a blank area on the desktop and choose the Change Desktop Background option. If you use this method, choose some other wallpapers and have all of them cycled on a schedule.

If you're using a Linux OS, such as Ubuntu, right-click the photo saved to your computer and pick the Set as Wallpaper option from the menu. Another option is to right-click the desktop and go to Change Desktop Background.

On Apple and Android Devices

IOS and iPadOS

One way to change the wallpaper on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is to first save the image to your phone and then open the Photos app to view it. With the image now open, use the More button on the bottom of the screen to select Use as Wallpaper, and then choose Set Lock Screen or Set Home Screen to pick whether to use it on your home screen and/or lock screen background.

Android

Use this Android guide for changing the wallpaper. As with iOS devices, you enjoy plenty of free websites to download hundreds of Android wallpapers, such as AndroidWalls.