How to change the wallpaper on a Mac

2 min read · 4 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

You can choose from Apple's landscapes and moving aerial views, a plain colour or any photo of your own.

These steps are for recent versions of macOS, where the settings app is called System Settings. The pictures are simplified diagrams, not screenshots.

Step by step

1. Open System Settings and click Wallpaper

   Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and choose System Settings.

   Done

2. Click a wallpaper

   It is applied straight away. Some need a short download first.

   Done

3. Use your own photo

   Scroll to Your Photos and click Add Photo. Choose from Photos picks a picture from your library, Choose File picks an image file and Choose Folder uses a whole folder of pictures.

   Done

4. Set it from Finder

   Right-click an image file and choose Set Desktop Picture. In Photos, select a photo, click the share button and choose Set Wallpaper.

   Done

Good to know

Dynamic wallpapers change through the day with the light. Choose Automatic, Light or Dark in the menu that appears for them.

With more than one display, each can have its own wallpaper. Select the display at the top of the Wallpaper page.

Aerial wallpapers can also play in slow motion as your screen saver. Switch that on next to the wallpaper's name.

To use a picture from a web page, right-click it in Safari and choose Use Image as Desktop Wallpaper.

In short: System Settings, Wallpaper, click a picture, or right-click an image and Set Desktop Picture.