How to Remove a Background from the Desktop Background List (Windows)

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A simple and easy guide to removing a background from the background list on Windows

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: September 28, 2024

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Deleting a Background Image in Windows 10

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Deleting a Lock Screen Image in Windows 10

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Deleting a Theme in Windows 10

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Tips

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Warnings

Desktop backgrounds are a great way to personalize your Windows environment. If you want to remove a background from your desktop background list, you'll just need to open your background settings. Click the Browse button, right-click the image, and click Delete. This wikiHow teaches you how to remove a background in Windows.

Quick Steps

Right-click your Windows desktop.
Click Personalize.
Click Background in the left panel.
Click the Browse button below "Choose your picture".
Right-click the image and click Delete.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Deleting a Background Image in Windows 10

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Right-click anywhere on your desktop where there are no icons. This displays a pop-up menu.
It's at the bottom of the menu that appears when you right-click the desktop background. This opens the Background settings menu.

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It's the first option in the panel to the left. This displays the Windows background settings.
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Ensure "Picture" is selected below "Background." Use the drop-down menu below "Background" to select "Picture." This allows you to select a single image to use as a background.
- Selecting "Slideshow" allows you to select an entire folder of images to use as rotating background images.
It's below the list of recently used background images. This opens a file browser that allows you to select an image to use as a background.
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Navigate to the folder containing the image you want to delete. You can use any image on your computer as a background image. Navigate to the one you want to delete.
- To navigate to the location of Windows' default background images, click "C:\ (This PC)" in the panel to the left. Then open the "Windows" folder followed by the "Web" folder. Here you will find a variety of folders containing the default background images for Windows.^{[1]
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This displays a pop-up menu next to the image.
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Click Delete. It's in the menu that pops up when you right-click a file. This deletes the file and sends it to the Recycling Bin.
- To permanently delete the images files from the Recycling Bin, right-click the Recycling Bin on your desktop and click Empty Recycling Bin.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Deleting a Lock Screen Image in Windows 10

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Right-click anywhere on your desktop where there are no icons. This displays a pop-up menu.
It's at the bottom of the menu that appears when you right-click the desktop background. This opens the Background settings menu.
It's in the panel to the left in the settings menu. This displays the Lock screen settings menu.
This opens up the file browser that allows you to select an image to use as a lock screen background image.
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Navigate to the image you want to delete. You can select any image on your PC as a Lock screen image. Navigate to the folder containing the image you want to delete.
- To navigate to the location of Windows' default background images, click "C:\ (This PC)" in the panel to the left. Then open the "Windows" folder followed by the "Web" folder. Here you will find a variety of folders containing the default background images for Windows.
This displays a pop-up menu next to the image.
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Click Delete. It's in the menu that pops up when you right-click a file. This deletes the file and sends it to the Recycling Bin.
- To permanently delete the images files from the Recycling Bin, right-click the Recycling Bin on your desktop and click Empty Recycling Bin.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Deleting a Theme in Windows 10

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Right-click anywhere on your desktop where there are no icons. This displays a pop-up menu.
It's at the bottom of the menu that appears when you right-click the desktop background. This opens the Background settings menu.
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Click Themes. It's in the panel to the left. This opens the Themes settings menu. In addition to a background image, themes also contain a color scheme, custom cursors, and custom sounds for Windows.
- The default themes that came pre-installed on Windows can't be deleted.
Themes are listed below the header that says "Change Theme" in the Themes settings menu. This displays a pop-up.
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Click Delete. It's in the pop-up that appears when you right-click a theme. This deletes the theme.
- If the text that says "Delete" is greyed out, you can't delete the theme.

Common Questions: Deleting Wallpaper History on Windows

Will this delete the background from my computer?

If you delete the wallpaper using the File Explorer, it will be deleted from your computer. If you delete something accidentally, you can always find it in your Recycle Bin before it's emptied.

Why can't I change my background?

If you can't change your background, check your settings. Click the Start menu and select Settings. Click Ease of Access > Display > check the box for Show desktop background.

Is my wallpaper history visible to everyone?

If multiple people are using one user account, they will be able to see your wallpaper history. However, if you're logged into your own user account, this will be hidden from other users.

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Tips

Image files listed in the Background display options are the ones stored under the ...\Windows\Web\Wallpaper directory, plus the background in use if selected via the 'Browse' button.

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If you are having trouble finding the directory, search for one of the names of the wallpaper (i.g. Stonehenge.) Once it is found, left-click and go to open containing folder.

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