How to change the desktop background or wallpaper

Wallpaper is a file that is used as a backdrop on your “desktop” or the first screen you see after the operating system finishes booting. Computers come with a default picture, but you can change that. Many people use a picture for wall paper, it works best if the picture is wider than long (landscape version) or you can use a graphics file to create your own.

• Windows 7
• Vista
• Windows XP

 

Windows 7

1. Click the Start Button>Control Panel
2. Click "Appearance and Personalization"
3. Click "Personalization"
4. On the bottom of that screen click "Desktop Background"
5. Here is where it gets interesting, either you must select one of the selections in Windows Desktop Background, OR navigate to a folder where you have stored pictures by clicking the downward arrow in the figure below.

6. Select the picture you want and click "OK"

 

If none of the offerings appeal to you, use Windows Live Photo Gallery to select a picture. See downloading Windows Live Essentials for how to use this.

 

Windows Vista

1. Click the Start Button>Control Panel
2. Open Personalization
3. Open Desktop Background
4. Browse to the location of the file you wish to use
5. Select the picture and click on "Open"
6. Click "OK"

 

Windows XP

1. Click on the Start Button
2. Click on control panel
3. Double click on appearances and themes
4. Click on change the desktop background.
5. Click on the Desktop tab.
6. Scroll down the background box. To see what a background will look like, select it.
7. If you have another image that you wish to use as a background, click on Browse to find it. Once located, click on Open." (Note: You may need to change the position if the image is small.)
8. When you find one you like, click "Apply."
9. To uninstall, select "None" from the list.
10. When the settings satisfy you click "OK."

 

Created October 21, 2011