The history of Mac desktop pictures and how to change them

Where to find Mac desktop pictures? How to change Mac wallpaper? Can an ordinary picture be as Mac desktop backgrounds? The answer to such questions and even more you will find in this article. Of course, you can ask the questions like “Why to write such elementary things as everything is so clear in Mac?” However, do you remember yourself when you first started getting acquainted with Mac?

We think that every user who has a computer or laptop (no matter from which OS: Windows or Mac OS X) immediately begins to change it for themselves: bring the necessary shortcuts to the desktop, change the size of icons, Apple backgrounds as well as wallpapers, etc. right after purchasing it. It is worth noting that backgrounds and wallpapers are very popular personalization and customization tools for laptops and desktops around the world. So no matter which Apple device you own - MacBook or Mac desktop, you can use any image or picture of your choice as a desktop background.

In this article, we would like to describe in detail how to change the picture (background) of the desktop in Mac OS X as well as provide you with interesting information about wallpapers of different Mac OS.

Mac desktop pictures

The history of Mac OS X wallpaper

For the first time, the ability to install a full-sized background image on the screen appeared in Mac OS 8. And from that moment on, Apple began to add various wallpapers to its operating systems. At that time, it used three-dimensional geometric objects like flying capsules or UFOs as standard Mac desktop wallpapers.

With the release of Mac OS 9, the company decided to change the style of standard Apple wallpaper. Instead of capsules and flying saucers, Mac owners got a more abstract image called “Quantum Foam”. It was also made in several versions to fit the iMac colors of those years. As for Apple computers without official colors, a stylish lilac color was chosen - it gave the system a more refined look.

On Mac OS 10.0, the company continued to use “quantum foam” as a standard Apple wallpaper. Although, Apple decided to leave only two colors of this image: Aqua Blue and Graphite Gray, as they approached the appearance of the revolutionary OS most of all. With every following release of Mac OS X (0.2 Jaguar, 10.3 Panther, and 10.4 Tiger), the company continued to change the standard wallpaper, while maintaining the chosen style.

The users liked these calm and abstract images so much that within the time, practically every PC OEM manufacturer began to equip its products with similar wallpapers. By the time Mac OS X 10.5 was released, the company from Cupertino realized that it was time to stand out again among the competition, and for the next four versions of the system chose a space theme. That is why in Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard) and 10.6 (Snow Leopard) as desktop pictures Mac users could see the pink Aurora nebula whereas, in Mac OS 10.7 (Lion) and Mac OS 10.8 (Mountain Lion), Apple designers used slightly edited images of the Andromeda Galaxy.

Desktop pictures Mac

The announcement of the next version of Mac OS 10.9 (Mavericks) brought a lot of surprises, and one of them was a new standard Mac wallpaper. Such an image was chosen for a reason since the Mavericks is a popular and very dangerous place in California, where extreme surfers can catch almost the highest waves in the world.

As the name for its next Mac OS 10.10 (Yosemite), released in 2014, Apple has chosen one of the most beautiful places on the planet - Yosemite National Park, located in California. And it is not surprising that in the “default” Apple wallpaper we could see a piece of this park - the Half-Dome granite monolith.

In Mac OS 10.11 (El Capitan) you can see the highest mountain in Yosemite Park. Height is 2 307 meters, a favorite place (illegal) for climbers who do not use any insurance.

Mac OS 10.12 (Sierra) shows the highest peak of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. A delightful national treasure, which is located on the territory of Yosemite Park whereas Mac OS 10.13 (High Sierra) shows another park located in the same place in California.

In Mac OS 10.14 (Mojave) as a default Mac wallpaper, you can find the desert Mojave that is located in California. The desert received its name after the Mojave tribe, which, by the way, lives on the reservation to the present.

How to change Apple backgrounds via System Preferences

If you want to change your Mac wallpaper, you can find a choice of many background images of the most different colors right on your Mac. Besides that, you can upload your own photo. The procedure is the following:

  1. Open the System Preferences window, either from the Dock or from the Apple menu. The system settings window appears.
  2. Select Desktop and Screen Saver. These settings will appear.
  3. In the left side menu, select the group of photos you are interested in. These can be years, places, collections, faces, photo stream or any user folders.
  4. Click on the photo you like. Mac will immediately change the image.
  5. If you wish to have a slide show of wallpapers on your Mac desktop, put a tick in front of the item “Change Image”.
  6. Select the time interval after which the image will change to the next (can vary from 5 seconds to an hour, as well as when entering the system or exiting sleep mode).
  7. Next, specify the type of display of images selected as a screensaver, because they may have a far from ideal format (full screen, center, fill, and so on).
  8. Click Close button.

