How to Change Your Desktop Background in Windows 11 or 10

Quit staring at that boring Windows logo

Tired of looking at the same old desktop background on your Windows 11 or 10 PC? Changing your wallpaper is a simple and effective way to customize your computer and make it feel more like your own.

Windows 11 and 10 offer a wide range of options for customizing your desktop, including the ability to change your background image. Whether you want to use a personal photo, a favorite image from the internet, or a pre-installed wallpaper, the process is quick and easy.

Note:We wrote instructions in this article using Windows 11. The instructions work the same in Windows 10, even if the interface looks a little different.

Set a Picture as Your Windows Desktop Wallpaper

Changing your desktop background is a simple way to personalize your Windows 11 experience. If you want to set a single picture as your background, there are a few ways to do it.

Use File Explorer

The quickest way to set an image as your background is to open a File Explorer window and locate the folder containing the image. When you find it, right-click the image and chooseSet As DesktopBackground.

Use the Settings App

You can also use the Settings app to choose an image for your background. While it takes a little more effort than File Explorer, you also have additional options.

Tip:Why limit your creativity to just the desktop background? Windows 11 lets you customize your lock screen background as well. This means that even before entering your password, you can enjoy a visually stunning image that reflects your style and interests. [link to lock screen article]

Set a Solid Color as Your Windows Desktop Wallpaper

Setting a solid color as your background follows mostly the same procedure as setting an image.

And there you have it—a quick and easy way to set a solid color as your Windows desktop background.

Create a Slideshow Background in Windows

Using a slideshow background lets you select one or more folders with images and have Windows cycle through those images automatically.

Tip:Looking for other ways to automate the process? Check out ourfull guide to changing your Windows 11 Background automatically, where we cover the slideshow feature in more detail, using themes, and several of our favorite automatic wallpaper changer apps.

Set Different Backgrounds on Different Monitors

If you have multiple monitors, you can set a different background image for each one.

Tip:Check out ourfull guide to setting different wallpapers for different monitorsfor more, including recommendations for several of our favorite apps that give you even more power.

Where Windows 11 Stores Its Default Wallpapers

Windows 11 includes some beautiful new default wallpapers, but since most of them are tied to themes, they can be hard to set individually. Fortunately, Windows stores these in an easy-to-access location. just browse to the following location in File Explorer:

In this folder, you’ll find five categories of wallpapers that Windows 11 offers as default options. These categories are Captured Motion, Flow, Glow, Sunrise, and Windows. Each category has its own unique set of wallpapers that you can choose from.

Other Ways to Change Your Background Wallpaper in Windows

Still looking to do more with your Windows background? Good, because we’ve got more!

Looking for More Wallpaper?

If you need sources for high-quality wallpaper, look no further. Here are some of the guides we’ve published:

Still need more? Just perform a Google image search for something like “wallpaper nature 4k” or “wallpaper nature 2560×1440.” You’ll get some great results right away, but you can fine-tune those results by selecting any of the suggestions at the top (things like Winter and Autumn in the image below). You can go even further by selecting theColordropdown and filtering results to just the color scheme you want.

Enjoy Your New Background

As you can see, Windows 11 provides a range of fun options for changing your desktop background. Why settle for a plain desktop when you can have a visually captivating and personalized experience every time you use your computer?

Got a favorite app or wallpaper source we missed? Let us know in the comment!

Elsie is a technology writer and editor with a special focus on Windows, Android and iOS. She writes about software, electronics and other tech subjects, her ultimate goal being to help people out with useful solutions to their daily tech issues in a simple, straightforward and unbiased style. She has a BCom degree in Marketing and currently pursuing her Masters in Communications and New Media.Read Elsie’s Full Bio

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How to Change Your Desktop Background in Windows 11 or 10#

Set a Picture as Your Windows Desktop Wallpaper#

Use File Explorer#

Use the Settings App#

Set a Solid Color as Your Windows Desktop Wallpaper#

Create a Slideshow Background in Windows#

Set Different Backgrounds on Different Monitors#

Where Windows 11 Stores Its Default Wallpapers#

Other Ways to Change Your Background Wallpaper in Windows#

Looking for More Wallpaper?#

Enjoy Your New Background#

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