Desktop background images: Pictures arranged around your desktop

Desktop background images work best when the subject and your icons have room of their own. The first lake picture places mountains on the right and open water and sky on the left. Wheat fields, snowy mountains and plain gradients offer other useful layouts.

Tip: Keep the lake’s open left side free for icons and the mountains clear on the right.

Pictures in this collection

Use the quiet left area if your shortcuts line that edge. A right-side quiet area suits a different arrangement. For two monitors, pair a cool gradient with a lake or another blue scene rather than stretching a small subject across both screens.

Lake with mountains on the right and open water on the left gives you a clear layout to try. Wide wheat field spreads the view out. Quiet navy panel and low blue lines keeps detail low.

Choose a picture for your layout

On Windows, Microsoft explains separate monitor pictures and Span. On a Mac, open System Settings and click Wallpaper in the sidebar. Apple shows the wallpaper controls.

Use Diagonal charcoal gradient on a laptop if a field or mountain scene makes labels hard to read. For two monitors, compare Wide snowy mountain range and Wide river delta as separate views. The lake hero suits a left-side icon layout. Check that a tighter crop still leaves enough open water.

Apply your desktop picture

1. Open a card and choose the JPG size that fits your display.
2. Save the file in your Pictures folder.
3. In Windows Settings, open Personalization, then Background.
4. Select Picture and browse to the saved JPG.

Microsoft's background guide explains the desktop controls. Compare Fill and Fit with the lake picture.

Apply a Mac background

Open the System Settings app and click Wallpaper in the sidebar. Under Your Photos, click Add Photo, then Choose File. Select the JPG and click Open. Apple's wallpaper guide shows how to use a saved picture.

Related collections

Try all wallpaper subjects to compare more subjects, download wallpaper for download steps, or unique wallpaper for unusual scenes and close-ups.

Verdict

For desktop background images, start with the open-left lake for left-side icons, then try a plain gradient if you need more space.

Questions people also ask

Which desktop image leaves space on the left?

Lake with mountains on the right and open water on the left places the mountain detail away from a left-side icon column.

Which pictures can I compare on two monitors?

Try Wide wheat field and Wide river delta as separate desktop images, then check how their horizons sit at your chosen crop.