While Windows 10 has a nice little multi-monitor taskbar setup and support for multiple virtual desktops, it's not quite as good at letting you choose separate, distinct wallpapers for each of your monitors. But that doesn't mean it can't be done [without third-party software]; it can, Microsoft just isn't very straightforward about it.
Here's how to set different wallpapers for each of your monitors in Windows 10:
1. Save the different wallpapers you want to use in the same folder. This can be any folder - even the Desktop.
2. Hold down the Ctrl key and click the different wallpapers you want to use. If you have two monitors, select two different wallpapers, if you have three monitors, select three different wallpapers, and so forth.
3. Once you've selected your wallpapers, right-click on one of the wallpapers and select Set as desktop background.
4. You should now see different wallpapers on each of your monitors. If you want to switch the wallpaper on any specific monitor, right-click on the desktop and select Next desktop background.
Note: If you do not see different wallpapers on each of your monitors, or if you see different wallpapers but they're cycling through pictures at an alarming rate, you may need to change your wallpaper settings.
To do this, open the Run command by right-clicking the Windows/Start icon and selecting Run. Then type control /name Microsoft.Personalization /page pageWallpaper [including spaces] and click OK.
This will open the Desktop Background window in the Control Panel, though you cannot get to this window directly from the Control Panel.
To make different images show up on your monitors, make sure that Picture position: is set to Fill, Fit, Stretch, or Center. If it is set to Tile or Span, you will only see one image.
To stop your wallpaper from cycling through pictures, click Clear all at the top of the window. This will uncheck all the wallpapers [checked wallpapers are cycled through].
From the Desktop Background window, you can also set wallpapers for each monitor -- simply find the picture you want to use, right-click it, and select Set for monitor 1 [or whichever monitor you want to set it for].
Windows 11 lets you choose a different background image for each Desktop [formerly Virtual Desktops]. The ability to customize the desktop background has been available for a long time, but it was limited to the main desktop or monitor, meaning that no matter how many Desktops you had, changing the wallpaper in one desktop would change it for all.
Starting with this new version of Windows, Microsoft is now updating the feature to allow you to customize each desktop with a different background. While this is a subtle change, it can improve the ability to identify each desktop in Task View at a glance and know where you are more quickly.
In this guide, you will learn the steps to change the background for virtual desktops on Windows 11.
Change virtual desktop background on Windows 11
To set a different background image per desktop:
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Open Task View on Windows 11.
Quick tip: You can click the Task View button in the taskbar or use the Windows key + Tab keyboard shortcut.
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Click the New desktop button to create a new virtual desktop [if applicable].
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Right-click the desktop and select the Choose background option.
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On the “Background” settings page, under the “Personalize your background” section, click the Browse photos button.
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Select the image to set a new background for the desktop.
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Click the Choose picture button.
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Repeat steps No. 4 and 5 to change the wallpaper for the remaining desktops.
Once you complete the steps, each virtual desktop on Windows 11 will have a different background image.
Alternatively, you can also jump to the desktop, open the Settings app, and change the background from the Personalization settings.