How to change the desktop and screen saver on your Mac

Want to give your Mac a more personal touch with a new background or screen saver? Learn how right here!

Changing your desktop background or screen saver is a nice, easy way to give your Mac a more personal touch. Some people even like to move beyond Apple's built-in crop of backgrounds and use their own collections.

Here's how to spice up your Mac!

• How to pick a built-in Desktop
• How to choose your own picture as your background
• How to set up rotating backgrounds
• How to set up screen savers
• How to set up your Photo Library as a screen saver
• How to set up Hot Corners

How to pick a built-in Desktop

1. Launch System Preferences from the Dock or by clicking the  button on the top left of your screen. Alternatively, right-click on your current desktop image and select Change Desktop Background.

2. Click Desktop & Screen Saver.

   

3. Click the Desktop tab.

4. Click Desktop Pictures under the Apple menu in the sidebar.

   

5. Click a desktop image.

   

How to choose your own picture as your background

1. Launch System Preferences from the Dock or by clicking the  button on the top left of your screen. Alternatively, right-click on your desktop image and select Change Desktop Background.

2. Click Desktop & Screen Saver.

   

3. Click the Desktop tab if it's not open already.

4. Click the + button at the bottom of the sidebar.

   

5. Single-click the folder you want to use.

6. Click Choose.

   

7. Click on your chosen folder in the sidebar.

8. Click an image from that folder.

   

How to set up rotating backgrounds

1. Launch System Preferences from the Dock or by clicking the  button on the top left of your screen. Alternatively, right-click on your desktop image and select Change Desktop Background.

2. Click Desktop & Screen Saver.

   

3. Click the Desktop tab.

4. Click the folder you'd like your wallpapers to come from.

   

5. Check the box next to Change picture.

6. Click how often you want your wallpaper to change.

   

How to set up screen savers

1. Launch System Preferences from the Dock or by clicking the  button on the top left of your screen.

2. Click Desktop & Screen Saver.

   

3. Click the Screen Saver tab.

4. Click the style of screen saver you want.

   

5. Click the source you'd like to use for your screensaver in the Source dropdown menu.

6. Click when your screen saver should start.

   

How to set your Photo Library as a screen saver

1. Launch System Preferences from the Dock or by clicking the  button on the top left of your screen.

2. In System Preferences, click Desktop & Screen Saver.

   

3. Click the Screen Saver tab.

4. Click the style of screen saver you want.

   

5. Click Photo Library in the Source dropdown menu.

6. Click the photo album you want to use in your screen saver.

   

7. Click Choose.

   

How to set up Hot Corners

Hot Corners are customizable shortcuts linked to the corners of your Mac's screen. When you move your cursor to a Hot Corner, the associated action will take place. For instance, you can set your bottom-right corner to activate your screen saver. The following will teach you how to set up Hot Corners of your very own.

1. Launch System Preferences" from the Dock or by clicking the  button on the top left of your screen.

2. Click Desktop & Screen Saver.

   

3. Click the Screen Saver tab.

4. Click Hot Corners.

   

5. Click the associated dropdown menu when you've found the corner you wish to customize.

6. Click the action that you want to execute when using that Hot Corner, e.g., Start Screen Saver.

   

7. Click OK.

   

Questions?

Let us know in the comments below!