Setting up multiple monitors in Windows 10 is fairly easy and can be done under five minutes. After setting up dual or multi monitor, most users prefer using separate, individual wallpapers for each desktop/monitor/screen.
Thankfully, assigning different wallpaper backgrounds for each monitor is quite easy in Windows 10. You can set different wallpapers for multiple monitors without having to install third-party software.
Complete the given below directions to set different wallpapers for dual or multiple monitors in Windows 10.
NOTE: We assume that you have already connected and setup dual or multiple monitors.
Method 1 of 3
Set different wallpapers for each monitor via Settings
Step 1: Right-click on the empty area of desktop and then click Personalize option to open Settings app and navigate to Background section.
Step 2: Here, under Choose your picture section, right-click on a picture which you want to set as desktop background for one of your monitors to see a context menu and then click Set for monitor 1, Set for monitor 2 or Set for monitor 3 option.
If you want to set a new picture as desktop background for a monitor, click the Browse button to browse to the picture which you want to set as wallpaper for one of the monitors, click Choose picture to add it to Choose your picture section (this will also set the picture as wallpaper for the primary display), right-click on the picture now (see picture below) and then click Set for monitor 1, 2 or 3.
Since I have connected only one monitor to my Windows 10 laptop, the Settings app displaying only Set for monitor 1 and Set for monitor 2 options. Use Set for monitor 1 option is to set a wallpaper for the primary display.
If you click Set for monitor 2 option, the selected wallpaper will be set as desktop background for the second monitor. Obviously, depending on the number of monitors, Set for monitor 3 or Set for monitor 4 options will appear in the context menu. And use Set for all monitors option if you prefer the same wallpaper for all monitors.
Important: If the context menu is not appearing with Set for monitor 1 and Set for monitor 2 options, it’s because the second monitor is being used to duplicate the primary display. In short, when you have set Duplicate these displays option in Settings, Windows 10 simply displays the content on the primary display on the secondary display.
So in order to use the second monitor as extended display, right-click on desktop, click Display settings, under multiple displays section, select Extend these displays and then click Apply button.
Method 2 of 3
Set different wallpaper for each monitor using Control Panel
Step 1: Simultaneously press Windows logo and R keys to open Run command box. If you often use Run command, we recommend you add Run command to Start menu for quick access.
Step 2: In the Run command box, paste the following command and then press Enter key to open Desktop Background window.
control /name Microsoft.Personalization /page pageWallpaper
Step 3: Now, right-click on a picture which you want to set as desktop background for a monitor, and then click Set for monitor 1, 2, 3 or 4 option.
If the context menu is not appearing when you right-click on a picture, please refer to above mentioned instructions to set your secondary monitor as extended display.
Method 3 of 3
Set different wallpapers for multiple monitors via File Explorer
Very few PC users are aware of this hidden feature. In addition to Settings and Control Panel, you can also use the File Explorer to set separate wallpapers for each of your display in Windows 10. Here is how to do it:
Step 1: Navigate to the folder where you have saved your wallpapers.
Step 2: Select two pictures (if you have dual monitors), right-click, and then click Set as desktop background to set separate wallpapers for each of your screen.
The first selected picture will appear on the secondary display whereas the last selected picture will be set as primary display wallpaper. Windows 10 automatically rotates these pictures every thirty minutes with default settings.
