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

 

[Brink]

Tutorial has been updated to add OPTION TWO for how to manually change the desktop background wallpaper in registry editor for only your user account.

 

[translator40]

Desktop Background-Change

Cookieman, thanks for your reply. It looks like a winner except I confess I don't know how to do it. I set up my wallpaper by pulling up a jpg image and right click to the wallpaper option. Throughout the process I don't see an option for sizing the image to the screen. Obviously you have something else in mind. Can you please explain what process you're tracking.
Thanks!

 

[derekimo]

Cookieman, thanks for your reply. It looks like a winner except I confess I don't know how to do it. I set up my wallpaper by pulling up a jpg image and right click to the wallpaper option. Throughout the process I don't see an option for sizing the image to the screen. Obviously you have something else in mind. Can you please explain what process you're tracking.
Thanks!

He's talking about the option in the lower left of this picture,



You get there by right clicking on the desktop and choosing the personalize option.

 

[translator40]

Desktop Background-Change

Thanks, guys! I finally figured it out. That works nicely and solves the problem. I appreciate your help. This is a great forum.

 

[maryjanerose]

can't change my window 7 basic!!!

 

[derekimo]

can't change my window 7 basic!!!

Welcome to the forum maryjanerose,

Have a look at this tutorial instead,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/47294-desktop-background-change-windows-7-starter.html

 

[damitz]

Hi all.....I'm new here so if I interupted something or posted this in the wrong place, I truly appologize......but......I've had this problem for a long time. I try to change my desktop background on Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit through Personalization, well, it will change.......for about 5 seconds, and then go back to that awful Zodiac background no matter what I do. Any help for me?:banghead::banghead:

 

[Brink]

Hello damitz, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Have you applied any custom skins or anything like this to your Windows 7?

When you changed your desktop background, did you click on the OK button at the bottom to apply it? If not that would cause the background to revert back to what you had before like that when you close the "Desktop Background" window.

If you did click on "Save changes", then as a test, create a new account of the same type (ex: administrator) for yourself, and see how changing the desktop background works while logged in it.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[damitz]

Sorry it took so long to reply, but, I've been trying your suggestions. I've downloaded themes from the Microsoft Windows 7 site and that's what I've been trying to use. I've clicked the "sve Changes" button after choosing a picture, and, as I"ve said....it will change the picture for about 10 seconds and then goes back to the Zodiac picture. NOW, I created another admistrator account for myself and that keeps the picture I choose, but, then I lose all of my settings and stuff. Thank you so very much for giving me your advise, but, is there any way to keep all of my settings and programs, etc., and still change the picture?
And again, thank you very much---my sanity has returned!!!

I take it alllll back......the bunnies are still there. What happened? This is GREAT!!! I owe you BIG TIME!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome.

Well, since it works just fine in the new account, it's not a system setting and must be some change made in that original account causing it. I'd say try a system restore with a restore point, but since you say it's been like this for a long time, you most likely wouldn't have a restore point available dated before this started.

I'm not sure what else to suggest other than using the new account instead, and copying over all of your favorites, shortcuts, and redo your settings.

 

[damitz]

OH< NO.....somehow....I switched back to my original log-in, and, it's now keeping the correct desktop background. Whatever you've suggested was magic. Thank you again!!!!

 

[Brink]

That's great news. I'm happy to hear it's working properly now for you.

 

[damitz]

I don't know what I did wrong here, I replied but it did stick....so---I switched back to my original account and changed desktop backgrounds there and it seems to be staying now. I don't know what kind of magic that you have, But, I get to keep my settings and all that good stuff!!! Thank you so very, very much!!~!!!!@##!@!!!!

 

[Brink]

It's just that classified alien tech.