Change desktop wallpaper using code in .NET

Question

How can I change the desktop wallpaper using C# Code?

Answer 1

Here's a class yanked from an app I wrote a year or two ago:

public sealed class Wallpaper
{
    Wallpaper() { }

    const int SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER = 20;
    const int SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE = 0x01;
    const int SPIF_SENDWININICHANGE = 0x02;

    [DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
    static extern int SystemParametersInfo(int uAction, int uParam, string lpvParam, int fuWinIni);

    public enum Style : int
    {
        Tiled,
        Centered,
        Stretched
    }

    public static void Set(Uri uri, Style style)
    {
        System.IO.Stream s = new System.Net.WebClient().OpenRead(uri.ToString());

        System.Drawing.Image img = System.Drawing.Image.FromStream(s);
        string tempPath = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), "wallpaper.bmp");
        img.Save(tempPath, System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat.Bmp);

        RegistryKey key = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey(@"Control Panel\Desktop", true);
        if (style == Style.Stretched)
        {
            key.SetValue(@"WallpaperStyle", 2.ToString());
            key.SetValue(@"TileWallpaper", 0.ToString());
        }

        if (style == Style.Centered)
        {
            key.SetValue(@"WallpaperStyle", 1.ToString());
            key.SetValue(@"TileWallpaper", 0.ToString());
        }

        if (style == Style.Tiled)
        {
            key.SetValue(@"WallpaperStyle", 1.ToString());
            key.SetValue(@"TileWallpaper", 1.ToString());
        }

        SystemParametersInfo(SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER,
            0,
            tempPath,
            SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE | SPIF_SENDWININICHANGE);
    }
}

I haven't tested it extensively, so use at your own risk.

Answer 2

Bases on this useful answer, I've also made my own app to set wallpaper matching screen resolution.

But the registry settings were wrong. Here are the correct values (tested on Win 7, Win 8.1, Win 10).

if (style == Style.Fill)
{
    key.SetValue(@"WallpaperStyle", 10.ToString());
    key.SetValue(@"TileWallpaper", 0.ToString());
}
if (style == Style.Fit)
{
    key.SetValue(@"WallpaperStyle", 6.ToString());
    key.SetValue(@"TileWallpaper", 0.ToString());
}
if (style == Style.Span) // Windows 8 or newer only!
{
    key.SetValue(@"WallpaperStyle", 22.ToString());
    key.SetValue(@"TileWallpaper", 0.ToString());
}
if (style == Style.Stretch)
{
    key.SetValue(@"WallpaperStyle", 2.ToString());
    key.SetValue(@"TileWallpaper", 0.ToString());
}
if (style == Style.Tile)
{
    key.SetValue(@"WallpaperStyle", 0.ToString());
    key.SetValue(@"TileWallpaper", 1.ToString());
}
if (style == Style.Center)
{
    key.SetValue(@"WallpaperStyle", 0.ToString());
    key.SetValue(@"TileWallpaper", 0.ToString());
}

Answer 3

Tweaking Neal N's answer for Gifs:

private const int SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER = 20;
private const int SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE = 0x01;
private const int SPIF_SENDWININICHANGE = 0x02;

[DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
private static extern int SystemParametersInfo(int uAction, int uParam, string lpvParam, int fuWinIni);

public enum Style : int
{
    Tiled,
    Centered,
    Stretched
}

/// <summary>
/// Loops numFrames times, animating the desktop background as the given gif.
/// Remember this will sorta bog down your computer, and probably isn't best to be running 24/7.
/// If numFrames is negative this will loop forever
/// </summary>
/// <param name="gifPath">The gif to be animated</param>
/// <param name="transparencyReplace">If the gif has transparency, it will be "replaced" with this color.</param>
/// <param name="framesPerSecond">How many frames to play per second. This is a max: most likely it will be a little slower than this especially at first.</param>
/// <param name="style">Whether to tile, center, or stretch each gif frame as it's played.</param>
/// <param name="numFrames">The number of frames to play. If negative, this method will loop forever.</param>
public static void SetDesktopBackgroundAsGifAsync(string gifPath, System.Drawing.Color transparencyReplace, int framesPerSecond, Style style, int numFrames)
{
    Thread workerThread = new Thread(() => SetDesktopBackgroundAsGif(gifPath, transparencyReplace, framesPerSecond, style, numFrames));
    workerThread.Start();
}

