In our continuation of beginners tips, we are going with an easy one that new users may not know about but is pretty neat.
When it comes to customization in the Mail app for Windows 10, there is not a whole lot that you can do. In fact, besides customizing the swipe functions there is just one: add a background image.
To be honest, this feature is interesting and yet not that overwhelming. Adding a background image simply lets you see a photo of your choice but only when no email is selected. As is, you will not even see the picture all that often as usually people will have the latest email opened. However, when you do see it, it does add a subtle pizzazz to the otherwise stark app. Here is how it works.
Add background wallpaper to Mail
1. Open Mail
2. Hit the Settings cog near the bottom left pane
3. Select Background Picture
4. Choose a photo or image
Obviously, this is a very simple option, but for people new to the app or even Windows 10 they may not even know about it. Either way, it does look quite nice.
What other ways would you customize Mail if you could? Let us know.
For those interested, the background image used in this article is from Michael Gillett (@MichaelGillett), and you can download it and others here from his OneDrive.
If you think this guide is helpful, we have many more posts like this in our Windows 10 help, tips and tricks page.
Reader comments
How to add wallpaper to the Windows 10 Mail app
I see a lot of comments about issues with the new Windows 10 mail app...and yet they spent time and resources on how to personalize with a wallpaper? *smh*
Immagine scelta.. ma non la imposta come sfondo..!!..
This app lacks so many features a normal mail app would have. The last thing we would need is wallpapers.
They removed fast swotching between inboxes, always visable number of new mails for each one, extra notification for special contacts, automated filters ...and many features more in favour of this background pic ;(
I live the option of adding an image but that's the last thing I need. I want the ability to drag files directly to mail client. I work on two monitor, I also have the folder open that I'm working from. I have 6 drives in my PC and clicking attachment is so cumbersome when I could just drag file over fill in address and send..
After adding a wallpaper on my app mail it won't show up...hmmm
It's easy to add the background wallpaper for mail background, the problem for me is how to remove them
How to combine inbox of two different email id as in phones?
Anybody else's mail app just not responding? Same with my calendar app and the downloads in my store. Also, why in the world does the outlook app not have a consistent settings icon with the rest of the OS?
How can I download the default cloud/sky email wallpaper?
BTW,anyone experienced error code while manually sync your mail?!
Yup. I get it on my phone too. On my PC it refers to Windows phone in the error message.
I figured out this a while ago, but great write-up! Nice to change it actually.
This app doesn't sync at all since I had installed build 10158. Manual syncing also doesn't work. I had uninstalled the mail app using the PowerShell method and reinstalled it from the new store. But still it won't sync. Now a clean install of build 10240 might help me I believe! :/
How can I download the default cloud/sky email wallpaper?
Just look for something similar. Lots of nice blue sky pictures out there on the interweb.
I am not sure why, but I find the background image doesn't really do much for me. When I set it on one account, it just looked like an image arbtitrarily taking up half the screen space. A nice image, because I get to choose what I want, but still. I guess I am not sure it works for me. I think I would rather that it was more faded and I could be also getting notifications about mail from my other email accounts instead.
Wish there could be an option to set a background for the photos app instead of the plain bore black. The photos app was so much better in wp8 :\ No effects of transitions, nothing at all.
Any way to revert back to the default image?
How about the same functions you have with the web app... Like blocking junk email addresses direct from the app? If it is there i have not found it.
Still no universal mailbox for mobile❔❔❔
Make how 2 mouse one
Earlier, in Windows 8.1, I could change the email account through which I want to send an email after I have composed it. I don't see it in Windows 10 Mail app. :-/
And not only that. This app is such a big step back :/ For no reason. I switched to Outlook 2016 and still testing Mailbird.
I was about just to ask where to download that photo and then read the last paragraph :D
Thanks for the article (:
Anyone else constantly getting an error when trying to connect to MS Exchange?
I also have the error. The app doesn't sync.
Works fine for me. Infact, I have shifted from Outlook 2016 to this app because the new Outlook doesn't allow for manually configuring Exchange accounts. The new mail app syncs Exchange mail, calendars, contacts just fine.
Mine is the opposite, Exchange works fine it is my MS account that wont sync for a week now.
Windows 10's live tile mechanism isn't working for built-in apps for Me. Is there anything I can do?
Yes, you can ask in the forums.
Windows ME is not supported
I'm still wondering how to do that on website? If I remember right there was an article on here about that feature rolling out to Outlook.com. After months I still can't see it anywhere.
I'm really hoping for a Microsoft Office keyboard shortcuts article, as I'm interested in what shortcuts I don't know about.
^This
I'm glad you posted the source of that picture, haha. Good thinking Daniel.
Hi,
Is there no facility for a delivery receipt or read receipt?
Steve
*SIGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH* I just want to turn conversations off so I can go back to using. I hate they removed that option in Windows Mail 10.
Where can i get that macro crop wallpaper? I checked the links but i cant find it