How to set up a background wallpaper in chrome new tab with chrome api on windows os

[Anutosh Ghosh]

I am trying to set up a feature such that on a click event, the image clicked will be set as the background wallpaper. How to achieve this with chrome api on windows os, I have found the solution but they are only pertaining to chrome os.

[Anutosh Ghosh]

Found this on chrome extension docs, but it only pertains to chrome os,what is the solution for windows os?

[Vladimir Yankovich]

To set the wallpaper in Windows, you will need to use the Windows API and make changes to the OS registry. As far as I know, this is not at all difficult, but it is possible only with the help of a native Windows application. In principle, you can make an application like this and link it to an extension. But the user will have to install two applications at once.

[Anutosh Ghosh]

Got it, thanks a lot Vladimir, is there an alternative way to achieve this by skipping the application part and using vanilla javascript? And if I want to go forward in the application direction, what technologies should be used?

[Vladimir Yankovich]

I am not a technical expert, so I cannot give you exact advice.

But if you want to work with wallpaper and get a new experience, consider developing an extension for the Chrome new tab - https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/mv3/override/.

If you want to change exactly the Windows desktop wallpaper but at the same time use Javascript, then perhaps you should study Electron. As far as I know, this is a framework for wrapping web applications on a desktop. Maybe there is support for Windows API and work with the registry.

Well, I think you can always write to developers of similar applications, for example, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/splash-unsplash-wallpaper/9phttwjgg81f to ask them for advice.