How to Use Your Own Photo as Mac Wallpaper
You can set a photo directly from the Photos app or choose an image file in System Settings. For the sharpest result, start with the original image and check how it fits your display.
Set a picture from Photos
- Open Photos and select the picture.
- Click the Share button in the toolbar and choose Set Wallpaper.
- Check the desktop. If the subject is cut off, adjust the image’s crop or the available wallpaper fit option.
Set an image file
In Finder, Control-click the saved image and choose Set Desktop Picture. Alternatively, open System Settings → Wallpaper, choose Add Photo → Choose File under Your Photos, and select the file. These methods are described in Apple’s wallpaper guide.
Make a portrait photo fit a landscape screen
A portrait image is much taller than a desktop screen. Filling the screen may remove a large part of the top and bottom. Try an available fit option to retain the whole photo, accepting empty space at the sides, or prepare a landscape composition with a background around the portrait. Stretching it changes the proportions of faces and objects.
Keep a good original
A photo received through a messaging service or saved from a social media preview may be smaller or more compressed than the original. Check its dimensions in Finder with File → Get Info. For cropping instructions, see how to crop a wallpaper in Preview; for quality issues, see fixing blurry wallpaper.