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User profile for user: ipodsteve59
ipodsteve59 Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Desktop Picture from Photos Pixelated

I'm using a MacBook Pro 13 2018 with Mojave 10.15.2 and Mac Photos to manage my photos library.

Recently when I used the Photos app to Share + set as desktop background, the result on the desktop was pixelated. The photo in the Photos app is not pixelated. I tried several other photos, chosen at random from my Photos library. Some of them were pixelated on the desktop and some were not.

I have current photos from three different cameras in my library. For each camera I found pixelating and non-pixelating desktop images. The images in question are either RAW or JPEG. The pixelating does not correlate to the format either.

Two examples below - one pixelated and the other not.

I rebuilt my photos library. It made no difference.

I have not seen this issue before the last couple of days.

Any suggestions?

MacBook Pro 13”, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 26, 2020 10:56 AM

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User profile for user: Old Toad
Old Toad
User level: Level 10
210,777 points

Posted on Jan 26, 2020 11:25 AM

Well, that shoots that theory down.


Try exporting the original or edited (if you've edited it) file out of the library and put in the HD/Library/Desktop Pictures folder. Then select as the Desktop picture via the System/Desktop Picture preference pane. See if that changes the image quality.

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User profile for user: Old Toad
Old Toad
User level: Level 10
210,777 points

Jan 26, 2020 11:01 AM in response to ipodsteve59

What pixel dimensions are the photos you're trying to use for the Desktop picture? The only reason for blurry images is there are not enough pixels to fit the screen at the resolution required, 144 dpi for Retina displays, 72 dpi for regular displays.


Do you have the iCloud Photo library enabled and, if so, do you have "Optimize Mac storage" enabled?


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Desktop Picture from Photos Pixelated

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