/// <summary>
/// Loops numFrames times, animating the desktop background as the given gif.
/// Remember this will sorta bog down your computer, and probably isn't best to be running 24/7.
/// If num frames is negative this will loop forever. 
//// <summary>
/// <param name="gifPath">The gif to be animated</param>
/// <param name="backgroundImage">Image to render the gif on top of (because of transparency)</param>
/// <param name="framesPerSecond">How many frames to play per second. This is a max: most likely it will be a little slower than this.</param>
/// <param name="style">Whether to tile, center, or stretch each gif frame as it's played.</param>
/// <param name="numFrames">The number of frames to play. If negative, this method will loop forever.</param>
public static void SetDesktopBackgroundAsGifAsync(string gifPath, System.Drawing.Image backgroundImage, int framesPerSecond, Style style, int numFrames)
{
    Thread workerThread = new Thread(() => SetDesktopBackgroundAsGif(gifPath, backgroundImage, framesPerSecond, style, numFrames));
    workerThread.Start();
}

/// <summary>
/// Loops numFrames times, animating the desktop background as the given gif.
/// Remember this will sorta bog down your computer, and probably isn't best to be running 24/7. 
/// if numFrames is negative this will loop forever
/// </summary>
/// <param name="gifPath">The gif to be animated</param>
/// <param name="transparencyReplace">If the gif has transparency, it will be "replaced" with this color.</param>
/// <param name="framesPerSecond">How many frames to play per second. This is a max: most likely it will be a little slower than this.</param>
/// <param name="style">Whether to tile, center, or stretch each gif frame as it's played.</param>
/// <param name="numFrames">The number of frames to play. If negative, this method will loop forever.</param>
public static void SetDesktopBackgroundAsGif(string gifPath, System.Drawing.Color transparencyReplace, int framesPerSecond, Style style, int numFrames)
{
    if (!File.Exists(gifPath))
        throw new Exception("Given gif: '" + gifPath + "' not found");

    FileStream gifFile = new FileStream(gifPath, FileMode.Open);

    GifBitmapDecoder gifDecoder = new GifBitmapDecoder(gifFile, BitmapCreateOptions.PreservePixelFormat, BitmapCacheOption.OnLoad);

    if (gifDecoder.Frames.Count == 0)
        throw new Exception("No frames in given gif");

    Bitmap backgroundImage = new Bitmap(gifDecoder.Frames[0].PixelWidth, gifDecoder.Frames[0].PixelHeight, System.Drawing.Imaging.PixelFormat.Format32bppArgb);

    using(Graphics g = Graphics.FromImage(backgroundImage))
    {
        g.FillRectangle(new System.Drawing.SolidBrush(transparencyReplace), 0, 0, gifDecoder.Frames[0].PixelWidth, gifDecoder.Frames[0].PixelHeight);
    }

    gifFile.Close();

    SetDesktopBackgroundAsGif(gifPath, backgroundImage, framesPerSecond, style, numFrames);
}

/// <summary>
/// Loops infinitely, animating the desktop background as the given gif.
/// Remember this will sorta bog down your computer, and probably isn't best to be running 24/7. 
/// </summary>
/// <param name="gifPath">The gif to be animated</param>
/// <param name="backgroundImage">Image to render the gif on top of (because of transparency)</param>
/// <param name="framesPerSecond">How many frames to play per second. This is a max: most likely it will be a little slower than this.</param>
/// <param name="style">Whether to tile, center, or stretch each gif frame as it's played.</param>
/// <param name="numFrames">The number of frames to play. If negative, this method will loop forever.</param>
private static void SetDesktopBackgroundAsGif(string gifPath, System.Drawing.Image backgroundImage, int framesPerSecond, Style style, int numFrames)
{
    if (!File.Exists(gifPath))
        throw new Exception("Given gif: '" + gifPath + "' not found");

