How to Make a Desktop Background Not Blurry

The ability to customize a desktop beyond program shortcuts isn't necessary for an operating system to function, nor does it make using that operating system any harder or easier. However, desktop personalization options are some of the most beloved features an operating system can have – even for those users who only see their desktops on rare occasions. One of the most common ways users customize their desktops is by changing the background wallpaper to an image of their choice, but occasionally the image chosen as the wallpaper will come out blurry. This can be frustrating, especially for those who put effort into making their desktop and user interface a reflection of their personalities. Though issues with blurry desktop backgrounds can sometimes be caused by errors with a computer's graphics card, most often the problem can be solved by using one of a few simple fixes.

There are a number of reasons why an image may appear blurry when applied to the background of a desktop. Regardless of whether you're using Windows, Mac OS X or Linux operating systems, not every image file is suited for use as a desktop background. Just as well, the adoption of high-definition wide-screen displays has made it more immediately obvious – and grating on the eyes – when an image isn't working properly. However, what many casual users don't realize is that desktop wallpaper images can often be adjusted in menus. Before giving up on an image you'd like to use as your wallpaper, check to see if you can use a setting to make it work to your satisfaction.

Regardless of your operating system, the desktop customization menu provides a number of tools that can help if your wallpaper is blurry: in Windows 7, 8, and 10, as well as most distributions of Linux, you can access the menu by right-clicking an empty space on the desktop. Select "Personalize" or "Change Desktop Background" from the context menu that appears to open the menu. In Mac OS X, click the Apple icon in the top corner of the screen to access the menu, then navigate to "System Preferences," followed by "Desktop and Screen Saver." From the desktop customization menu, you will be able to select your desired desktop image and – importantly – the fit of the image. From the drop-down menu beneath the image selection options, change the settings and examine your desktop as they are applied: often, a blurry wallpaper is the result of the menu being set to "Fit" or "Stretch," and adjusting it to "Fill" or "Center" can solve the problem immediately. If centering the image creates a border, you can use the customization menu to select a color to fill the border with.

If your image is still blurry or squashed, even after using the wallpaper presentation menu, you may wish to examine the image itself to determine potential issues. Open it in your image viewer of choice: if the image is blurry even in the preview, it is likely of too low a quality to display in an appealing manner. If the image looks fine, the image's dimensions may be the issue. Right click the image and select "Properties" to examine it. If the image dimensions are listed in a strange combination, like 740 x 450, the image is unlikely to fit the desktop adequately and you'll want to find an image with a more suitable sizing. If you're searching for an image for an iMac, wallpapers with 1920 x 1080 dimensions should almost always work. On a system running Windows 7, 8, or 10, it may also be worthwhile to examine your display settings, accessible via the main Windows "Settings" menu: If your desktop icons also appear blurry, you may need to adjust the system resolution to one compatible with your monitor or laptop screen.