Wallpaper and Photos Library

[Simol]

I want to use the ‘Random’ facility within ‘Wallpaper’ to show photos from my photo library. What I get is wallpaper change through only about 6 photos when there are at least 30,000 in my library. Is that the problem? There are too many for the app to use? However, I have tried getting the random facility to work with a small file of photos but that doesn’t work either. Any thoughts?

 

[pm-r]

I want to use the ‘Random’ facility within ‘Wallpaper’ to show photos from my photo library.

You don't mention which Mac version you are using but I don't think it should matter much, but did you check out that you are doing it correctly according to Apple's instructions???:
Customize the desktop picture on your Mac
And How to make your iPhone’s wallpaper a rotating gallery

Customize the wallpaper on your Mac

On your Mac, give your desktop a custom look by changing the desktop picture; you can even use one of your own photos.

support.apple.com

Apple's instructions there say:

To modify a custom desktop picture or color, do any of the following:

Cycle through multiple desktop pictures or colors: Click Auto-Rotate next to a custom folder or color to have desktop pictures or colors change periodically. Customize the timing or choose random cycling using the controls at the top of Wallpaper settings.

Hopefully, that might get things working for you.

Post back if not.



- Patrick
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[Simol]

Thanks for this. Unforunately all the things you suggest have been tried. I'll continue the search for a solution.

 

[pm-r]

Unforunately all the things you suggest have been tried. I'll continue the search for a solution.

Do you have a checkbox for such an option in your Desktop and Screensaver in your System Preferences, something like this?:



Or what Mac OS version are you running???



- Patrick
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[Rod]

Unless I'm wrong here you can add the Pictures Folder as a source for Wallpapers and have it cycle through them but that is the "Pictures" folder not your Photo's Library. If you want an "Album" from your Library you can choose one but as far as I can see you cannot add the entire library in macOS Ventura.

 

[Jimmysb]

Unless I'm wrong here you can add the Pictures Folder as a source for Wallpapers and have it cycle through them but that is the "Pictures" folder not your Photo's Library. If you want an "Album" from your Library you can choose one but as far as I can see you cannot add the entire library in macOS Ventura.

Not that I am considering doing this, but could you make an album of all photos in the library, and then use this album.

 

[Rod]

Theoretically, I suppose so but I'd just pick an album I wouldn't want every photo I have as a desktop.

 

[pm-r]

Thanks for this. Unforunately all the things you suggest have been tried. I'll continue the search for a solution.

You still haven't mentioned what macOS version you are using, which can easily be found under the Apple menu in the About This Mac window, and I'm curious to know why it isn't working for you after you followed Apple's guidelines.

What time have you set between photo changes???

Do you get any message or error window or anything???



- Patrick
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[ferrarr]

but as far as I can see you cannot add the entire library in macOS Ventura.

The option is there under the drop down for Add Photo Album.

 

[Simol]

You still haven't mentioned what macOS version you are using, which can easily be found under the Apple menu in the About This Mac window, and I'm curious to know why it isn't working for you after you followed Apple's guidelines.

What time have you set between photo changes

Do you get any message or error window or anything???



- Patrick
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[Simol]

Ventura 13.4. I believe I have tried every permutation.

 

[Simol]

No error messages. Tried five seconds to five minutes between changes. I would love to know why it won't change the pictures as well! Have tried photos from 'Pictures' and photos from 'Photo Library.'

 

[pm-r]

I would love to know why it won't change the pictures as well! Have tried photos from 'Pictures' and photos from 'Photo Library.'

Do any of your choices at least partially work???

I have no idea why it's not working for you but maybe have a look at this web page as it seems that a few things have changed in Mac OS Ventura. Not surprising considering what apple is doing lately with their latest macOS version.

Maybe there is something here that will actually work for you:
How to Change Wallpaper on MacOS Ventura

How to Change Desktop Picture Wallpaper on MacOS Ventura
Changing your desktop background picture wallpaper is still easy in MacOS Ventura, but it’s a little different from before:

How to Change Wallpaper on MacOS Sonoma & Ventura

Setting your desktop background picture to an image of your choice is an easy and fun way to customize your desktop Mac experience. With MacOS Sonoma and Ventura, how you change the Mac desktop wal…

osxdaily.com

Here's hoping something here will get things working for you. ;-)

Also maybe try shutting down your Mac, wait 30-40 seconds and then reboot up again. Just in case something is not loading and working as it should.

Good luck.



- Patrick
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[pm-r]

EDIT:
I just came across this web page that might have something to do with your problem but I'm not sure, but you can always check it out:

Posted by
u/romain130492
4 months ago

Ventura: How to change the wallpaper on ALL desktops? crappy bug number 25..

https://www.reddit.com/r/MacOS/comments/zvfiue


- Patrick
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[Rod]

ferrarr, I missed that completely, my bad.

 

[Simol]

So I tried using a folder with just 62 photos in it. I set it to random and a five second change. It chose two photos and simply changed between the two every five seconds...........

 

[pm-r]

So I tried using a folder with just 62 photos in it. I set it to random and a five second change. It chose two photos and simply changed between the two every five seconds...........

Well, according to a Google search, at least you don't seem to be the only one with the non-working problem, but here's a list of suggestions they have you could go through and try:

MAC TROUBLESHOOT
macOS Ventura Wallpaper Not Changing: How To Fix?

https://www.getdroidtips.com/macos-ventura-wallpaper-not-changing/

You may need to get fairly drastic as I see one of the suggestions is to reinstall macOS Ventura 13.x, but I did not notice any mention of any SMC Reset being required...

BTW: did you try just using some of Apple's supplied desktop photos or images and did they work normally???

And I haven't noticed any other members saying they are having similar problems if they have tried using the feature.




- Patrick
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[sahina]

I think you should check if your mac is in Light Mode. If you are using Dark Mode then the dynamic wallpapers won't work.

 

[IWT]

I think you should check if your mac is in Light Mode. If you are using Dark Mode then the dynamic wallpapers won't work.

Is that right? I didn’t know that. You do mean “won’t work” as opposed to difficult to see?

And welcome to our Forums.

Ian

 

[Rod]

If you are using Dark Mode then the dynamic wallpapers won't work.

That's nor quite true. There have been some who experienced problems though. It does also depend on which macOS you are running.
See here: 6 Best Fixes for Dynamic Wallpaper Not Working in Dark Mode on Mac
Whereas this article was written for Mojave and Big Sur: Dynamic Wallpaper not working in dark mode - Apple Community
What I can say is that I am running macOS Ventura 13.3.1 and I've been using Dark Mode as default since it was introduced in macOS Mojave and it works just fine.