How to Set a Slideshow as Your Desktop Background on Windows 10/11 and macOS

Setting a slideshow as your desktop background can enhance your visual experience on both Windows and macOS. The process differs slightly depending on your operating system, but both are relatively straightforward. Here’s a detailed guide on how to achieve this.

Windows 10/11

Right-click on the Desktop. Click anywhere on your desktop background. Select Personalize. This opens the Settings window for personalizing your desktop. Choose Background. In the left sidebar, click on Background. Under the Background option, select Slideshow from the drop-down menu. It may take a few moments to load the images. Once the slideshow is selected, you can choose a folder containing the images you want to use. Click on the option to choose a folder. Adjust the settings. Here, you can set how often the images change (e.g., every minute, hour, or day) and whether the images shuffle. By default, the transition speed is set to one minute, but you can modify this using a script to allow for faster transitions. Close Settings. Your changes will take effect immediately, and you can close the Settings window.

macOS

Open System Preferences by clicking on the Apple menu in the top left corner and selecting System Preferences. Select Desktop Screen Saver. In the desktop tab, you will see a dropdown menu under the Desktop Picture option. Click on that dropdown to open it. Choose Slideshow. Click on the option to choose a folder containing the images you want to use. Once the folder is selected, your settings will be saved automatically. Your desktop background will now display a slideshow of the images from the selected folder.

For those looking to turn their old laptop into a digital photo slideshow, the process is as simple as selecting the slideshow option and setting up a folder with images. Additionally, you can use scripts to modify the transition speed if the default settings do not meet your needs.

Animating Desktop Backgrounds

If you're interested in more advanced features like animated wallpapers, you can explore tools like Wallpaper Engine, which is available on Steam. This application allows you to use animated wallpapers and offers a variety of live wallpapers from Valve, providing a dynamic and visually engaging desktop environment.

In conclusion, setting a slideshow as your desktop background is a straightforward process on both Windows 10/11 and macOS. Whether you're using it to display a collection of photos or enhancing your desktop with animated wallpapers, these tools can significantly enhance your digital experience.