How to Change Your Desktop Background in Windows 11

This post shows students and new users how to change or replace the desktop background in Windows 11.

Windows 11 will allow you to change the desktop background with any photo you like. You don’t have to settle for images that come with your computer. Go and personalize your desktop to suit your taste.

Learning how to change your desktop background in Windows 11 can help you personalize your computer and make it more visually appealing. It also allows you to showcase your favorite photos or artwork as your desktop background, making using your computer a more pleasant experience.

Additionally, customizing your desktop background can help you distinguish your computer from others and make it easier to identify if you have multiple devices.

To get started changing Windows 11 background, follow the steps below:

Replacing desktop background with your photos

The steps below show them how to replace the default desktop background with their chosen photos.

Windows 11 has a centralized location for the majority of its settings. Everything can be done, from system configurations to creating new users and updating Windows from its System Settings pane.

To get to System Settings, you can use the Windows key + I shortcut or click on Start ==> Settings, as shown in the image below:

Alternatively, you can use the search box on the taskbar and search for Settings. Then select to open it.

Windows Settings pane should look similar to the image below. In Windows Settings, click Personalization and select Background on the right pane of your screen, as shown in the image below.

You can select a photo under Recent Images on the Background settings pane to use as your Background. Microsoft handpicks these images to use as your Background.

The Background section’s option lets you create a background from a picture, a color, or a slideshow. A slideshow is a combination of photos that automatically changes at preset intervals.

If you have multiple images you want to set as desktop backgrounds, then select Slideshow instead of Picture from the drop-down options.

If you don’t like the pictures under Recent images and want your photos as Background, click the Browse Photos button to search for your images.

Browse to where you have your photos and select it. Background files can be stored as BMP, GIF, JPG, JPEG, DIB, or PNG.

The image will immediately become your new background photo.

Windows tries to choose the best-looking setting for your photos. Not all photos will fit neatly on your desktop, especially if your desktop is quite large.

Small photos might not look as good on your desktop and may need to be stretched to fit the screen, making it look distorted.

If the background photo you select doesn’t fit or looks right on the desktop background, try the Fill or Fit option to select a good fit for your desktop. 

That should do it! Windows should display a new background photo of your liking.

Conclusion:

• Changing your desktop background in Windows 11 allows for personal expression and creativity.
• You can use any photo or image format that you prefer, ensuring your desktop reflects your taste.
• The ability to create a slideshow offers a dynamic option for displaying multiple images.
• Adjusting the fit of your chosen photo ensures it appears correctly on your screen.
• Customizing your desktop background helps differentiate your device, especially if you own multiple computers.