To change your Xbox background, press Xbox, open Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization, then select My background and choose a background option. On Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One-family consoles running current system software, you can choose solid colors, custom images, screenshots, and achievement artwork. Dynamic backgrounds are available on Xbox Series X|S only.
The short version
- Start in Settings: Open Personalization, then select My background to choose your Home wallpaper.
- Your own image: Upload a JPG or PNG smaller than 3 MB from USB, or choose an image through Microsoft Edge on Xbox.
- Animated backgrounds: Choose Dynamic backgrounds on Xbox Series X|S.
- Keep your selection visible: Uncheck Show selected game art to stop highlighted games from temporarily replacing your background.
| Option | What it does | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Solid color | Sets a plain Home background | Series X|S and Xbox One |
| USB image upload | Applies your JPG or PNG | Series X|S and Xbox One |
| Screenshot thumbnail menu | Sets a screenshot with Menu | Series X|S and Xbox One |
| Full screenshot options | Sets an opened screenshot | Series X|S and Xbox One |
| Achievement artwork | Uses artwork from an achievement | Series X|S and Xbox One |
| Microsoft Edge image | Applies an image from the web | Edge on Series X|S and Xbox One |
| Dynamic background | Applies a built-in animated background | Series X|S only |
| Hardware-exclusive background | Uses artwork unlocked by qualifying hardware | Series X|S with eligible accessories |
| Selected game art | Shows artwork for a highlighted recently played game | Series X|S and Xbox One |
| Event-themed backgrounds | Allows temporary event artwork | Eligible accounts on Series X|S |
| Default background | Restores default background behavior | Series X|S and Xbox One |
| Media Player USB method | Sets an opened USB image as wallpaper | Xbox consoles with Media Player |
| Official Xbox Wallpapers | Provides artwork to download and apply | Xbox console backgrounds |
| Immersive background mode | Shows your background without Home tiles | October 28, 2026 console update or later |
| Favorites and shuffle | Saves and rotates dynamic backgrounds | Series X|S Alpha Skip-Ahead with the November 12, 2026 preview feature |
| System theme | Changes light or dark system appearance | Series X|S and Xbox One |
| Console profile theme | Changes your profile background | Series X|S and Xbox One |
| PC app profile theme | Changes your account profile theme | Xbox app on Windows PC |
| Accent colors | Changes interface tiles and accents | Series X|S and Xbox One |
Choose a solid background color
For a plain background, press Xbox and open Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization, then select My background. Choose Solid colors, pick a color, and select OK. This changes your Home background; interface accent colors have a separate control.
Upload a custom picture from USB
Prepare a JPG or PNG image smaller than 3 MB and put it on a USB device. Xbox recommends an image size of 1920 × 1080. Connect the USB device to your console before opening the upload option.
Press Xbox, open Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization, then select My background. Choose Custom image > Upload an image, browse the USB drive in the file picker, and choose your picture. Select Upload to apply it.
If you need artwork, choose an image from the official Xbox Wallpapers page and apply it using the USB upload method. If your image does not meet the upload requirements, choose a JPG or PNG smaller than 3 MB.
On an Xbox with Media Player, you can also apply the image through that app. Save the wallpaper to a USB drive and connect it, then open Media Player, select File Explorer, choose the USB device, and open the image. Press Menu and select Set as background.
Use a screenshot or achievement picture
To use a saved screenshot, press Xbox, open Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization, then select My background. Choose Custom image > Select a screenshot.
Highlight the screenshot thumbnail, press Menu, and select Set as background. Alternatively, open the screenshot with A, then select More options (…) > Set as background.
For achievement artwork, return to the background settings and choose Custom image > Select an achievement. Choose a game from the achievements list with A, then choose the achievement artwork with A. Select Set as background to apply it.
Choose an image from the web
To choose an online image through Microsoft Edge on Xbox, press Xbox and open Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization, then select My background. Choose Custom image > Select an image from the web.
Find the picture in Edge, hover over it, and press Menu. Select Open image in new tab to open the full-size image. Hover over that image, press Menu again, and select Set as background.
