Windows 11 and Windows 10 let you set a photo, a solid color, a rotating slideshow, or Microsoft’s Windows spotlight images as your desktop background. Everything lives in the Personalization section of Settings, and there are a couple of shortcuts for setting any picture in a single click. The Windows 11 steps come first; the Windows 10 steps are further down.
Quick answer
Right-click an empty area of the desktop, choose Personalize, then Background. Under Personalize your background, pick Picture, Solid color, Slideshow, or Windows spotlight, then choose your image or color.
How to change the background in Settings
- Open Settings (Windows+I) and select Personalization > Background.
- Open the Personalize your background drop-down and choose a type.
- For Picture, click a recent image or select Browse photos to pick one from your PC.
- Use Choose a fit for your desktop image to control how it fills the screen (see the table below).
- Close Settings. The change applies immediately.
Background types
| Type | What it does |
|---|---|
| Picture | One image stays on the desktop |
| Solid color | A plain color; choose from the palette or select View colors for a custom one |
| Slideshow | Rotates through every picture in a folder you choose |
| Windows spotlight | Downloads a new photo from Microsoft regularly, with an icon on the desktop to learn about it |
Choosing the right fit
| Fit | Result |
|---|---|
| Fill | Covers the screen, cropping edges if needed. Best for most photos. |
| Fit | Shows the whole image, adding bars if the shape doesn’t match |
| Stretch | Covers the screen by distorting the image |
| Tile | Repeats a small image across the screen |
| Center | Places the image in the middle at its original size |
| Span | Stretches one image across multiple monitors |
Set up a slideshow
- Put the photos you want in one folder.
- In Personalization > Background, choose Slideshow and select Browse to pick the folder.
- Set Change picture every to anything from 1 minute to 1 day.
- Turn on Shuffle the picture order if you want a random order.
- Laptop users can decide whether the slideshow keeps running on battery power.
Faster ways to set a picture
- File Explorer: Right-click an image and choose Set as desktop background.
- Photos app: Open the image, select the three-dot menu, then Set as > Set as background.
- Web browser: Save the image first, then use one of the methods above. Use pictures you have the right to use.
Different backgrounds on each monitor
Choose Picture, then right-click a thumbnail under Recent images and pick Set for monitor 1 or Set for monitor 2. Full steps are in our guide to setting different wallpapers on dual monitors.
Use a theme instead
Go to Personalization > Themes to change the background, accent color, sounds, and mouse cursor together. More themes are free in the Microsoft Store. If you’d rather keep your colors, change only the background.
Match colors to your new background
Go to Personalization > Colors. Set Accent color to Automatic and Windows picks a color from your wallpaper for buttons, highlights, and (if you turn on Show accent color on Start and taskbar) the taskbar. Choose Light or Dark mode there too, so the Start menu and apps suit the picture.
Where Windows keeps wallpapers
The built-in Windows 11 wallpapers are in C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper, sorted into folders by theme. Pictures you add are used from wherever you saved them, so if you move or delete the original file, a slideshow will skip it. Keep your favorites together in a folder such as Pictures\Wallpapers.
How to Change the Background in Windows 10
The options are almost identical in Windows 10, but the layout is slightly different:
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop and choose Personalize, or open Settings > Personalization > Background.
- Open the Background drop-down and choose Picture, Solid color or Slideshow.
- For Picture, click one of the recent images or click Browse to choose your own.
- Use Choose a fit to pick Fill, Fit, Stretch, Tile, Center or Span.
- For Slideshow, click Browse to choose a folder, then set how often the picture changes and whether to shuffle.
As in Windows 11, you can also right-click any image in File Explorer and choose Set as desktop background.
Note: Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run until October 12, 2027. These steps still work on Windows 10, but upgrading to Windows 11 is the long-term way to keep getting security fixes.
Windows 10 vs Windows 11 Background Settings
| Feature | Windows 11 | Windows 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Where to find it | Settings > Personalization > Background | Settings > Personalization > Background |
| Picture, solid color, slideshow | Yes | Yes |
| Different picture per monitor | Right-click a recent image and choose the monitor | Right-click a recent image and choose the monitor |
| Themes | Personalization > Themes | Personalization > Themes |
Troubleshooting
- Personalization options are greyed out: Windows isn’t activated, or the PC is managed by an organization. Activate Windows in Settings > System > Activation, or ask your IT team. You can still right-click an image in File Explorer and set it as the background.
- The picture looks blurry: Use an image at least as large as your screen resolution, such as 1920×1080 or 2560×1440, and choose Fill rather than Stretch.
- The background keeps changing back: Check whether Windows spotlight or a slideshow is selected, or whether a theme sync or company policy is overriding your choice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I go back to the default Windows 11 background?
Choose Picture and pick the default image from Recent images, or go to Themes and select the Windows (light) or Windows (dark) theme.
Can I use a video or GIF as my background?
Not natively. Windows shows only the first frame of a GIF. You’ll need a third-party app; see setting a video as your wallpaper in Windows 11.
What image formats work?
Common formats such as JPG, PNG, BMP, and GIF all work. Large, high-quality JPG or PNG files give the best result.
Is the lock screen picture the same setting?
No. The lock screen has its own options under Personalization > Lock screen. See how to change the lock screen on Windows 11.
Does changing the background slow down my PC?
No. A still picture, color, or Windows spotlight uses almost no resources. Third-party animated wallpapers are the exception and can use noticeable CPU, GPU, and battery.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.