The exact size
- Pixels
- 3,840 × 2,160
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9
- Megapixels
- 8.3
UHD 4K. Upscale a 1080p image 2× to hit it exactly.
Crop or upscale first?
What to do with common source sizes so the 4K wallpaper stays sharp. Upscaling happens before the crop, so the crop has enough pixels to fill the box.
| Your image | What to do | Size before crop |
|---|---|---|
| 640 × 480 | Too small, use a bigger source | n/a |
| 1,280 × 720 | Upscale 4×, then crop | 5,120 × 2,880 |
| 1,920 × 1,080 | Upscale 2×, then crop | 3,840 × 2,160 |
| 4,032 × 3,024 | Crop only | 4,032 × 3,024 |
How to make a Desktop 4K wallpaper
- Check your image size. If it is smaller than 3,840 × 2,160 on either side, upscale it first: anything from 1,920 × 1,080 up only needs the free 2×.
- Crop to 16:9 at exactly 3,840 × 2,160 with Make thumbnails, which centre-crops a whole batch in one pass.
- Download as JPG and upload to Desktop.
Need to enlarge first? Upscale 2× for free.
Other sizes with the same shape
| Asset | Pixels | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube thumbnail | 1,280 × 720 | 16:9 |
| YouTube channel banner | 2,560 × 1,440 | 16:9 |
| X (Twitter) post image | 1,600 × 900 | 16:9 |
| Zoom virtual background | 1,920 × 1,080 | 16:9 |
Questions
What size is a Desktop 4K wallpaper?
3,840 × 2,160 pixels. UHD 4K. Upscale a 1080p image 2× to hit it exactly.
What aspect ratio is that?
16:9. Crop to this shape before uploading so Desktop does not crop it for you.
What if my image is smaller than 3,840 × 2,160?
Upscale it first so both sides cover the box, then crop. 2× is free and runs on your device, and is enough for anything at least half the target size.
Which file format should I upload?
JPG at quality 85 to 90. It keeps uploads small, and most platforms recompress images anyway.
Does the crop keep the centre of my image?
Yes. Make thumbnails crops from the centre to the exact box, the same way across a whole batch. Use the crop tool if the subject is off-centre.