Where Are Desktop Pictures Stored In macOS Monterey?

In macOS Monterey, Apple’s default desktop images live in “/System/Library/Desktop Pictures,” with extras in “/Library/Desktop Pictures.”

New to Monterey or just tidying up your Mac? If you’re hunting down the actual files behind those crisp backgrounds, you’re in the right place. This guide shows you every folder that holds desktop images on Monterey, plus quick ways to open them, find the currently active file, and manage custom sources without breaking anything.

Desktop Wallpapers Path On Monterey: Quick Paths

On a clean Monterey install, Apple ships system background files in a protected folder. A second shared folder can also hold wallpapers for all users. Here are the two locations you’ll care about most:

System set: /System/Library/Desktop Pictures — the main bundle of Apple’s static and dynamic images (.heic and .jpg).
Shared set: /Library/Desktop Pictures — may include additional stock sets on some Macs or versions, and is accessible to all users.

These are read-only from a practical standpoint. You can browse and copy images out, but don’t delete or modify files inside those folders.

Open The Folders Instantly From Finder

Paste these paths into Finder’s “Go to Folder” box (⌘⇧G):

/System/Library/Desktop Pictures
/Library/Desktop Pictures

If you prefer Terminal, you can open them like this:

open "/System/Library/Desktop Pictures"
open "/Library/Desktop Pictures"

What About My Own Photos And Downloads?

When you choose a personal image, Monterey does not duplicate it into the system folders above. It references the original file where it already lives (your Pictures folder, a custom folder, an external drive, or a synced cloud location). That’s why changing or removing the original can break the reference.

If you use the Photos app as the source, Monterey reads from your photo library. If you choose an image straight from the web in Safari using “Use Image as Desktop Picture,” Monterey keeps a working copy in a user Library path:

~/Library/Safari Shared Data/

Look for files with names like Safari Desktop Picture.webp or Safari Desktop Picture.jpg. This is handy when you want to reuse or back up a wallpaper grabbed from the browser. Apple’s own help covers wallpaper selection and sources inside the Wallpaper/Desktop settings panel, and it’s worth skimming for context (Customize the wallpaper on your Mac).

Dynamic Desktops And The HEIC Files You See

Monterey includes dynamic backgrounds that shift through the day. These arrive as large .heic files inside the system desktop folder. The format can hold multiple images and time/location cues to swap scenes automatically. You’ll spot names like Monterey Graphic.heic alongside still images. Guides that break down how dynamic sets work describe the multi-image HEIC approach and why Monterey uses it.

Find The Exact File Your Desktop Is Using

There are a few simple ways to surface the current wallpaper’s file path on Monterey.

With AppleScript (Fast And Beginner-Friendly)

This AppleScript asks macOS for the active desktop picture path. It works well on Monterey and returns a POSIX path you can copy.

osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to get picture of current desktop'

Tip: If you run multiple displays, repeat for each desktop space by changing the index:

osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to get picture of desktop 1'
osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to get picture of desktop 2'

Shell and scripting folks often use variations of this approach to read or set backgrounds programmatically. Community threads and Q&A examples show the same pattern if you’re curious about automation.

From The Settings Panel

In Monterey, open System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver. In the sidebar, sources such as “Desktop Pictures,” “Photos,” or any folders you added appear. Double-clicking a named source (like “Desktop Pictures”) opens that folder in Finder on macOS up to version 12, which is Monterey. That’s a quick way to jump straight to the system images.

Add A Personal Folder The Right Way

If you have a custom collection—say, a folder called Wallpapers in your Pictures directory—add it as a source so Monterey always knows where to look and doesn’t rely on scattered files.

Create a folder for your backgrounds (e.g., ~/Pictures/Wallpapers).
Open System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver.
Click the + button under the sources list and add your folder.
Select the folder to pick an image or enable rotation.

This keeps your setup clean and reduces missing-file errors later.

Download Sources And Storage Nuances

Within Apple’s Wallpaper panel you’ll sometimes see a small download arrow next to options. Monterey can fetch extra content on demand. These downloads end up accessible through the same Wallpaper/Desktop panel once fetched. Apple’s help articles note the presence of downloadable items—look for the little arrow icon—and explain that you can click to fetch when you want to use one.

If you’re curious where default sets live after downloading, the base locations remain the same: the system and shared “Desktop Pictures” folders. Community answers spanning recent macOS releases confirm that the stock library sits under /System/Library/Desktop Pictures while /Library/Desktop Pictures can also hold sets on some setups.

