Customizing your desktop background is a simple yet effective way to personalize your Windows environment. Whether you want to set a personal photo, a solid color, or a slideshow, Windows provides several options to change your desktop background. This article will guide you through the process using both the graphical user interface and command-line methods.

Using the Graphical User Interface

1. Right-click on the Desktop: Start by right-clicking on an empty space on your desktop.
2. Select 'Personalize': From the context menu, select the "Personalize" option. This will open the Settings app directly to the Background section.
3. Choose Your Background:
   • Picture: To set a single image, click on "Picture" and select an image from the provided options or click "Browse" to choose an image from your files.
   • Solid Color: For a solid color background, select "Solid color" and choose from the available colors.
   • Slideshow: To have a rotating set of images, select "Slideshow" and choose a folder containing your desired images.
4. Adjust Your Background Settings: Depending on your choice, you can adjust the fit of the image (Fill, Fit, Stretch, Tile, Center, Span) or the interval for the slideshow.

Using Command Prompt (CMD)

While the graphical method is straightforward, you can also change your desktop background using Command Prompt, although this is less common and requires editing the Windows Registry.

Warning: Editing the registry can cause system instability if not done correctly. Always back up the registry before making changes.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Search for "cmd" in the Start menu, right-click on "Command Prompt," and select "Run as administrator."

2. Set the Wallpaper Path: Use the following command to set the path of your desired wallpaper:

   reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /v Wallpaper /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Path\To\Your\Image.jpg" /f

   Replace C:\Path\To\Your\Image.jpg with the actual path to your image file.

3. Update the Desktop: To apply the changes, you need to update the desktop settings with this command:

   RUNDLL32.EXE user32.dll,UpdatePerUserSystemParameters

Using PowerShell

PowerShell provides another way to change the desktop background programmatically.

1. Open PowerShell: Search for "PowerShell" in the Start menu and open it.

2. Run the Script: Use the following script to change the desktop background:

   $Path = "C:\Path\To\Your\Image.jpg"
   Add-Type -TypeDefinition @"
   using System;
   using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
   public class Wallpaper {
      [DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
      public static extern int SystemParametersInfo(int uAction, int uParam, string lpvParam, int fuWinIni);
   }
   "@
   [Wallpaper]::SystemParametersInfo(0x0014, 0, $Path, 0x0001)

   Replace C:\Path\To\Your\Image.jpg with the path to your image file.