Desktop pictures on multiple desktops?

[tripmusic]

What is the easiest way to change the desktop picture on all desktop workspaces simultaneously so that they all have the same background?

 

[MagicHAM]

The way you phrased the question is you want to change the desktop backgrounds on the multiple desktops at once? I thought you meant that you wanted a slide show of all your desktop pictures. (hence why i am asking for confirmation)

 

[tripmusic]

The way you phrased the question is you want to change the desktop backgrounds on the multiple desktops at once? I thought you meant that you wanted a slide show of all your desktop pictures. (hence why i am asking for confirmation)

That's correct. The only way I know is tedious, having to open sys prefs in each workspace and selecting the same background. A Google search brought up a work-around from some someone, but it doesn't seem to work here in El Cap.

- Open System Prefs in Space 1.
- Change background for that space.
- Click and hold the top of the System Prefs window.
- While holding it with the mouse, press Control + 2 to switch to next space. - This will bring the System Prefs window with you.
- Rinse and repeat.

 

[bmac89]

Alternatively you can remove all desktop spaces from mission control then change the desktop image and when you re-create the desktop space they will use the same default desktop image.

 

[KALLT]

- Click and hold the top of the System Prefs window.
- While holding it with the mouse, press Control + 2 to switch to next space. - This will bring the System Prefs window with you.

You can also just drag the window to the side of the screen and “push” it to the next Space.

I don’t think that there is a reliable method to change the wallpaper of all Spaces at once. There used to be some automated workarounds for this, but I don’t think they work anymore.

Another albeit dirty workaround is to create a new folder, put your wallpaper into it (just make sure that there is only one picture in it), add it to the sidebar of the settings panel, select it, choose “Change picture” and select an interval that works for you (e.g. “when logging in” or “when waking from sleep” are straightforward choices). Now you need to apply that same setting to all of your Spaces once. If you choose “when logging in” or “when waking from sleep” then you only need to logout/login or sleep/awake after you swapped the wallpaper within the folder. All of your spaces should then have the same wallpaper.

 

[tripmusic]

Alternatively you can remove all desktop spaces from mission control then change the desktop image and when you re-create the desktop space they will use the same default desktop image.

Yea I'd rather not have to deal with setting up my work spaces again every time I want to change my background

 

[tripmusic]

You can also just drag the window to the side of the screen and “push” it to the next Space.

I don’t think that there is a reliable method to change the wallpaper of all Spaces at once. There used to be some automated workarounds for this, but I don’t think they work anymore.

Another albeit dirty workaround is to create a new folder, put your wallpaper into it (just make sure that there is only one picture in it), add it to the sidebar of the settings panel, select it, choose “Change picture” and select an interval that works for you (e.g. “when logging in” or “when waking from sleep” are straightforward choices). Now you need to apply that same setting to all of your Spaces once. If you choose “when logging in” or “when waking from sleep” then you only need to logout/login or sleep/awake after you swapped the wallpaper within the folder. All of your spaces should then have the same wallpaper.

Duh?!?! Yes, thank you. I thought I tried sliding it over and it wasn't moving before. Indeed it works. The folder option is cool too. Solved