How to change your Mac wallpaper
To set a saved image as your desktop background, Control-click the file in Finder and choose Set Desktop Picture. You can also select a file or folder in System Settings.
Set a saved image from Finder
- Save the image to your Mac and open its folder in Finder.
- Control-click the image file.
- Choose Set Desktop Picture.
Keep the saved file in a location you can find again. If you are browsing on a phone, transfer the original image to your Mac first; sending a reduced-size copy may make it look soft on a larger screen.
Choose an image in System Settings
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Select Wallpaper in the sidebar; scroll if needed.
- Under Your Photos, choose Add Photo, then Choose File.
- Select the image and click Open.
Apple also documents dragging an image onto the current wallpaper thumbnail, or adding a folder. The labels and available options can vary with your macOS version. See Apple’s wallpaper instructions.
If the wallpaper does not look right
The image is cropped
Its shape may differ from your display. Try the available size and position controls in Wallpaper settings or choose an image closer to your screen’s aspect ratio. See how to fix wallpaper cropping.
The image looks blurry
Check that you saved the full-size image rather than a small preview. Compare its pixel dimensions with your display using the Mac wallpaper size guide, then follow our blurry wallpaper troubleshooting steps.
The desktop and screen saver differ
Wallpaper and screen saver settings are related but separate. A still image used as wallpaper is not automatically an animated screen saver. Apple describes the available controls in Wallpaper settings.
Use a different image on each display
If you have an external monitor, see how to choose wallpapers for multiple displays.