Cannot change Desktop picture

My new 15" MacBook Pro running 10.6.8 will not allow me to choose my own Photo as Desktop. Any ideas, anyone? Thanks!

Is it not choosing the sole picture or not changing the desktop image at all?
If it's not choosing that one picture, I would say the picture has the problem.
If it's not changing the dekstop picture at all, then it's likely a corrupt preference file.
See #12-13 here for OnyX> Verify preferences
Step by Step to fix your Mac

Similar Messages

  • Cannot Change Desktop Picture Anymore

    Hi -
    Problem is described in the Header. And goes for ALL accounts incl. ROOT Account.
    Scenario: I open Sys Pref. Go to Desktop/ScreenSaver - it opens fine and I can click the images. They will even show in the little preview window in the top. The only thing NOT changing is the Actual Desktop. It remains Solid Blue.
    Tried deleting Finder, desktop, .globalpref( in both pref folders) - Preferences
    Any Ideas ?

    SASLR wrote:
    I just started to have the same problem... Can no longer change desktop images... I've tried to do it from within iPhoto, right clicking on desktop, and going in through system preferences... My "padlock" is "open", I am the system administrator, but still cannot change the image...
    HELP!
    Have you done your homework?
    Run DU, check/repair HD and permissions.
    If that does not work, move following .plists to desktop; let system create new plists
    try this one first:
    com.apple.desktop.plist
    reboot and see if this fixes it.
    if not then move this one to desktop and repeat
    com.apple.desktopscreensaver.rsspictures.plist
    report back here with results.

  • Cannot choose desktop picture in Lion

    After upgraded to Lion, I cannot choose desktop picture from the Aperture library. The Desktop system preference pane does not show the library at first on the left column. Then after severa minutes, it shows the label "Aperture", but not its contents. Then probably after a few hours, it started to show the contnts, and I could choose one of the folders, but right after I checked the change pictures box, it switched to the default picture of Lion (galaxy).

    same thing happens to me.  The previews were already set to always.
    repairing permissions didn't work either.
    Got another tip in another thread which seemedf to help:
    rm  Library/Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist
    from: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2646075?start=0&tstart=0

  • Changing desktop picture every 1 second instead of 5

    Hi All,
    I'm opening a retail store and we're using 30 inch cinema displays for our menu boards. I'd like to use OS X's built-in "change desktop picture" to display our image, but would like it to change images every 1 second instead of 5.
    Is there a way to modify the OS to do this?
    Thanks,
    - Mike

    Install either the Developer Tools or download the Server Admin Tools onto your computer; in either case, find and open the Property List Editor, and open the file named com.apple.desktop.plist in your home folder with it. Inside this file, there will be two or more instances of ChangeTime; change the number associated with all instances of this key to 1.
    (19112)

  • Cannot change account picture after upgrading to Mountain Lion.

    After upgrading to Mountain Lion from Snow Leopard I cannot change account picture anymore.
    The box which is supposed to contain picture previews just says "No items".
    Screenshot attached:
    This is not limited to a particular account, trying to change the picture within any account leads to this problem.
    Is there any solution for the issue?
    Thank you in advance.

    Thank you for the answer.
    Sure I can drag a photo to the users profile and it works but those Default ones were quite useful for having no mess with setting custom picture.
    MacBook Pro with same Snow Leopard -> Mountain Lion upgrade did not have such issue.

  • Can't change Desktop Picture

    Hey.
    I'm having difficulties changing desktop pictures after I reinstalled OS X. Somehow it's stuck at the one I set before I reinstalled (using the archive & install option). I ran my periodics and repaired permissions, but it still won't work. What's wrong?
    Thanks.

    Fixedz0red for some reason.

  • Changing desktop pictures locks system preferences

    Re MacBook Pro laptop (OS 10.7.5)
    Problem: Changing desktop pictures locks System Preferences
    If I try to open System Preferences, I get windows for the Change Desktop/Background and the whirling beach ball begins until I go to Activities Monitor to Force Quit System Preferences, which informs me that my "System Preferences is no longer responding."
    I have no trouble booting my Mac,
    checked my Disk Utility informing me that there are no errors,
    checked Permissions without errors,
    went to Users>"my name">Preferences>found the plist for com.apple.systempreferences, moved it to my desktop, tried the Apple System Preferences option with same result. Returned plist .  Hmm, just noticed that I have com.apple.systempreferences with one directly after Library ( i.e., not in any folder), and the other in the Library>Preferences folder. Could that be the foul up?  Perhaps one of these plists is misplaced.
    Any suggestions?

    First follow the instructions in this support article.
    If an iPhoto or Aperture library is the source of your desktop pictures, it may need to be rebuilt, or you may need to update the application to the latest version.
    Otherwise, continue as below.
    Back up all data.
    In the Finder, hold down the option key and select
              Go ▹ Library
    from the menu bar. From the Library folder, delete the following item, if it exists:
              Caches/com.apple.systempreferences
    and move the following items to the Desktop, if they exist:
              Application Support/Dock/desktoppicture.db
              Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist
    Launch System Preferences and test. If you still have the issue, put the items you moved to the Desktop back where they came from and post again. Otherwise, delete the items.

  • Cannot change desktop background picture to my own photos

    Hi, in desktop & screen saver I cannot change the desktop background image to any of my own (iphoto) pictures, it shows the list of the images and thumbnails but will only change the pic to the 'Apple' ones (nature,plants,black & white, abstract), if I select any of my photos under 'iphoto albums' the desktop image simply turns light blue.

