Change Safari Background Image on macOS Ventura

Customizing the Safari start page background image on macOS 13 Ventura allows you to personalize your web browsing experience with Apple’s pre-installed wallpapers or your own custom photos. This guide provides direct, step-by-step instructions to quickly select, apply, or remove a background image on your Safari start page.

Open the Safari Start Page

  1. Launch Safari from your Dock, Launchpad, or Applications folder.
  2. Open a new tab or window by pressing Command + T or clicking the Plus (+) icon in the top-right corner of the browser to reveal the start page.

Access the Customization Menu

  1. Look at the bottom-right corner of the Safari start page window.
  2. Click the Options button, which appears as three sliders or toggles. A pop-up menu containing various start page settings will open.

Select or Add a Background Image

  1. In the menu, find the option labeled Background Image and ensure the checkbox next to it is marked.
  2. To use a pre-installed wallpaper, scroll horizontally through the available gallery tiles and click on the image you want. Safari will apply it immediately.
  3. To use your own photo, click the first tile with the large Plus (+) icon.
  4. A Finder file dialog will appear. Navigate to the location of the image file on your Mac, select it, and click Choose.

How to Remove or Change the Background Image

  • To switch images, return to the customization menu and select a different preset or click the Plus (+) icon to upload another photo.
  • To remove a custom photo and revert to a blank start page, click the X icon located in the upper-right corner of the active thumbnail, or simply uncheck the Background Image box entirely.