How to change the wallpaper on a Mac

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-change-the-wallpaper-on-a-mac/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Neo · macOS 27.0.1

3 of 4 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)

App

System Settings

Real screenshots

3 of 4 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings and click Wallpaper

   Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and choose System Settings, then click Wallpaper in the sidebar.

   On our MacBook Neo, Wallpaper sits between Spotlight and Notifications, and the page opens with the current wallpaper (Mac Yellow) at the top.

   Done

2. Click a wallpaper

   Pick one from Dynamic Wallpapers, Landscape, Cityscape or the other groups. Click Show All to see a whole group.

   Apple says some need a short download first. On our MacBook Neo, Dynamic Wallpapers shows Show All (35), Landscape Show All (83) and Cityscape Show All (30).

   Done

3. 

   Use your own photo

   Under Your Photos, below Dynamic Wallpapers, click Add Photo… and choose the picture you want.

   On our MacBook Neo, Add Photo… is the only button under Your Photos in macOS 27, with no Add Folder option, and it shows without scrolling.

   Done

4. 

   Set it from Finder

   Control-click (or right-click) an image file and choose Set Desktop Picture.

   On our MacBook Neo, Set Desktop Picture is the last item in the menu, below Quick Actions, here for Space Gray Pro.png in the Solid Colors folder.

   Done

What we saw on our device

• Open System Settings and click Wallpaper: On our MacBook Neo, Wallpaper sits between Spotlight and Notifications, and the page opens with the current wallpaper (Mac Yellow) at the top.
• Click a wallpaper: On our MacBook Neo, Dynamic Wallpapers shows Show All (35), Landscape Show All (83) and Cityscape Show All (30).
• Use your own photo: On our MacBook Neo, Add Photo… is the only button under Your Photos in macOS 27, with no Add Folder option, and it shows without scrolling.
• Set it from Finder: On our MacBook Neo, Set Desktop Picture is the last item in the menu, below Quick Actions, here for Space Gray Pro.png in the Solid Colors folder.

If you do not see this option

• Wallpaper is not in the sidebar Type Wallpaper in the Search field at the top of the System Settings sidebar. On our MacBook Neo it is listed below Spotlight.
• No Add Photo… button Scroll to Your Photos, just below Dynamic Wallpapers. macOS 27 has only Add Photo… there, not Add Folder.
• No Set Desktop Picture in the menu Control-click the image file itself, not a folder. On our MacBook Neo the item is at the very bottom of the menu, below Quick Actions.

If this does not work

• The wallpaper only changes on one Space Turn on Show on all Spaces next to the wallpaper's name. It was off on our MacBook Neo.
• The wallpaper does not appear straight away Apple says some wallpapers need a short download first. Wait a moment, then click it again. Source: Customise the wallpaper on your Mac
• The wrong screen changed With more than one display, each can have its own wallpaper, so check you are setting the display you want.

About this guide

You can choose from Apple's dynamic wallpapers, landscapes and cityscapes, a plain colour or any photo of your own.

Screenshots: MacBook Neo, macOS 27.0.1, dark mode.

Good to know

Dynamic wallpapers change through the day with the light.

With more than one display, each can have its own wallpaper.

Aerial wallpapers can also be your screen saver. Click Screen Saver… below the wallpaper's name.

To use a picture from a web page, right-click it in Safari and choose Use Image as Desktop Picture.

In short: System Settings > Wallpaper > click a picture or Add Photo…, or Control-click an image in Finder > Set Desktop Picture.