Where Are macOS Wallpaper Files Stored?
Mac wallpapers live in System Desktop Pictures, with downloads in mobileAssetDesktop and state in desktoppicture.db.
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Apple's built-in wallpapers live in /System/Library/Desktop Pictures, on the read-only system volume since Catalina. Static JPEGs, dynamic .heic files, and their thumbnails all sit there. A second /Library/Desktop Pictures exists only if someone created it; fresh installs do not have one.
Wallpapers fetched later (aerials, new dynamic sets) download to ~/Library/Application Support/com.apple.mobileAssetDesktop instead. The current choice per display is tracked in ~/Library/Application Support/Dock/desktoppicture.db, a SQLite file scripters query when the GUI answer is not enough.
Where macOS stores this, by platform
/System/Library/Desktop Pictures
Read-only since Catalina; copy files out rather than editing in place. Downloads land in mobileAssetDesktop; current selection in desktoppicture.db. Use Go to Folder for all three.
Frequently asked questions
How do I extract the current wallpaper image?
Copy the .heic file out of /System/Library/Desktop Pictures to your own folder first, then share the copy. The system folder is read-only, so sending the original path helps nobody on another machine.
How do I add wallpapers for all users on a Mac?
Create /Library/Desktop Pictures and drop images there. The Desktop pane merges that folder with the protected system set, which is Apple's sanctioned path for managed or custom wallpapers.
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