Reader Edwin wants to know how to change the themes in Windows 7. Specifically, he has multiple photos he wants to use for his desktop background, but can’t find a way to add more than one.
If you’ve ever right-clicked your Windows 7 desktop and then clicked Personalize, you’ve no doubt encountered the themes that Microsoft bundles with the OS. These include collections of desktop backgrounds–snazzy photos that appear behind your icons.
It may not be immediately obvious, but it’s possible to add your own collection photos, and even mix them in with the current desktop theme (which consists of not just photos, but also icons, sounds, window colors, and screen savers). Here’s how:
1. Collect all the photos you want to use into a single folder. The name and location don’t matter, so long as you remember both.
2. Right-click any open space on your Windows desktop, then choose Personalize.
3. Click Desktop Background.
4. Next to Picture Location, click Browse.
5. Navigate to the folder containing your desired desktop photos, click it, and then click OK.
6. By default, Windows will select all of the photos in that folder. If there are some you want to remove, clear their checkboxes.
7. Modify any other slideshow settings you want, like Picture Position and change frequency. When you’re done, click Save changes.
8. You’ll see a new Unsaved Theme. Click it to apply it immediately, then click Save theme and give this new theme a name.
That’s all there is to it!
Contributing Editor Rick Broidawrites about business and consumer technology. Ask for help with your PC hassles at hasslefree@pcworld.com, or try the treasure trove of helpful folks in the PC World Community Forums.Sign up to have theHassle-Free PC newslettere-mailed to you each week.