Can't select personal wallpapers on MacOS 26

neuroanatomist wrote:

leroydouglas wrote:

Sorry not seeing it...(?)

Secondary click on the image, then in the contextual menu select the Services submenu then select Set Desktop Picture.

neuroanatomist wrote:

Note that depending on your Keyboard Shortcuts settings, the Set Desktop Picture option may be in the Services submenu.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/2f9523a1-efd3-49c4-b596-7c6cee88c46d

If you have ≥4 'custom' options enabled for that lower 'Services' section of the contextual menu, then you get the Services item that puts those options on a submenu. You control what shows up in the Services section in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts button > Services, click the expansion arrow next to Files & Folders for the ones that show up in Finder.

Your second screenshot (in System Settings) is the place where you can, if you want, reduce the number of items in the Services section so you see Set Desktop Picture at the top level of the contextual menu instead of needing to open the Services submenu.

thanks neuroanatomist— Amazing amount of detail.

I would hope to never work that hard for my custom wall paper.

Customize the wallpaper on your Mac

In Finder, navigate to the image you want as a wallpaper. Secondary-click (control-click, two-finger click) on the image, then in the contextual menu select Set Desktop Picture. Note that depending on your Keyboard Shortcuts settings, the Set Desktop Picture option may be in the Services submenu.

[Edited by Moderator]

neuroanatomist wrote:

In Finder, navigate to the image you want as a wallpaper. Secondary-click (control-click, two-finger click) on the image, then in the contextual menu select Set Desktop Picture.

Sorry not seeing it...(?)

Note that depending on your Keyboard Shortcuts settings, the Set Desktop Picture option may be in the Services submenu.

[Edited by Moderator]

leroydouglas wrote:

Sorry not seeing it...(?)

Secondary click on the image, then in the contextual menu select the Services submenu then select Set Desktop Picture.

neuroanatomist wrote:

Note that depending on your Keyboard Shortcuts settings, the Set Desktop Picture option may be in the Services submenu.

If you have ≥4 'custom' options enabled for that lower 'Services' section of the contextual menu, then you get the Services item that puts those options on a submenu. You control what shows up in the Services section in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts button > Services, click the expansion arrow next to Files & Folders for the ones that show up in Finder.

Your second screenshot (in System Settings) is the place where you can, if you want, reduce the number of items in the Services section so you see Set Desktop Picture at the top level of the contextual menu instead of needing to open the Services submenu.

Maxormark wrote:

That's not the bit that's missing. I can select different wallpapers for both screens, although I can only add one folder of images – which sort of makes it a moot point (i.e. I need different folders with different pixel ratios) – and when I do, it defaults back to the ugly new Tahoe desktop wallpaper.

But you CAN add different folders for different screens, that's my point!

Select one of your screens in the menu I showed you above, click "Your photos", Choose Folder... and select the folder you want. Then do the same with the other screen selected.

I have two different folders as wallpaper on my two screens.

Maxormark wrote:

All the folders where i keep my desktop wallpapers are inacessible via Settings > Wallpaper. All I can see is the system ones.

? and what happpens exactly if you click on Your Photos-Add Photos

ref:

Customize the wallpaper on your Mac

if you have an issue try creating a new folder and select a few images to add to it— and compare your results.

Not sure what to tell you.

As I said before, selecting different folders for different displays works just fine.

I have not used OnyX in about a decade (though it is still a respected application, and one that does what it says, and only on user action).

Did you ever try Safe Mode, for a while?

Many issues can be due to third party stuff, and I find that in Tahoe (and Sequoia) even Safe Mode is pretty fast (unlike in the old days). I am not suggesting you work in Safe Mode, mind you - this is a test.

If some of the issues disappear in Safe Mode, then for sure some third party software modification is involved.

Maxormark wrote:

Until this morning I could select a whole folder of images and shuffle them randomly, at interals of between 5 secs and more than an hour.

The functionality – which I've used for more than a decade – has simply disappeared, despite there being no updates or other changes to the system.

Understood.

If you are still having issues you can file a bug report / submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

point-updates to follow are designed to address known issues.

if you are not seeing Add Photo + as an option:

You can try default images and compare your results—

[Edited by Moderator]

Weird little workaround....I was able to create a Test user account and could add the folder for my wallpapers and it works as normal. I cannot do this for my Admin account though.

I have a Apple M1 model if this matters to anyone.

This is stupid. My M1 MBA is a dog after updating. Issues with my task bar disappearing and taking forever to show up and issues with a secondary monitor not waking up.

What is really stupid is that I can add Wallpapers from a folder on a test user account, but not from my Admin one. The option is totally missing!

I am surprised by this: "Still only able to select one folder for both screens".

Do you not see a popup menu near the top of the Wallpaper section of System Settings?

I can easily select different wallpapers for different displays.

I am currently using two different folders of my own photos.

I could even do different ones for different Spaces on each display.