Desktop Background - Change

How to Change the Windows 7 Desktop Background​

   Information

This will show you how to change your desktop background to either a wallpaper picture (image), solid color, or slideshow of you choice in Windows 7.

   Note

The default Windows 7 desktop background image is located in the folder below. If you had deleted it by mistake, you can click on the Download button below to download it in a ZIP file. See example screeenshot below.

C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg.


Download

   Tip

• For free desktop background wallpapers from Microsoft, see: Desktop backgrounds (wallpaper) - Microsoft Windows
• To select another regional wallpaper in steps 3 and 4 below:
  • Unhide the Windows 7 System and Protected Operating System files.
    NOTE: This will be steps 2 and 4 at that link.
  • Browse to C:\Windows\Globalization\MCT.
  • Open a MCT-(AU, CA, GB, US, or ZA) folder for the regional wallpaper that you want.
    NOTE: AU (Australia), CA (Canada), GB (United Kingdom), US (United States), and ZA (South Africa).
  • Open the folder with the name (ex: Australia) for the region area.
    NOTE: Once you have browsed to the selected regional wallpaper location, it will be listed in the Picture location drop down menu to select from next time.
  • Select the wallpaper in step 4 below.
    Hide the Windows 7 System and Protected Operating System files.
    NOTE: This will be steps 3 and 5 at that link.

   Warning

The Windows 7 Starter edition does not include the Personalization features such as the change desktop background option.

Lets talk about Windows 7 Starter - Windows 7 Team Blog - The Windows Blog

The Windows 7 Home Basic edition does not have the Personalization feature either, and will only allow you to change the desktop background by right clicking on a image and clicking on Set as desktop background.

You can use the tutorial at the link below to be able to change the desktop background like in Personalization in the Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions.

How to Change the Desktop Background in Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic Editions

EXAMPLE: Default Windows 7 Desktop Background

OPTION ONE

To Change Desktop Background Wallpaper from Context Menu of Image

1. Right click on the image you want as your wallpaper, and click on Set as desktop background. (see screenshot below)

OPTION TWO

To Change Desktop Background Wallpaper in "Personalization" Settings

1. Right click on a empty space on the desktop and click on Personalize. (see screenshot below)

2. Click on the Desktop Background link at the bottom of the window. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: The name in gray under Desktop Background is the current desktop background file name.
3. Select a Picture Location A) Click on the drop down arrow menu to select from the list of available picture folder locations, or click on the Browse button to navigate to the picture folder location. (see screenshot below step 7)
NOTE: To use another regional wallpaper, see the yellow TIP box at the top of the tutorial. To remove a folder from the Picture location, see How to Remove the Windows 7 Desktop Background Picture Location History.
B) Select the picture folder and click on Select Folder.
4. Select a Desktop Background A) Right click on an available picture, or click (check) on the box in the upper left corner of the picture, to select it. (see screenshot below step 7)
NOTE: You can continue to right click on the images to see it previewed on your desktop until you decide which one you like best.
5. Select the Picture Position A) Click on the drop down arrow menu, and click on the picture position you want for the desktop background. (see bottom of screenshot below step 7)
6. For a Desktop SlideShow A) For how, see: How to Create a Desktop Slideshow in Windows 7
7. Click on Save changes to apply the changes. (see screenshots below)



8. Close the Personalize window when done. (see screenshot below step 2)

OPTION THREE

To Change Desktop Background Wallpaper Manually in Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu, type regedit in the search box and press Enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop


4. In the right pane of the Desktop key in regedit, right click on the Wallpaper string value and click on Modify. (see screenshot above)

5. Type in the full path of the image file (ex: .jpg or .bmp), and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Be sure that the name of the image file does not contain any spaces in it. If it does, rename the image file first so that it doesn't. If you use a image file name with a space in it's name, then you would just get a solid black desktop background instead.
6. Close regedit.

7. log off and log on to apply.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Remove the Windows 7 Desktop Background Picture Location History
• How to Change the Desktop Background in Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic Editions
• How to Make your own Windows 7 Theme Pack
• How to Change or Save a Windows 7 Theme
• How to Change the Window Color and Appearance in Windows 7
• How to Create a Desktop Slideshow in Windows 7
• How to Turn Aero Peek On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows 7 Personalization Shortcut
• How to Allow or Prevent Changing Desktop Background in Windows 7
• How to Specify a Desktop Background for All Users
• How to Remove Background Images to have Only Solid Colors in Windows 7
• How to Play a Music Video as the Desktop Background
• How to Create a Change "Desktop Background" Shortcut in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove "Next desktop background" from the Windows 7 Desktop Context Menu
• How to Add or Remove "Personalize" from Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Set or Unset Bing Homepage Image in Bing Desktop as Desktop Background in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove "Set as desktop background" from Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8

 

[nate42nd]

I hope this is an okay place for this question. When I save a themepack or "run" it. I cannot find the pictures for the desktop background. Where are they going? I can't seem to find where they are going. I know where they are supposed to go but could this just be a poorly made themepack? or am I missing something here?

