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How to change the desktop background in Windows 7
- Open the Start menu and search for desktop background.
- Choose Change desktop background.
- Select a picture location, or use Browse to find a folder containing your wallpapers.
- Select the picture you want, then choose Save changes.
Windows 7 also lets you select multiple pictures and rotate them as a desktop background. Microsoft’s Windows 7 instructions describe the procedure and edition availability in its desktop background guide.
How to set up a wallpaper slideshow
In Change desktop background, select the images you want included. Set Change picture every to an interval from 10 seconds to one day. Turn on Shuffle if you want the images to appear in random order, then save the changes. The interval and shuffle options are part of Microsoft’s Windows 7 instructions; they are not available in every edition.
Why the slideshow option may be missing
Microsoft lists the slideshow instructions for Windows 7 Enterprise, Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate. Desktop background slideshow is not available in Starter or Home Basic, so the missing control in either edition is an edition limitation rather than a setting you can enable through the procedure.
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- 3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3520M 2.9Ghz Processor (4M Cache, up to 3.60 GHz With Turbo Boost), Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit Operating system.
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Why the slideshow may stop on a laptop
Windows can pause the slideshow on battery power to conserve energy. If picture rotation is not running, check the slideshow setting in the laptop’s power plan; Microsoft notes that the option can be paused or unavailable depending on the power setting. The exact controls are in the Power Options area, and names can vary with the selected plan.
Other built-in Windows 7 desktop enhancements
Interactive taskbar thumbnails
Windows 7’s enhanced taskbar displays previews when you point to an open application’s taskbar button. The thumbnails help you identify and switch among open windows without first bringing each one to the foreground.
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- Professional Operating System: Pre-installed with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit operating system, offering enhanced security features, business-oriented functionality, and compatibility with a wide range of professional software applications
Jump Lists
Right-click a taskbar button or an eligible Start menu item to open its Jump List. Depending on the application, it can provide quick access to frequently used files, locations, or tasks. Microsoft describes thumbnails and Jump Lists as elements of the Windows 7 desktop experience in its Windows 7 desktop experience overview.
Gadgets
Windows 7 included a desktop gadgets platform for small at-a-glance tools. This is a legacy feature, not a good reason to download gadgets from unfamiliar sites: Microsoft later said vulnerabilities in the platform could expose users to exploitation, even through benign gadgets. Its documentation on features removed from Windows 8 explains the security rationale.
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Windows 7 is no longer supported
Personalizing a Windows 7 desktop does not make the operating system safer. Microsoft says Windows 7 support ended on January 14, 2020, after which it no longer publishes product updates or security updates for the product. Microsoft’s lifecycle record lists the final Extended Security Updates year as ending January 11, 2023. These dates apply to Windows 7’s support lifecycle, not to the availability of a particular wallpaper or theme. See Microsoft’s Windows 7 end-of-support FAQ and Windows 7 lifecycle record.
If you still use Windows 7, keep customization to trusted built-in settings and avoid treating themes, wallpaper, or gadgets as security measures. Microsoft’s current theme and wallpaper instructions for Windows 10 and Windows 11 use newer Settings paths, so they are not a substitute for the Windows 7 steps above.
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