    FileStream gifFile = new FileStream(gifPath, FileMode.Open);

    GifBitmapDecoder gifDecoder = new GifBitmapDecoder(gifFile, BitmapCreateOptions.PreservePixelFormat, BitmapCacheOption.OnLoad);

    if (gifDecoder.Frames.Count == 0)
        throw new Exception("No frames in given gif");

    Console.WriteLine("Saving frames to temporary files:");

    int numFramesSoFar = 0;

    for (int i = 0; i < gifDecoder.Frames.Count; i++)
    {
        BitmapFrame gifFrame = gifDecoder.Frames[i];
        PngBitmapEncoder pngEncoder = new PngBitmapEncoder();
        pngEncoder.Frames.Add(gifFrame);
        MemoryStream pngStream = new MemoryStream();
        pngEncoder.Save(pngStream);
        Image frameImage = Image.FromStream(pngStream);
        Bitmap bmp = new Bitmap(frameImage.Width, frameImage.Height, System.Drawing.Imaging.PixelFormat.Format32bppArgb);
        using (Graphics g = Graphics.FromImage(bmp))
        {
            g.DrawImage(backgroundImage, 0, 0);
            g.DrawImageUnscaled(frameImage, 0, 0);
        }
        string tempPath = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), gifPath + i + ".bmp");
        bmp.Save(tempPath, System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat.Bmp);

        Console.WriteLine("Saved frame " + i);

        numFramesSoFar++;

        if (numFrames >= 0 && numFramesSoFar >= numFrames) break;
    }

    Console.WriteLine("Setting frames to desktop background at about " + framesPerSecond + " FPS");

    // 1.0/... to convert to seconds per frame (instead of frames per second)
    // * 1000 to convert to milliseconds per frame
    // * 1000 to convert to microseconds per frame
    // * 10 to convert to 0.1s of microseconds per frame = 100s of nanoseconds per frame
    long ticksBetweenFrames = (long)Math.Round(1.0 / framesPerSecond) * 1000*1000*10;

    Stopwatch timer = new Stopwatch();
    timer.Start();

    numFramesSoFar = 0;

    while(numFrames < 0 || numFramesSoFar < numFrames)
    {
        for (int i = 0; i < gifDecoder.Frames.Count; i++)
        {
            // Sleep until we're at the desired frame rate, if needed.
            if(ticksBetweenFrames > timer.ElapsedTicks)
                Thread.Sleep(new TimeSpan(Math.Max(0, ticksBetweenFrames - timer.ElapsedTicks)));

            timer.Restart();

            // From http://stackoverflow.com/a/1061682/2924421

            string filePath = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), "wallpaper" + i + ".bmp");

            RegistryKey key = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey(@"Control Panel\Desktop", true);

            if (style == Style.Stretched)
            {
                key.SetValue(@"WallpaperStyle", 2.ToString());
                key.SetValue(@"TileWallpaper", 0.ToString());
            }

            if (style == Style.Centered)
            {
                key.SetValue(@"WallpaperStyle", 1.ToString());
                key.SetValue(@"TileWallpaper", 0.ToString());
            }

            if (style == Style.Tiled)
            {
                key.SetValue(@"WallpaperStyle", 1.ToString());
                key.SetValue(@"TileWallpaper", 1.ToString());
            }

            SystemParametersInfo(SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER,
                0,
                filePath,
                SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE | SPIF_SENDWININICHANGE);

            numFramesSoFar++;

            if (numFrames >= 0 && numFramesSoFar >= numFrames) break;
        }
    }

    gifFile.Close();
}

Also note that you need to use:

using Microsoft.Win32;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Drawing;
using System.IO;
using System.Linq;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;

Finally, right click on your Project, Add Reference, and (in Assemblies and Framework) add Presentation Core, System.Xaml, and WindowsBase.

Then right click on your Project and go into Properties, and make sure Target Framework is .Net Framework 4.5. If you change this you may need to restart Visual Studio.