 

[Brink]

Hi Nate,

Strange, you should still see the default wallpapers from the C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper location even if the new themepack did not include one. Could you post a screen of this area?

 

[nate42nd]

Yea, thanks Brink. I have a theme called nuclear blasts. I got it from a place called RapidShare. I don't know this place...maybe it a bad Themepack but if you want it..here it is. (I love nuclear blasts)

http://rapidshare.com/files/210151065/NuclearBlast.themepack

As you can see...there is no "nuclear blasts" wallpaper here. I made the "China" one. I put Korea and China in "China" so I kinda know how to arrange wallpaper.


View attachment 8351

 

[Brink]

Interesting, when you get to step 7 above, what does it show as the Picture Location when you are using the "Nuclear Blasts" theme?

 

[nate42nd]

It does not show them at all. Maybe I will have to create one and post it in the "themes" thread. I don't know what happened to those pictures. Maybe a poorly created theme?

 

[Brink]

Could be.

 

[sergiogarcia9]

Replace default Windows Desktop Backgrounds

Dont know if this is cool, but here is the tutorial anyways.

First navigate to: %SystemRoot%\Web\Wallpaper

Thats pretty much it, place your wallpapers there, create new folders etc, and they will show in the Windows Desktop Backgrounds menu in wallpaper selection

This can also be done with Sounds
Just navigate to: %SystemRoot%\Media

 

[DJ MadHatter]

Still Confused

Ah, I still need some help.
I just got my new Windows 7 Mini Netbook, and I am not all that sure if the tutorial you posted works on my computer. Help please?

 

[Kari]

Hello DJ, welcome to the Seven Forums.

What version of Win7 you have? Some netbooks have Windows 7 Starter Edition, which does not allow you to change the desktop wallpaper.

Kari

 

[Brink]

Ah, I still need some help.
I just got my new Windows 7 Mini Netbook, and I am not all that sure if the tutorial you posted works on my computer. Help please?

Hello DJ,

If it's a Windows 7 Starter edition, then you will not be able to change the desktop background since that feature is not included in that Windows 7 edition.

 

[Cirux]

Background position

So it lets me change the background picture when I go to change my background, but I made the background picture myself and it's a little too small to be stretched. It wont let me change the picture position to anything but stretch nor will it let me change the background color... I'm probably just doing something stupid but it's starting to bother me. Can anyone help?

 

[Brink]

Hello Cirux, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might see if you can create a larger image of it, or if enlarging the image with something like Paint may allow it to work properly afterwards.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Cirux]

Thank you
I tried that, I ended up just giving it a much bigger border and painting it black so it would fill my desktop. I played around with it for a bit and tried changing the size of it to make it much smaller and larger, I also used a couple different images to see if maybe it was just mine. It still wouldn't let me change the picture position to tile or anything, it would just default back to stretch. I'll live with it for now though, thanks for the help Shawn
-Amanda

 

[Brink]

Amanda,

Did you try making one that was the same size as your screen resolution?

 

[Cirux]

Ok so that didn't help with picture position problem but it definitely helped make it so the picture wasn't stretched. Even when I was messing with the size, because it wasn't the same as my screen resolution it was still stretching the picture out a little. So at least now I'm able to center the picture enough and scale it right to make me happy. Thanks again Shawn
-Amanda

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Amanda. Do you have this problem with all images used for the background. What type (ex: BMP, JPG, etc....) of file is it? What edition (ex: Home Premium, Ultimate) of Windows 7 do you have?

 

[Cirux]

Well I made it in gimp so it was originally a xcf but I converted it to a jpg so it would be compatible... I also tried a png image i got off the internet which didn't work either, after you asked that i went back in and tried using the original jpg image before i edited it in gimp. I have home premium, I know the starter edition doesn't allow you to change the background but I figured if they didn't allow you to change something like that in home premium they'd take away the option. It just makes me a little confused, maybe there's a setting somewhere I need to change.. If I ever figure it out I'll probably feel pretty dumb for not getting it right away

 

[Brink]

Amanda,

As a test create a new administrator account, and see how it works in it.

 

[mrainbo335]

Of course, but...

It took me just a few moments to execute the steps so vividly pictured above, but what I wanted to know was if there was any step beyond for stabilizing the, well, for me it concerns the 'stretch' option.

You see, whereas my former Windows XP didn't give me any problem with my Webshots desktop background, I now need to stretch the image to fit my wide screen (and by the way, I really dislike this current vogue of wide-screen monitors). "Okay nice," I first thought when reaching your finely illustrated plateau, until I found that the screen-image reverted to a 'centered' image when the next daily Webshots image went up.

What I'd like to do (and does anyone have any knowledge or idea about this?) is to render a permanent setting of the 'stretch' option to save me the daily chore of re-setting it.