Sequoia 15.4 : Setting a custom desktop color does not work

Updated from 15.3.x to 15.4. After starting up the desktop background was just white instead of my custom dark blue color like before. No problem, I am able to get back to my desired color …

System Settings > Background Image > Custom Color * and selecting a color from the system color chooser. My color shows up in the color field for Custom Color but the desktop will not change. Still white.

Terminal:

cd ~/Library/Application Support/Dock

rm desktoppicture.db

killall Dock

is not helping or changing anything.

As for now it looks like a bug in the system 15.4 and I am very disappointed and frustrated. Apple … is it that hard to test before delivery? Feels like a car coming from the regular service check and the windhield whipers are not working anymore.

* naming translated from German, may be different.

iMac 24″, macOS 15.4

Posted on Apr 3, 2025 10:39 AM

Top-ranking reply

Spike89

Level 1

24 points

Posted on Apr 4, 2025 4:53 PM

I had same bug. Got it working by clicking the + icon in the color swatches area to add a custom color, then pick a color from the picker. It won't update the background yet. Next you have to click the "show all" above the colored circles to see the color you just added to the swatches. Pick the color from the swatches now and it will apply.

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21 replies

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,502 points

Apr 11, 2025 4:35 PM in response to Mike Friedman

One of my wife's first jobs was for a data firm sitting at a keyboard creating the punch cards. Her only real complaint was you didn't dare drop a stack, or you'd have to put them all in order again. They were numbered so you could do it, no matter how jumbled they had gotten. But still far from fun.

Apr 3, 2025 12:02 PM in response to cabaumle

I cannot set a custom color - Only the colors that are available in the settings "Wallpaper".

lkrupp

Level 7

22,177 points

Apr 3, 2025 12:03 PM in response to dancingleo

Read the post above yours.

Apr 5, 2025 8:28 AM in response to Spike89

Didn't work for me. Still just 19 colors.

cabaumle Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 5, 2025 8:53 AM in response to joe_hoffman

Same here. Just 19 colors to choose from.

dialabrain

Level 10

135,815 points

Apr 11, 2025 12:12 PM in response to Kurt Lang

+1 Indeed. I'm glad you said something. I had to bite my tongue.

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Sequoia 15.4 : Setting a custom desktop color does not work