Configure separate wallpapers for multiple Windows XP monitors

by Greg Shultz | Mar 28, 2007 7:00:00 AM

Tags: Monitors & displays, Greg Shultz, monitor, Microsoft Windows XP, dialog box, Microsoft Windows, desktop, Windows XP Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: Seeing double? If you use more than one monitor on your Windows XP system, you can configure separate desktop wallpapers without using third-party software. Here's how to break up the monotony of having the same old wallpaper.

Do you have a multiple monitor setup on your Windows XP computer system, with each monitor set at different screen resolutions for testing purposes or running different applications at larger resolutions? For example, Excel at 1280x1024 on one monitor so you can view more cells on the screen, and Word on the other monitor at 1024x768.

One wallpaper spread across two monitors at different resolutions isn't the most visually appealing environment, but there is an easy way to configure separate wallpaper backgrounds for each monitor without necessitating an additional utility. Here's how to configure a separate wallpaper background for each of your monitors:

1. Right-click the desktop and select Properties to bring up the Display Properties dialog box.
2. Select the Desktop tab and click the Customize Desktop button to bring up the Desktop Items dialog box.
3. Select the Web tab on the Desktop Items dialog box, then click the New button to bring up the New Desktop Item dialog box.
4. Click the Browse button to locate and select an image file that you want to use for wallpaper.
5. Once you locate an image file, click OK three times to close all the dialog boxes and place the image on the desktop.
6. Hover your mouse pointer over the picture. When the title bar appears, click and drag the picture over to the monitor on which you want to use this image as wallpaper.
7. Click the Maximize button.
8. Right-click the desktop, go to Arrange Icons By and select Lock Web Items On Desktop.

Note: This tip applies to both Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional.

Miss a tip?

Check out the Windows XP archive, and catch up on our most recent Windows XP tips.

Stay on top of the latest XP tips and tricks with our free Windows XP newsletter, delivered each Thursday. Automatically sign up today!

Print/View all Posts Comments on this article

Don't have a Web-tab on XP Pro x64 bas@... | 03/29/07

Nice Little Trick tperkins@... | 03/29/07

don't have Web-tab on XP Pro 32 either Basher | 03/29/07

It's there on mine ThumbsUp2 | 03/29/07

Web Tab not appearing Reason... steven@... | 03/29/07

Solution for Web tab Problem add_erl | 04/18/07

Web tab not appearing: Another reason SlappyHorowitz | 03/29/07

Losing Clear Type and Icon text has background zzdobrusky@... | 03/29/07

bad WindowsXP behavior mmahgoub@... | 03/29/07

Losing Clear Type Aragorn7 | 03/29/07

I got transparency back sonnich@... | 04/06/07

It did not work for me Aragorn7 | 04/06/07

Title doesn't appear Randall_D_Roth@... | 03/29/07

Move the mouse. rdettwyler@... | 03/29/07

Is your desktop locked grammygrammy | 03/29/07

Nice Trick ian@... | 03/29/07

Additional Info ThumbsUp2 | 03/29/07