How to have rotating wallpapers on Mac

Tired of seeing the same wallpaper every time you open your Mac? Rotating wallpapers add variety and keep your desktop looking fresh. Whether you're running macOS Sequoia, Sonoma, or an earlier version, setting up automatic wallpaper rotation is straightforward. This guide covers everything you need to know to get started.

How to set up rotating wallpapers (macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia)

Modern macOS versions have streamlined the wallpaper settings interface. Here's how to set up rotating wallpapers:

1. Open System Settings

Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older versions).

2. Navigate to Wallpaper settings

In System Settings, click on "Wallpaper" in the sidebar. You'll see your current wallpaper along with various options.

3. Add your wallpaper folder

Click "Add Photo" under the "Your Photos" heading, then select "Choose Folder." Navigate to the folder containing your wallpaper images and click "Open." You can organize your wallpapers in your Pictures folder for easy access.

4. Enable auto-rotate

Once your folder is added, it will appear in the Wallpaper section. Select the first "Auto-Rotate" option under your folder name to enable automatic wallpaper rotation.

5. Set the shuffle interval

Click the drop-down menu in the "Shuffle" section at the top and choose how often you want your Mac to change the wallpaper. Available options include:

• On Login - Changes every time you log in
• On Wakeup - Changes when your Mac wakes from sleep
• Every 5 seconds
• Every minute
• Every 5 minutes
• Every 15 minutes
• Every 30 minutes (default)
• Every hour
• Every day

You can also enable the "Randomly" checkbox to shuffle wallpapers in random order instead of sequentially.

Setting up on older macOS versions (Monterey and earlier)

If you're using macOS Monterey or earlier:

1. Open System Preferences and click "Desktop & Screen Saver"
2. Click the plus button (+) in the bottom left corner
3. Select your wallpaper folder and click "Choose"
4. Click any image in the folder to preview it
5. Check the box for "Change picture" and select your preferred duration

Using Photos app albums

You can also use albums from the Photos app for rotating wallpapers. In the Wallpaper settings, you'll see options to select albums from your Photos library. This is convenient if you already organize your favorite images in Photos.

Tips for the best rotating wallpaper experience

• Organize your collection: Create themed folders like "Nature," "Abstract," or "Minimal" for different moods
• Use consistent resolutions: Ensure all wallpapers match your display resolution for the best quality
• Store in Pictures folder: Keep wallpapers in ~/Pictures/Wallpapers for easy organization
• Test your interval: Start with 30 minutes or every hour—shorter intervals may be distracting
• Consider dynamic wallpapers: macOS includes built-in dynamic wallpapers that change based on time of day

Troubleshooting common issues

Wallpaper not changing? Make sure you've selected the Auto-Rotate option and that your Mac isn't in sleep mode during the scheduled change. Some users on macOS Sequoia have reported issues—try re-adding the folder or checking that the path is correct.

Images look stretched or cropped? Ensure your wallpapers match your display's aspect ratio. macOS will automatically scale images, but proper sizing prevents quality loss.

Enhance your wallpaper experience

Want even more control over your wallpapers? Try Wallpapery for automated wallpaper management with curated collections, automatic downloads, and advanced scheduling. Browse our collection of high-quality wallpapers optimized for all Mac displays.