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Use Shotwell to create desktop slideshows from folders; no additional installation required.
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Install the GNOME Extension Manager, then add the Random Wallpaper extension.
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Variety for power users.
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Hydrapaper for multi-monitor setups.
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Write a custom script for absolute control.
Let's agree on something: Compared to Windows Spotlight , Ubuntu's dynamic wallpaper feature is not very good. Fortunately, Linux is very customizable , and if you don't want to, you don't have to stare at the same wallpapers forever, not when you can use these five methods to control your desktop's aesthetic and how often the wallpaper changes automatically.
Shotwell: The built-in slideshow maker hiding in plain sight
Do you have a collection of downloaded HD images you'd like to display as desktop wallpapers without downloading additional software? If that's the case, consider using Shotwell , GNOME's default photo manager. Launch Shotwell by searching for it from the Applications Grid. If you're using the app for the first time, your Shotwell database will be empty. That's a good thing since you'll have more control over the pictures you import and use as wallpaper.
Import your images into Shotwell by going to File > Import From Folder. Navigate to the folder containing your downloaded wallpapers, select it, and hit OK. A dialog box will ask if you'd like to copy the photos to your library or 'Import in Place.' Select the latter to keep the original photos intact in their folder. Shotwell automatically imports and organizes your images.
To create a desktop slideshow, navigate to your library, select 'Photos' or 'Last Import,' and then press Ctrl + A to select all photos, or hold Ctrl as you click to select specific photos. After selecting the photos you want to display as desktop wallpapers, go to File > Set as Desktop Slideshow, then configure the timing. After exporting, set the wallpaper to ensure it starts changing automatically.
GNOME Shell Extensions: The frictionless way to automate wallpaper changing
There are millions of functionally awesome and criminally underrated GNOME extensions . For wallpaper changing, fan favorites include Random Wallpaper by iflow.space, Wallpaper Changer by Jomik, Wikimedia Commons Wallpaper Changer by jhsoby, NASA APOD Wallpaper Changer by Elinvention, and other similar options.
If you've never used GNOME Extensions, you'll need to install an extension manager. Matthew Jakeman's Extension Manager is the easiest and most intuitive to use on Ubuntu. Install it by searching for it in the App Center, or by running the following command in the terminal: sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-manager.
GNOME Shell Extensions are super easy to use: you simply search for the extension you need, then install and start using it as you would any other software. I'll use iFlow's Random Wallpaper to illustrate. After installing Extension Manager, start it, switch to the 'Browse' tab, then search for 'Random Wallpaper' and install it.
After installing it, go to your 'Installed Extensions' tab and click on the gear icon to configure it. You can also access Random Wallpaper from its System Tray icon. Set whether to show the wallpaper on the desktop or lock screen, your preferred scaling mode, the auto-fetching interval, and add your favorite wallpaper sources. Options include a local folder, Wallhaven, Unsplash, or Reddit, but some sources may require an API key .
Variety Wallpaper Manager: The enthusiast's favorite wallpaper manager
Variety is a fan favorite. It's been starred over 1.5k times and forked 150+ times on GitHub.
Variety is more than 'just another' automatic wallpaper changer. It's a wallpaper manager that supports wallpapers in a local folder and from wallpaper sources like Unsplash. The icing on the cake is that it supports popular Linux desktop environments and desktop overlays. Install Variety by executing this command in your terminal.
Once installed, start it by searching for it in the App Center or by executing this command in your terminal:
Go through the welcome screen and prompts, then configure and customize settings such as whether Variety should persist across system reboots, how often the wallpaper changes, and your wallpaper sources, which can include a local folder and websites like Unsplash, NASA, National Geographic, Bing, and others.
Additional settings you can configure include image autorotation, alignment and scaling, applying wallpaper effects, overlaying quotes or a digital clock on the desktop, and downloading and filtering options, among others. After trying the Variety Wallpaper manager, you'll immediately understand why so many Linux users love it.
Hydrapaper: The wallpaper changer for dual-monitor setups
Any multi-monitor Linux user who has ever tried to set a different wallpaper on each monitor will tell you that the default GNOME desktop environment has one super frustrating feature limitation: the inability to set a different wallpaper on each monitor. It simply applies the same wallpaper across all monitors. That's where Hydrapaper comes in.
Hydrapaper has the features you'd expect in a wallpaper manager: you can add folders to your wallpaper collection, favorite wallpapers, randomize, fit, zoom, or center wallpapers, among others. You can also control it via the terminal.
However, its main selling point, and the thing it's popular for, is its multi-monitor wallpaper support. It automatically detects connected monitors, and when you set which wallpaper to display on each monitor, it stitches and merges the two images into a single, spanned wallpaper that fits your monitor layout.
The best way to install the latest version of Hydrapaper on Ubuntu is to use Flatpak ; the Debian version is unstable.
If you've not done so yet, start by installing Flatpak, then add the Flathub repo and install Hydrapaper, and then restart your session by logging off and on again:
Start Hydrapaper from the application grid, then add your wallpaper folders by clicking the folder icon in the top-left corner, and then select the '+' at the bottom.
After the application imports your wallpapers, select the monitor(s) you'd like to set a wallpaper on, choose an image from the library, align it by clicking the three dots, and apply it using the light or dark mode check marks at the top. To randomize wallpapers on each monitor, go to the Menu and select the 'Set Random Wallpapers' option.
Technically, Hydrapaper is static, which means it doesn't run in the background and can't automatically change the wallpaper. You can get past that by executing flatpak run org.gabmus.hydrapaper -rin the terminal, or automate it by creating a one-shot systemd timer .
Custom script: The 'I want total control' automatic wallpaper changer
If you want absolute control, the custom wallpaper script is the way to go. And guess what? Creating one is easier than you think. In fact, it's something you can do in one sitting, and I've even written a guide that shows you how to create a custom infinite wallpaper changer.
There you have it: 5 easy ways to automate wallpaper changing on Ubuntu. Choose the option that works well for you, but don't be afraid to experiment with other Linux wallpaper managers.
