How to Schedule a Wallpaper Change in Windows 10

Windows 10 can rotate a folder of backgrounds at a chosen interval, but it has no built-in trigger for a specific picture at a set clock time or on selected weekdays. For a timed change, Task Scheduler can launch a short PowerShell script that applies one image to the signed-in user’s desktop. This changes the desktop background, not the lock-screen picture.

Microsoft notes that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. These personalization settings remain on installed systems, but free security updates have ended. See Microsoft’s desktop background guide for its current Windows instructions.

Use Slideshow for interval changes

For automatic rotation without an exact schedule, press Windows + I, open Personalization > Background, choose Slideshow, then use Browse to select a picture folder. Set the Change picture every interval and optionally enable shuffle. You can also right-click the desktop and select Next desktop background to advance manually. Slideshow rotates by interval; it does not set a particular wallpaper for a chosen time.

Schedule a specific wallpaper at a set time

One scheduled task applies one image at one daily or weekly trigger. To show different images at different times, repeat the task setup for each time and file. The script uses Microsoft’s documented SystemParametersInfoW function to set the desktop background.

The older Wallpaper Change Scheduler mentioned in the previous version is not used here: FutureSight’s current product page lists Windows XP, Vista, and 7 under Requirements, so it does not document Windows 10 compatibility.

1. Put the image in a permanent folder

Create a folder such as C:\Users\YourName\Pictures\Wallpapers, save the image there, and note its full path. Keep the file in place; moving or renaming it later breaks the task. If it is in a cloud-synced folder, make sure it is downloaded locally.

2. Set Windows to Picture mode

Open Settings > Personalization > Background and select Picture. If Slideshow stays enabled, it may change the background again on its own interval.

3. Save the PowerShell script

Open Notepad, paste the script, and save it as SetWallpaper.ps1 in the image folder. In Save As, choose All Files so Notepad does not append .txt.

param(
    [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
    [string]$ImagePath
)

if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $ImagePath -PathType Leaf)) {
    throw "Wallpaper image not found: $ImagePath"
}

Add-Type -TypeDefinition @"
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
public static class WallpaperApi
{
    [DllImport("user32.dll", EntryPoint = "SystemParametersInfoW",
        CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]
    public static extern bool SystemParametersInfo(
        uint action, uint param, string value, uint flags);
}
"@

$resolvedPath = (Resolve-Path -LiteralPath $ImagePath).Path
$success = [WallpaperApi]::SystemParametersInfo(20, 0, $resolvedPath, 3)
if (-not $success) {
    $code = [Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::GetLastWin32Error()
    throw "Windows could not set the wallpaper. Error: $code"
}

The action value 20 selects the wallpaper-setting operation; flags value 3 saves the change and broadcasts it. Use an image that Windows can already set as a desktop background.

4. Create the time trigger

Search for and open Task Scheduler. Choose Create Basic Task, name it, then select Daily or Weekly. Set the start date and time; for a daily change, recur every 1 day. Choose a future start time if you want to test it soon.

5. Select the action

Choose Start a program when the wizard asks what the task should do.

6. Add PowerShell and both file paths

Enter powershell.exe in Program/script. In Add arguments, enter this as one line, replacing the example account name and image filename:

-NoProfile -WindowStyle Hidden -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\Users\YourName\Pictures\Wallpapers\SetWallpaper.ps1" -ImagePath "C:\Users\YourName\Pictures\Wallpapers\Evening.jpg"

Keep the quotation marks around each full path, including when names contain spaces. The execution-policy option applies to this PowerShell process; use it only with the script you saved. Continue through the wizard. On Finish, check Open the Properties dialog for this task when I click Finish.

7. Use your signed-in account

In the task’s Properties > General tab, keep your account and select Run only when user is logged on. The change applies to that user’s interactive desktop. Microsoft explains task accounts and logon context in its Task Scheduler security-context documentation.

8. Catch missed runs and test

In the Settings tab, enable Run task as soon as possible after a scheduled start is missed. This can run a missed task after Windows becomes available; it does not wake a powered-off PC or guarantee the original time. Microsoft describes this behavior in the StartWhenAvailable documentation.

Click OK to save. Find the task in Task Scheduler Library, right-click it, and choose Run to test the image change. If it does not work, check both paths, Picture mode, and the account selected in Properties. Windows must be running and that account signed in for the desktop to update.