How to create a wallpaper slideshow on Mac

A rotating wallpaper slideshow keeps your desktop fresh and interesting throughout the day. macOS makes it incredibly easy to set up automatic wallpaper rotation from your favorite image collections. Whether you want subtle changes every few hours or dynamic updates every few minutes, this guide covers everything you need to know about wallpaper slideshows on Mac.

Setting up a basic wallpaper slideshow

macOS Ventura and later

1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu
2. Click Wallpaper in the sidebar
3. Select a dynamic wallpaper or click Add Folder to choose your own collection
4. Enable "Show as slideshow" (appears when you select a folder)
5. Choose your preferred change interval from the dropdown
6. Select Random order or sequential playback

macOS Monterey and earlier

1. Open System Preferences → Desktop & Screen Saver
2. Select the Desktop tab
3. Choose a folder from the sidebar or add your own by clicking +
4. Check "Change picture:"
5. Select the time interval from the dropdown menu
6. Optionally enable "Random order"

Slideshow timing options

Organizing your slideshow collection

Creating themed folders

Organize wallpapers into folders by theme, mood, or time of year:

• Seasonal: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall wallpapers
• Mood-based: Energizing, Calming, Inspirational, Minimal
• Style: Nature, Abstract, Urban, Space, Art
• Color: Warm tones, Cool tones, Monochrome, Vibrant
• Time of day: Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Night

Curating your collection

Quality over quantity makes for better slideshows:

• Keep 20-50 wallpapers per folder for good variety without overwhelm
• Ensure consistent resolution (match your display's native resolution)
• Remove duplicates and similar images to maintain freshness
• Balance busy and minimal wallpapers for visual variety
• Consider color harmony—avoid jarring transitions

Advanced slideshow techniques

Multiple displays with different slideshows

If you have multiple displays, you can set up different slideshows for each:

1. Ensure "Displays have separate Spaces" is enabled in System Settings → Desktop & Dock
2. In Wallpaper settings, click the display you want to customize
3. Select a different folder for each display
4. Set different intervals if desired

Using Smart Folders for dynamic collections

1. In Finder, choose File → New Smart Folder
2. Add criteria such as:
   • Kind: Image
   • Width/Height: Matches your display resolution
   • Tags: Specific categories
   • Date Added: Recent additions
3. Save the Smart Folder
4. Use this Smart Folder as your slideshow source

Smart Folders automatically update as you add or remove images, keeping your slideshow fresh.

Shuffling within subfolders

If you select a parent folder that contains multiple subfolders, macOS will include all images from all subfolders in the slideshow. This allows you to organize by category while maintaining one large rotation.

Slideshow automation with scripts

For advanced users, you can create custom slideshow behaviors using shell scripts:

Random wallpaper from folder script

#!/bin/bash

WALLPAPER_DIR="$HOME/Pictures/Wallpapers"
WALLPAPER=$(find "$WALLPAPER_DIR" -type f \( -name "*.jpg" -o -name "*.png" \) | shuf -n 1)

osascript -e "tell application \"System Events\" to tell every desktop to set picture to \"$WALLPAPER\""

Save this as a script and run it with a Launch Agent or cron job for custom timing.

Best practices for slideshow success

Resolution matching

Use wallpapers that match or exceed your display's resolution:

• MacBook Pro 14" (2021+): 3024 × 1964 or higher
• MacBook Pro 16" (2021+): 3456 × 2234 or higher
• iMac 24" (M1): 4480 × 2520 or higher
• Studio Display: 5120 × 2880 or higher
• 4K external: 3840 × 2160 or higher

File format considerations

• JPEG: Smaller file size, good for large collections
• PNG: Better quality, larger files
• HEIC: Efficient compression, modern macOS support

Performance optimization

• Store wallpapers on your internal drive for faster loading
• Avoid extremely large files (>10MB) if possible
• Keep your slideshow folder organized and trimmed
• On MacBooks, longer intervals can help battery life

Troubleshooting common issues

Slideshow stopped working

• Check that "Change picture" is still enabled
• Verify the source folder still exists and contains images
• Restart your Mac to reset the slideshow timer

Images appear stretched or cropped badly

• Use "Fill Screen" for best automatic fitting
• Ensure your wallpapers match your display's aspect ratio
• Try "Fit to Screen" if you prefer no cropping (may show letterboxing)

Slideshow only shows some images

• macOS may skip unsupported formats—stick to JPG, PNG, HEIC
• Check file permissions on the folder
• Some very large images may be skipped—compress if needed

Random order isn't truly random

macOS uses a pseudo-random algorithm. For truly random selection, use a third-party app or custom script.

Third-party slideshow apps

Wallpapery

Wallpapery automatically manages your wallpaper slideshow with professionally curated images. It handles timing, variety, and rotation intelligently without any manual folder management.

Other options

• Irvue: Pulls from Unsplash with smart rotation
• John's Background Switcher: Advanced rotation controls
• Desktop Curtain: Slideshow with additional desktop management

Creative slideshow ideas

Story-based progression

Create a folder with images that tell a story or show progression (sunrise to sunset, seasons changing, city development, etc.). Disable random order for sequential storytelling.

Motivational rotation

Curate inspirational quotes, artwork, or personal achievements that rotate throughout the day to maintain motivation.

Learning slideshows

Use infographics, study materials, or reference sheets as wallpapers that rotate. Great for passive learning of maps, periodic tables, keyboard shortcuts, etc.

Personal memories

Create a folder of favorite photos from trips, events, or family moments. Set it to change daily for a pleasant daily reminder.

Ready for effortless wallpaper rotation? Download Wallpapery for automatic slideshow management with designer-quality wallpapers. Browse our collections to build your perfect slideshow.

Related guides:

• How to have rotating wallpapers on Mac
• Organizing and managing your wallpaper collection