Mac desktop backgrounds

How to change Mac wallpaper via Right-Click

Right-click on the Desktop and from the context menu select “Change Desktop Background option” This will immediately invoke the desktop settings window. Select the wallpaper you love and enjoy seeing it on screen.

How to change Mac desktop backgrounds via Safari

Safari gives you the opportunity to install any wallpaper on your Mac desktop without any extra gestures.

Right-click the desired picture and select “Use image as desktop image” option. Also do not forget to take into account the size of the photograph or image, keeping in mind the resolution of your own monitor. That is why it is preferable to visit specialized sites where you can select both categories of images on the desktop and monitor resolution.

How to install new Mac desktop pictures from Photos

  1. Go to Photos.
  2. Highlight a photo and right - click on it.
  3. Click Share button, then choose “Set Desktop Image.”

How to change Mac desktop pictures via AppleScript

If you like your background to change automatically, you can do it even without looking at the system settings. AppleScript comes to rescue. In the script presented below, the background change is set every 30 minutes (in seconds 1801 and 1800). You can adjust this interval for yourself, also in seconds. For a quick script, save it as an application.

property theSwitch: 0
if theSwitch = 0 then
tell application "System Events"
tell current desktop
set change interval to 1801.0
end tell
end tell
set theSwitch to 1
else
tell application "System Events"
tell current desktop
set change interval to 1800.0
end tell
end tell
set theSwitch to 0
end if

Also, you can use additional apps providing Mac OS X wallpaper if you wish to have something new, check them out. In the meantime, we have a collection of great apps for true devotees of Mac.

List of great apps for Mac devotees

Here is the list of top solutions for the fans of Apple technologies.

Commander One

Commander One

  • Requirements: macOS 10.13. 52.05MB free space.
  • Version 3.8(3888). (18 Mar, 2024).
  • 4.7 Rank based on 889+ users, Reviews(524)
  • Category: Utilities
Commander One is a powerful file manager that allows you to have a seamless work with both local and online data, as the app supports the ability to mount remote servers and cloud storages to your Mac. The program features include built-in Terminal, work with archives, unlimited tabs, ability to mount and work with iOS and Android devices, show hidden files support and way more useful and interesting features. So if you still are looking for a file manager, try Commander One and you will not regret.
Commander One screenshot
Uplet

Uplet

  • Requirements: macOS 10.9. 21.74MB free space.
  • Version 1.7.384. (15 May, 2020).
  • 4.5 Rank based on 58+ users, Reviews(24)
  • Category: BusinessApplication
If you want to have a hassle-free upload of your favorite photos right from your Mac desktop computer to your Instagram account - you definitely need to check Uplet. Rather minimalistic, with a neat and user-friendly interface. Upload videos and photos to your Instagram account or accounts if you have more than one as the app supports multi-account feature.
Uplet screenshot
CloudMounter

CloudMounter

  • Requirements: macOS 10.14+. 57.61MB free space.
  • Version 4.4(1123). (22 Feb, 2024).
  • 4.8 Rank based on 436+ users, Reviews(255)
  • Category: Utilities
CloudMounter offers you a great way to work with the remote servers and different cloud storages directly from Finder. Work with your online data the way as with the one stored on your Mac. Have seamless access to your innumerous online solutions from one spot.
CloudMounter screenshot
PhotoBulk

PhotoBulk

  • Requirements: macOS 10.10. 15.27MB free space.
  • Version 2.6.328. (12 Jan, 2023).
  • 4.6 Rank based on 334+ users, Reviews(151)
  • Category: MultimediaApplication
PhotoBulk will help you to process bulk photos in a matter of seconds. Resize, rename, optimize and watermark as many photos as you wish at once. For even better performance, the app supports life editing feature, so you will see the result beforehand and make some edit if there is something you wish to change without wasting your time making things twice.
PhotoBulk screenshot