How to use custom background picture in Ubuntu 13.10?

Question

Since I upgraded to Ubuntu 13.10 I can't find a way to chose a custom picture as desktop background.
I tried System settings -> Background, but this menu does not provide any file picker to choose a picture but shows only the preinstalled pictures:

Or an empty window:

I can't find the options to set how the picture ought to be displayed either (like stretch or scale)

Do I have to install Cinnamon desktop just to be able to change my background picture? How can I do it with Ubuntu?

Answer 1

There area several ways built-in to Ubuntu 13.10. Though it is curious that your screen shots look far different than mine.

Option 1: right click the desktop and select 'Change Desktop background'

Click on the '+' button to bring up a dialog box to select an image

or

Select 'Pictures Folder' from the drop down to select an image in your pictures folder

Option 2: Open an image in IMage Viewer. Right click somewhere on the image and select 'Set as Wallpaper'.

Option 3: Find an image using Firefox. Right click on it and select 'Set As Desktop Background'

Answer 2

Try Variety

Installing Variety

• open terminal with CTRL+ALT+T and execute these commands to add repository and install it.

  sudo add-apt-repository ppa:peterlevi/ppa
  sudo apt-get update
  sudo apt-get install variety
  

• Then open variety from Dash

• And get started to dig a lot of features. The more you dig the more features and wallpaper you'll get.

_{Source: peterlevi.com/variety/}

Answer 3

Install dconf-tools with:

sudo apt-get install dconf-tools

In the dash type dconf and start the dconf-editor. Select org -> gnome -> desktop -> background and change the value of picture-uri with the file you want.

Syntax:

file://<full_name_of_the_image_file>

Here's a visual aid for this:

---

Or open the image file with any image viewer, right click on the image and select Set as Desktop Background.

Answer 4

I think you could try moving the wallpaper image you want to use into /usr/share/backgrounds.

1. Execute this command in a terminal:

   sudo -H nautilus $HOME
   

2. Locate the wallpaper image you want to use and 'Copy' it.
3. Navigate to the /usr/share/backgrounds folder by pressing Ctrl+L and entering that path. Alternatively, just browse into the folder.
4. 'Paste' the image you want to use into that folder.
5. Try selecting the image in "System Settings → Background".

Answer 5

Find the picture you want in your file explorer, then right click it and select the "desktop background" option. Then a box will pop up that will give you more options for how it looks.

Answer 6

Try System Settings > Appearance > Look > Background tab, there is a dropdown box where you can select Pictures Folder. It allows you to use the file picker to select the background.