Sequoia 15.4 : Setting a custom desktop color does not work

Updated from 15.3.x to 15.4. After starting up the desktop background was just white instead of my custom dark blue color like before. No problem, I am able to get back to my desired color …


System Settings > Background Image > Custom Color * and selecting a color from the system color chooser. My color shows up in the color field for Custom Color but the desktop will not change. Still white.


Terminal:

cd ~/Library/Application Support/Dock

rm desktoppicture.db

killall Dock

is not helping or changing anything.


As for now it looks like a bug in the system 15.4 and I am very disappointed and frustrated. Apple … is it that hard to test before delivery? Feels like a car coming from the regular service check and the windhield whipers are not working anymore.


* naming translated from German, may be different.

iMac 24″, macOS 15.4

Posted on Apr 3, 2025 10:39 AM

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Posted on Apr 4, 2025 12:39 AM

I'm looking for an Easter Egg hidden in the screensaver trees - but yes: Apple seem to spend a lot of effort on the fancy stuff like "a perfect walk though sunlit woodland" but not the simple stuff like "what color would you like to stare at for the next 8 hours?"

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Apr 4, 2025 12:39 AM in response to cabaumle

I'm looking for an Easter Egg hidden in the screensaver trees - but yes: Apple seem to spend a lot of effort on the fancy stuff like "a perfect walk though sunlit woodland" but not the simple stuff like "what color would you like to stare at for the next 8 hours?"

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Apr 7, 2025 3:01 PM in response to cabaumle

Known issue. There are several ways to do so, but the solution is to create a tiny image in the color you want to use, then put that image in the Pictures folder of your user account so you can choose it in Settings.


Custom wallpaper color shows as white and… - Apple Community

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Apr 4, 2025 4:53 PM in response to lkrupp

I had same bug. Got it working by clicking the + icon in the color swatches area to add a custom color, then pick a color from the picker. It won't update the background yet. Next you have to click the "show all" above the colored circles to see the color you just added to the swatches. Pick the color from the swatches now and it will apply.

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Apr 5, 2025 9:45 AM in response to cabaumle

I've discovered this bug too. As a workaround I took a screen grab of the blue coloured desktop on an earlier MB Pro running Monterey. I copied the screen grab pic to the desktop on my MB Pro running Sequoia 15.4 which I then added to the available photos in the wallpaper setting option.

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Apr 11, 2025 11:50 AM in response to Kurt Lang

And it should also be mentioned that workarounds and kludges often cause other issues when a bug is officially fixed, sometimes the workaround interferes with the fix itself. Since it’s a known issue it would likely be better to just deal with it until it is fixed in the next update. Just my opinion.

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Apr 11, 2025 12:58 PM in response to dialabrain

I hate it when posts disappear while you're writing a response. Here it is anyway:


Yes, it is a rather "dumb" bug. I don't think most people would disagree.


But, humans write the code. Humans make mistakes. And having dealt with beta software for a number of years on various operating systems, sometimes when they add a feature, changes to a framework to support that new feature unintentionally breaks something else. Then it's a matter of, will anyone notice, or run across that unintended change?


More than a few people have reported the bug to Apple. I'd be more than surprised if it isn't fixed in the next update. But it's nothing important enough that they're going to fix before then.

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Apr 11, 2025 1:06 PM in response to Kurt Lang

Kurt Lang wrote:

I hate it when posts disappear while you're writing a response. Here it is anyway:

My fault I'm afraid. I tend to report "dumb" posts.

Yes, it is a rather "dumb" bug. I don't think most people would disagree.

I disagree. There are no "dumb" or "smart" bugs. 🤔 When you are working with millions of lines of code, they are bound to creep in.

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Apr 11, 2025 1:13 PM in response to dialabrain

Yes, which is why I followed that with, But, humans write the code. Humans make mistakes.


Still, it would have been much more inline with the rest of my post to start out with something like:


Yes, it appears to be a "dumb" bug.


Then continue on with the rest.

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Apr 11, 2025 1:18 PM in response to Kurt Lang

Yes well, I'm not even sure it was a human mistake. After all, Sequoia 15.4 was the first version where it occurs. My guess it was some inadvertent conflict with new code. Me not know.


In any case, at least computers are no longer programmed using punch cards.

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Sequoia 15.4 : Setting a custom desktop color does not work

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