Choose a different macOS Wallpaper as your Desktop background

Customizing the Desktop picture is an easy way to give your MacBook’s desktop a new look with fresh wallpaper. Apple already offers dozens of pictures to choose from. You can also use your own pictures or choose a solid color. Let’s see how to change the default macOS Wallpaper and set a different picture as your Desktop background.

How to change the default macOS Wallpaper?

If you do not like Apple’s customary Big Sur Graphic wallpaper, you can quickly change it to a macOS Wallpaper of your choice. See how it’s done!

1. On your mac, click Apple menu.
2. Choose System Preferences.
3. Select Desktop & Screensaver icon.
4. Switch to the Desktop tab.
5. Choose Desktop Pictures from the side panel on the left.
6. Select an image to set it as the Desktop background.
7. To use your own picture, select Pictures folder from Folders drop-down menu.
8. Select an image, right-click it and choose Share.
9. Select Set Desktop Picture option.

In addition to changing wallpaper for macOS, you can configure other options that will make the wallpaper look its best.

How to change wallpaper on Mac?

To freshen up your mac Desktop background look, follow the simple steps below.

On your Mac, click the Apple menu located in the upper left corner of your Desktop screen, and from the list of options displayed select System preferences.

When the System preferences window opens, click the Desktop & Screen Saver icon.

Instantly, you’ll be directed to the Desktop & Screen Saver screen, switch to the Desktop tab. This will allow you to select a background for your Desktop screen.

Hit the drop-down button, adjacent to the Apple heading under the side panel of the Desktop & Screen Saver screen. Choose the Desktop Pictures folder.

Now, select an image you would like to set as the Desktop wallpaper. If you would like the wallpaper to change throughout the day, click the box next to Change picture and select how often from the drop-down menu.

This will enable your MacBook to rotate among other images in the folder you selected. Note - If you check the box next to Random Order, your wallpaper will be shuffled in random order.

Similarly, if you would like to use your own picture as the macOS wallpaper, use the Photos app to import photos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac. For this, connect the device of your choice to your Mac with a USB cable.

Open the Photos app on your MacBook. The Photos app will show an Import screen with all the photos and videos that are on your connected device. If the Import screen doesn't automatically appear, click the device's name in the Photos sidebar.

If you see a Trust This Computer prompt on your device, tap Trust to continue.

Choose where you want to import your photos.

Select the photos you want to import and click Import Selected, or click Import All New Photos.

Now, hit the Folders drop-down button under the side panel of the Desktop & Screen Saver window and select the Pictures folder.

Navigate to the Photos Library as shown in the image above.

The action when confirmed will take you to the Imports screen. Right-click the image you want to use as a Desktop picture, select Share > Set Desktop Picture.

Verify the changes made.

Why can't I change desktop background Mac?

To change the Desktop background picture on mac, first, make sure that the file is saved in an accepted format. These accepted file formats include JPEG, PICT, TIFF, or PNG image files.

Hope that makes sense!