Pick a dynamic background on Xbox Series X or S
On Xbox Series X|S, press Xbox and open Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization, then select My background. Choose Dynamic backgrounds and browse Games, Xbox, or Abstract. Press A to choose a background.
Xbox One consoles do not support dynamic backgrounds. On Xbox One, choose a solid color, custom image, screenshot, or achievement picture instead.
On Series X|S, you can get an exclusive background with qualifying special-edition hardware, such as the 20th Anniversary Special Edition controller. Turn on and use the qualifying hardware with your console, then return to Dynamic backgrounds and select the exclusive background with A. Eligibility depends on the accessory.
If your Series X|S is enrolled in Xbox Insider Alpha Skip-Ahead with the November 12, 2026 preview feature, you can also save favorites and shuffle dynamic backgrounds. Open Settings > General > Personalization, select My background, then choose Dynamic backgrounds > Dynamic backgrounds. Choose a background and press X to add it to Favorites.
Select Shuffle at the beginning of a category, then choose a rotation interval. The preview supports changing backgrounds at sign-in or hourly, daily, or weekly. If you are using the regular dynamic-background controls, choose a single background with A.
Stop game and event artwork from replacing your background
If your chosen background changes when you highlight a game, check the game-art setting. Press Xbox, open Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization, then select My background. Uncheck Show selected game art to keep your chosen background visible instead.
To allow automatic game artwork, check Show selected game art. Highlighting a recently played game temporarily displays its artwork, and moving to other selections returns to your chosen background.
For eligible accounts on Series X|S, event artwork has a separate control in the same background settings. Uncheck Show event-themed backgrounds to stop those replacements, or check Show event-themed backgrounds to allow them. While an event background is displayed, selected-game artwork is paused; your previous background returns when the event ends or its display period expires.
Restore the default or view your wallpaper without tiles
Restoring the default background removes your background customization. To do that, press Xbox, open Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization, then select My background and choose Restore the default background. Default behavior includes showing game artwork when you hover over recently played games.
To see your existing wallpaper without Home tiles, use immersive background mode on consoles with the October 28, 2026 public update or later. From anywhere on Home, press the Right thumbstick button, then press any button to return to the normal Home interface. This displays your existing custom or dynamic background without choosing a replacement, and dynamic backgrounds remain exclusive to Series X|S.
Change your profile theme and interface colors
Your profile theme is separate from the console Home background. To change it on Xbox, press Xbox, open Profile & system, and select your gamerpic. Select My profile, then choose Customize profile > Change theme. Preview a theme with A and press Menu to confirm.
In the Xbox app on Windows PC, open View Profile > Customize profile and choose Theme. This changes your account’s profile theme rather than remotely changing your console Home wallpaper.
For light or dark system appearance on Series X|S or Xbox One, press Xbox and open Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization, then select My color & theme. Under System theme, choose Dark, Light, or Scheduled. Scheduling supports specified times or sunrise and sunset.
To adjust tiles and interface accents, return to the personalization settings, select My color & theme, then select My color. Adjust the color sliders, use RGB Hex code, or select Match my Gamerpic, then select Save. These controls change accent colors separately from the solid Home background option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a custom Xbox background appear on another console?
Custom images and screenshot backgrounds stay on the console where you set them. Achievement artwork follows your account to other Xbox consoles.
Why does a child account not show event backgrounds?
Event-themed backgrounds are not shown for child accounts on Xbox Series X|S. You can choose a solid color, custom image, screenshot, or achievement artwork instead.
Do Xbox theme and color settings follow your account?
Your interface accent color follows your signed-in account. Your system’s light or dark appearance setting stays local to the console.
Can a hardware-exclusive background stay usable after disconnecting its controller?
Yes, on Series X|S enrolled in Xbox Insider Alpha Skip-Ahead with the November 12, 2026 preview feature, favoriting an accessory-exclusive background permits using it while that controller is disconnected. Choose the background and press X to add it to Favorites.