    Hi.
    I'm seeing what seems to be the exact same problem you described. Were you able to figure it out and fix it? I don't see a solution posted.
    Thanks.

  • Change Desktop picture every 5 seconds?

    What is the opinion of the learned on setting the desktop picture in "Desktop and Screensaver" System Prefs to change the picture every 5 seconds? Is this a bad idea, and if so why? I cannot find anything from Apple that discourages doing it and obviously they make it available for the user to set the Pref such that you can do it. TIA

    I suppose, but it does not decrease the performance that I can tell. I am sure it would if I were to measure it. That System Preference is stock with that computer (Panther 10.3.9).

  • Satellite C50-B-13T - Win 8.1 cannot change desktop background

    Hi folks,
    I'm new to this forum so please bear with me.
    I bought a new Toshiba Satellite C50-B-13T laptop yesterday with Windows 8.1 installed and I cannot change the desktop screen from a blank black one to a picture of my choice... I've tried everything, and even looked for videos on Youtube to see if there's a remedy for it.
    When I look at the control panel the thumbnail shows the picture I've chosen, but the actual desktop (not the smart screen bit) is still plain black. All of my icons work just fine but the background will not change.
    If anyone can help me sort this out I'd be really grateful?
    Thanks everyone :O)

    You ask how to change the Windows background?
    This is not very tricky.
    Microsoft released a useful article regarding Windows system personalization.
    Please check this aricle:
    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/personalize-pc-tutorial
    Note: there is a difference between the desktop background and the lock screen.
    The lock screen is the screen you see when you lock your PC (or when it locks automatically after you haven't been using it for a while).

  • Cannot Change Desktop Background in Windows 8 Installed Via Bootcamp

    I've been running parelells, but decided today to just go the boot camp route and everything went through fine EXCEPT I cannot change the wall paper on the windows 8 desktop?
    I select the new image in desktop background in personalization click save changes and the background stays the same...?
    I don't get it.
    And by the way, I am NOT new to windows or mac, been using both for a long time and was a systems administrator and bench for years, this is NOT a novice "how to" question...It's just not working?
    Anyone else seen this before?

    are you using an activated version of win 8? you cant personalise win desktop otherwise.

  • Can't change desktop pictures(error)

    When i try to change pictures on my decktop, error comes out.
    i can only see the message "Loading images" but i can't click any button.
    Please help me to solve this problem.

    Hello, sounds like maybe this...
    OS X: System Preferences stops responding after viewing Desktop & Screen Saver pane
    Products Affected
    OS X Lion, OS X Mountain Lion, iPhoto
    Symptoms
    System Preferences may stop responding if you select an iPhoto Event that is no longer available in iPhoto as the source for your desktop picture.
    Resolution
        1.    Quit System Preferences if it's running.
 
 If System Preferences is running but not responding, choose Force Quit from the Apple menu, or right-click its icon on the Dock and choose "Force Quit".
        2.    Open iPhoto.
        3.    Select Events in the Source list (on the left side of the iPhoto window).
        4.    Double-click on any of the events shown. Verify that the name or date of this event is now shown under RECENT in the Source list.
        5.    Choose Apple menu () > System Preferences.
        6.    Click Desktop & Screen Saver, click on Desktop, and verify that you can now select a new desktop picture.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4407?

  • Changing Desktop Pictures

    I selected a folder full of images to use for my desktop pictures. The thumbnails display and I select an image and it shows in the upper left corner of the window, however, it will not change on the desktop. I also tried to select the options for Change picture every 5 minutees and random order, though this does not work either. Is there a button I need to press to activate the new desktops?

    You can also use iPhoto to set the desktop picture, if the picture is in iPhoto.
    Launch iPhoto and select the picture.
    Click on Share and select Set Desktop.
    If you have a picture you want to use for the desktop but are having trouble navigating all the pictures through the System Preferences window this is great alternative.

  • Cannot change desktop photo

    Tried , via System Preferences, to change my desktop photo. Oddly, some images in my library appeared, but many wouldn't - instead,a question mark appeared in the thumbnail box.
    Ran Cocktail, but it didn't help.
    Using Mountain Lion and the latest version of iPhoto.

    Unlikley. Given that the Library appears correctly in the other apps it suggests that the problem is in Desktop Pictures.
    It may be a bunged up cache file.
    Try this:
    Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library'
    Import a few pics.
    Now go to Desktop Pictures and see if you can access these images in the new Library.
    If you can
    Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and select your original library.
    Regards
    TD

  • IPhoto pictures does not show up when trying to change desktop pictures

    When I got my new MBP I used a Time Machine back up to restore my system. This has worked great, though so far there is one little issue:
    When I right click my desktop and choose "Change background picture" my iPhoto images doesn't show up in the menu like they used to.
    Has anyone got any idea about how to get them back in there? Do I somehow have to "let Leopard know" that I have an iPhoto library that I would like to be able to choose from?
    Thanks!

    HI Rune,
    That is most likely a shared library issue. The Finder is trying to access your iPhoto library without iPhoto being open. Sometimes when libraries are shared, they can become corrupt.
    Go here and read about shared library issues.
    http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/sharedlibraryerrors.html#Anchor-Resolving-35326
    The easiest way to fix this is to back up your important data and do an Archive and Install which restores your system software. It does NOT erase the drive, you do not have to reinstall any Apple pre-installed software, ie., iLife applications.
    Go here and read the instructions for archive and install.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1544
    Carolyn

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