Safely Copy, Don’t Delete

You can copy out anything from the system folders to edit or convert, but leave the originals untouched. Deleting items from /System or changing permissions risks breaking Wallpaper options or future updates. If you want a customized version, copy it to your user space—then work on the duplicate.

Where Safari-Set Backgrounds Land

When you right-click an image in Safari and choose “Use Image as Desktop Picture,” macOS saves a working copy in your user Library:

~/Library/Safari Shared Data/

You’ll find the saved file there with a straightforward name, which makes it easy to back up or edit. An easy reference describing this behavior calls out that exact path and filename pattern.

Quick Commands You Can Copy

Reveal The System And Shared Folders

# Open Apple’s stock images folder
open "/System/Library/Desktop Pictures"

# Open the shared Desktop Pictures folder (if present)
open "/Library/Desktop Pictures"

Print The Current Wallpaper Path (Primary Display)

osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to get picture of current desktop'

Set A Specific Image As Your Background (One-off)

osascript -e 'tell application "Finder" to set desktop picture to POSIX file "/Users/<you>/Pictures/Wallpapers/MontereyFavorite.jpg"'

Replace the filename with a path that exists on your Mac. Scripters often build on this pattern to rotate images or set different backgrounds per display.

Troubleshooting When A Background Goes Missing

If the background shows as blank or reverts to a default image, the original file may have moved. Here’s a clean recovery path:

Run the AppleScript command above to print the expected path.
If the path points to an external drive or a deleted folder, pick a new file or recreate the folder.
Add a stable folder (like ~/Pictures/Wallpapers) as a permanent source and consolidate images there.

When using Photos as the source, make sure your library is accessible and not being moved or rebuilt.

How Desktop Pictures Appear In Settings

The Wallpaper/Desktop settings in Monterey present several sources: Apple’s collections, Photos, and any folders you add. Apple’s help pages explain these toggles, including the small download arrow next to items that aren’t yet cached locally. It’s a clear sign that the image will be pulled down when you click it (Wallpaper settings on Mac).

Monterey Backgrounds: What’s In Each Place

The table below summarizes where items live and how to get to them quickly. It also helps you decide where to store your own images so Monterey always finds them.

Location	What You’ll Find	Open It Quickly
/System/Library/Desktop Pictures	Apple’s bundled static and dynamic HEIC/JPG sets for Monterey	`open "/System/Library/Desktop Pictures"`
/Library/Desktop Pictures	Shared stock sets (varies by build/Mac)	`open "/Library/Desktop Pictures"`
~/Library/Safari Shared Data/	Browser-set wallpapers saved from Safari	`open ~/Library/"Safari Shared Data"`

Frequently Used Moves Without Breaking Anything

Copy A System Image To Edit Or Convert

Open the system folder with the command shown above.
Copy the file to your Pictures folder (don’t move it).
Edit or convert the copy, then add your edited folder as a source in the Wallpaper panel.

Build A Personal Library That Never Breaks

Create ~/Pictures/Wallpapers.
Drop your images there (keep original names to stay organized).
Add that folder in the Wallpaper panel and turn on rotation if you like.

Why Dynamic Sets Are Large

Dynamic HEIC images include multiple frames—morning through night—and sometimes extra variations for light/dark appearance. That’s why the files are big. Articles explaining dynamic desktop creation outline the multi-image packaging and metadata that drive time-based changes, which is exactly what you’re seeing in Monterey’s stock collection.

Quick Reference Recap

Apple system images: /System/Library/Desktop Pictures (browse, copy; don’t delete).
Shared desktop set: /Library/Desktop Pictures (may exist; safe to browse).
Safari-set images: ~/Library/Safari Shared Data/ (handy for web-sourced wallpapers).
Find the active file: AppleScript reads the path for the current desktop.
Pick and download inside Settings: Use the Wallpaper panel and its download icon when shown.

Small Best-Practice Tips

Keep a dedicated folder for personal backgrounds so references don’t break when you reorganize files.
When pulling images from the web, save them to your folder first, then set as background. That gives you an original you control, separate from Safari’s working copy.
When experimenting with scripts, test on a duplicate image, not a system file.

With these paths and commands, you can browse Apple’s Monterey collection, keep your own library tidy, and grab the exact file you’re seeing on the desktop any time you need it.