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

 

[lparks]

still having trouble

so, I have the ability to change the pictures and screen savers and anything to "personalize" my comp, but when it comes to changing the "picture position" for the desktop background, it always goes to "stretch" even after I "save changes". it is like it automatically defaults to that setting and wont go to any other setting. does anyone have any ideas?
thanks for the help
LP

 

[lucylking]

"stretch" issues continued

The stretch option being stuck as a permanent option seems to be a common theme in this thread. It's why I ended up here as well. I am curious as to which driver/software update from HP helped @Cirux as I have an HP system as well, and I am having the exact problem described. Primarily, I am trying to use the slide show, and I would prefer to do it straight through my personalization rather than having to download another program for it. I have a Gadget that does it, but it's not ideal as it cuts away parts of images.

 

[Brink]

Hello Lucy, and welcome to Seven Forums.

As a test, you might create a new administrator account to see how if it may work properly while logged on to it.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[lucylking]

Hello Lucy, and welcome to Seven Forums.

As a test, you might create a new administrator account to see how if it may work properly while logged on to it.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

I also did that with no difference. I'm uploading screenshots showing that I select "tiled" background as an option, save, close, and open it back up to show that it's reverted to "stretch."

 

[Brink]

I'm not sure I've seen this before or not. Was this a clean or upgrade install of Windows 7?

 

[lucylking]

Clean. Bought it a couple of months ago.

 

[Brink]

You might consider doing a repair install to see if can fix this for you. You will not lose anything.

 

[Cirux]

Lucy: go to HP United States - Computers, Laptops, Servers, Printers and more -> support and drivers -> notebooks and tablet pc's -> notebook PC's -> HP pavilion PC's -> (whatever your computer is, mine was dv6) -> (again, whatever your computer is, mine was 1350us) -> microsoft windows 64 bit -> scroll down to software - solutions, there should be an option for wallpaper picture position enabler. I had the same problem, you just need to download the driver for it hope this helps

 

[Unknownsaylor]

Hello folks, when I right click my desk top I do not get the personalised Icon, has anyone expereinced this before

 

[Brink]

Hello Unknownsaylor, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm not sure what edition of Windows 7 you have, but the Windows 7 Starter edition does not include the Personalization or Aero features with it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Unknownsaylor]

Thanks for quick response but does that mean i cant personalise my desk top???

 

[Brink]

Of course not. You could use something like this to change your wallpaper instead.

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

 

[mrdoug]

Personalization does not stay?

I have a brand spanking new ASUS Notebook UL30VT Windows 7 Home Premium 64. OH Joy!! The desktop personalization does not stay? Every time the system boots initially it has the desktop background but then changes to a default blistering white ASUS logo screen! It is so bright some of of the icons become invisible. Any ideas why this is happening and how I might resolve this? Thanks!!

 

[Brink]

Hello Doug, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might double check to see if you may have a startup program that is loading the ASUS logo screen as your desktop background and overriding the Oceanis program. If you do, then temporarily disable it to confirm it before deleting it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[deldiablo]

Images

Hi there,
whenever i download an image off the net to use as a background it always appears blocky. I have tried different resolutions of images but they all end up the same, am i doing something wrong?

 

[Brink]

Hello Deldiablo, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Could you upload and attach an example of one these images for us to take a look at and test on our system to see what may be wrong?

 

[deldiablo]

hi here are a couple of the images, my laptop resolution is 1366 x 788 i have tried bigger and smaller images but no difference,

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Could you upload the actual full size copies instead? You can place them in a ZIP file if they are to large. I can't test these since they are to small.

 

[deldiablo]

hope ive done it right, sorry

 

[Brink]

Well, if that is the size that you downloaded, then that is your problem. One is only 150x113, and the other is only 102x150. They would appear as you described if used as a wallpaper since they are to small. It looks like you have downloaded the thumbnail version of the image instead of the larger (actual) version. You may have needed to click on them at the site where you got them to get a larger version instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn