How to change the background picture on the login screen on Mac OS X

Hey, I'm going to show you how to change the background picture on the login screen in ANY version of Mac OS X. This Instructable may be used or rewritten in ANY way possible! The log in screen picture below was from Google. I just used it for clearer reference.

Step 1 Navigating to the correct folder

Open Mac OS X Finder (new window) and Navigate to:  your hard drive with Mac OS X installed, then go to Library and then in Library, go to DesktopPictures.

Comments

[Macworldwizardz]

PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS

[Macworldwizardz]

Thanks for all of the comments!!!

[Element1604]

Great idea! I've been looking for a way to do this ever since I saw the entirely redone login window on Dexter. I got held up for a minute at the core services forgetting to change permissions, but realized my mistake soon enough! NOW! How to change the ugly input window? (running Snow Leopard)

[zozo10]

Do u know how to do this with lepoard??

[Macworldwizardz]

you mean, Leopard, and yes.. I do. To change the picture, you simply add the desired picture to: /System/Library/CoreServices/ and simply rename the desired image to: "Aurora" (without quotes) this is my first instructable and it is getting very popular with comments and views.... Thanks for reading!! Have a good day!! Patrick.

[zozo10]

its not working

[Macworldwizardz]

Okay. Sorry for the inconvenance. Try navigating to /System/DesktopPictures/   and then add an image to the folder and rename it to Aurora....

[Macworldwizardz]

FOR CLEARER REFRENCE OF THE INSTRUCTABLE:

WE ARE CHANGING THE BACKGROUND IMAGE ON THE LOGIN SCREEN/TABLE OF MAC OS X.. LOOK AT THE ATACHED PICTURE FOR REFRENCE

[lemonie]

Macs don't have a simpler, more user-friendly way of changing this image?!

L

[Macworldwizardz]

P.S.: Thats alot of Instructables you posted. Do you mind subscribing to me?

[lemonie]

I wouldn't mind, but subscribing is something I just don't do (never have)

L

[Macworldwizardz]

No, they don't. You have to do it manually.... :(

[lemonie]

As I said to kelsey, I'm a bit surprised and disappointed in Apple. But I don't have a Mac.

L

[Macworldwizardz]

Ahhh, well, you never now... Sometimes, I am disapointed in Apple, too... And I have a Mac and A PC

[kelseymh]

Much, much more user-friendly.  However, the interface changes slightly with each version.

[lemonie]

The standard Mac option is worse than this? I'm sort of surprised, as I ... well maybe Macs aren't as good as people say?

L

[kelseymh]

Lemonie, I spoke to soon.  This fellow is talking about changing the background on the login screen after boot, not about changing the user's preference.

[Macworldwizardz]

Yes, it's alright. But, I should have been more clear...

[Macworldwizardz]

No, they are, It's just that this 1 thing has to be done by "hand"

[lemonie]

:)
They should fix that I think. I do believe the current OS is a sound platform, but the Fisher-Price aspects annoyed me with the first release (which is all I know).

L

[Macworldwizardz]

Your right, it does. For example, the Tiger uses Aqua Blue, and Leopard and Snow Leopard use Aurora.

[Macworldwizardz]

Thanks.. I thought it would be a cool ible.

[kelseymh]

It would be.  You should include more meaningful pictures on each step.  If you're going to do it manually, then show screen shots of the finder at each step.

[Macworldwizardz]

Sorry. It's my 1st ible. But, thnx for the hint...

[kelseymh]

In MacOSX Leopard, the login background image is /System/Library/CoreServices/DefaultDesktop.jpg.  To make the change you describe, you simply copy whatever image you want to use (which must be a JPEG!) to that file.

[Macworldwizardz]

Thanks. But, I am working on a more clearer version of this Instructable and I am working on this and hope to have it published by January next year, maybe by then Mac OS X Leopard will have a lower price and maybe If that doesn't happen, Maybe I'll get another Mac (One with a Intel Processor....) Thanks for reading.

[Macworldwizardz]

Oh, thanks..... I thought it was in /Library/DesktopPictures/Aqua Blue.jpg (on tiger) because I run MAC OS X Tiger (10.4.11) (Latest) on my PowerPC processer based Mac, (PPC, for short)

[zozo10]

what hard drive where i have my mac installed??

[Macworldwizardz]

Thanks for Asking! I may have not have clearly stated that. To Find You Hard Drive (Primary) With OS X Installed, Open up the Mac OS X Finder. It should be located on the top tabs of finder. I'll try to post a picture stating this as soon as possible. Thanks for viewing and rating, though. This 'ible may be one of the ones I have posted stating "not so clear" directions. I have recieved comments before about the same question. Sorry for the confliction. I'll try to fix this as soon as I can. Thanks for writing. Have a good day.

[Macworldwizardz]

FOR MORE CLEARER REFERANCE:
I'M BASING THIS IBLE ON HOW TO CHANGE THE MAC OS X LOGIN SCREEN BACKGROUND, NOT THE REGULAR BACKGROUND... BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THE DEFAULT BACKGROUND IMAGE ON THE LOGIN SCREEN... THANKS...

[kelseymh]

You've got that in the title and text (which I didn't read clearly).  Why not change the intro to a screen shot (actually, you'll have to photo-shop it) of the login screen?  Then people can see exactly what you're talking about.

You can find at least four different login screenshots for Tiger on Google Images.

[Macworldwizardz]

Thanks! OK. I'll try to fix it.

[kelseymh]

This only works with Tiger.  Things change with other releases.  So why do you bother with file renaming, rather than simply using the System Preferences interface?

[kelseymh]

Ummmm...wait a second.  Okay, my mistake.

You are talking about the login screen, not the individual user's desktop.  Give me a minute and I'll find it.

[Macworldwizardz]

It Alright, just follow the ible, and should work.....

[Macworldwizardz]

Because, you can't set the image like that! It has to be set manually. But, thanks for the ratings and the heads up on the comment. I didn't know you could ONLY do this on Tiger..

[kelseymh]

System Preferences -> Desktop and Screensaver -> Desktop -> choose image, including choosing any picture you want from your folders.  In Leopard, they also give you access directly to iPhoto images.

It's not that you can ONLY do it on Tiger, it's that from one OS version to another, Apple doesn't guarantee that the stuff behind the scenes remains the same.  If you are going to say it works with any OSX verision, you need to verify that.

[Macworldwizardz]

I listed how to change the background in the Login Screen, not the Regular Desktop..

[kelseymh]

Right.  See my comment two layers above.  My mistake.

I've just added a top-level comment showing how to do this in Leopard.  As you can see, it's different than it was in Tiger.