diff --git a/webapp_calendar.py b/webapp_calendar.py
index 8dee4eb27..2fa9cdcb3 100644
--- a/webapp_calendar.py
+++ b/webapp_calendar.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ __module_group__ = "Calendar"
 import os
 from datetime import datetime
 from datetime import date
-from shutil import copyfile
 from utils import getDisplayName
 from utils import getConfigParam
 from utils import getNicknameFromActor
@@ -25,6 +24,7 @@ from utils import localActorUrl
 from utils import replaceUsersWithAt
 from happening import getTodaysEvents
 from happening import getCalendarEvents
+from webapp_utils import setCustomBackground
 from webapp_utils import htmlHeaderWithExternalStyle
 from webapp_utils import htmlFooter
 from webapp_utils import htmlHideFromScreenReader
@@ -51,10 +51,7 @@ def htmlCalendarDeleteConfirm(cssCache: {}, translate: {}, baseDir: str,
     if not postJsonObject:
         return None
 
-    if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/img/delete-background.png'):
-        if not os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/accounts/delete-background.png'):
-            copyfile(baseDir + '/img/delete-background.png',
-                     baseDir + '/accounts/delete-background.png')
+    setCustomBackground(baseDir, 'delete-background')
 
     deletePostStr = None
     cssFilename = baseDir + '/epicyon-profile.css'
@@ -287,10 +284,7 @@ def htmlCalendar(personCache: {}, cssCache: {}, translate: {},
 
     nickname = getNicknameFromActor(actor)
 
-    if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/img/calendar-background.png'):
-        if not os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/accounts/calendar-background.png'):
-            copyfile(baseDir + '/img/calendar-background.png',
-                     baseDir + '/accounts/calendar-background.png')
+    setCustomBackground(baseDir, 'calendar-background')
 
     months = ('January', 'February', 'March', 'April',
               'May', 'June', 'July', 'August', 'September',
diff --git a/webapp_confirm.py b/webapp_confirm.py
index a2b29250d..a483726cd 100644
--- a/webapp_confirm.py
+++ b/webapp_confirm.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from utils import loadJson
 from utils import getConfigParam
 from utils import getAltPath
 from utils import acctDir
+from webapp_utils import setCustomBackground
 from webapp_utils import htmlHeaderWithExternalStyle
 from webapp_utils import htmlFooter
 from webapp_post import individualPostAsHtml
@@ -54,10 +55,7 @@ def htmlConfirmDelete(cssCache: {},
     if not postJsonObject:
         return None
 
-    if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/img/delete-background.png'):
-        if not os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/accounts/delete-background.png'):
-            copyfile(baseDir + '/img/delete-background.png',
-                     baseDir + '/accounts/delete-background.png')
+    setCustomBackground(baseDir, 'delete-background')
 
     deletePostStr = None
     cssFilename = baseDir + '/epicyon-profile.css'
@@ -134,10 +132,7 @@ def htmlConfirmRemoveSharedItem(cssCache: {}, translate: {}, baseDir: str,
     if sharesJson[itemID].get('imageUrl'):
         sharedItemImageUrl = sharesJson[itemID]['imageUrl']
 
-    if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/img/shares-background.png'):
-        if not os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/accounts/shares-background.png'):
-            copyfile(baseDir + '/img/shares-background.png',
-                     baseDir + '/accounts/shares-background.png')
+    setCustomBackground(baseDir, 'shares-background')
 
     cssFilename = baseDir + '/epicyon-follow.css'
     if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/follow.css'):
@@ -278,10 +273,7 @@ def htmlConfirmUnblock(cssCache: {}, translate: {}, baseDir: str,
     """
     blockDomain, port = getDomainFromActor(blockActor)
 
-    if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/img/block-background.png'):
-        if not os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/accounts/block-background.png'):
-            copyfile(baseDir + '/img/block-background.png',
-                     baseDir + '/accounts/block-background.png')
+    setCustomBackground(baseDir, 'block-background')
 
     cssFilename = baseDir + '/epicyon-follow.css'
     if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/follow.css'):
diff --git a/webapp_hashtagswarm.py b/webapp_hashtagswarm.py
index 6eca2a7d7..abf0996d5 100644
--- a/webapp_hashtagswarm.py
+++ b/webapp_hashtagswarm.py
@@ -8,12 +8,12 @@ __status__ = "Production"
 __module_group__ = "Web Interface"
 
 import os
-from shutil import copyfile
 from datetime import datetime
 from utils import getNicknameFromActor
 from utils import getConfigParam
 from categories import getHashtagCategories
 from categories import getHashtagCategory
+from webapp_utils import setCustomBackground
 from webapp_utils import getSearchBannerFile
 from webapp_utils import getContentWarningButton
 from webapp_utils import htmlHeaderWithExternalStyle
@@ -201,10 +201,7 @@ def htmlSearchHashtagCategory(cssCache: {}, translate: {},
     categoryStr = path.split('/category/')[1].strip()
     searchNickname = getNicknameFromActor(actor)
 
-    if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/img/search-background.png'):
-        if not os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/accounts/search-background.png'):
-            copyfile(baseDir + '/img/search-background.png',
-                     baseDir + '/accounts/search-background.png')
+    backgroundExt = setCustomBackground(baseDir, 'search-background')
 
     cssFilename = baseDir + '/epicyon-search.css'
     if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/search.css'):
@@ -213,6 +210,11 @@ def htmlSearchHashtagCategory(cssCache: {}, translate: {},
     instanceTitle = \
         getConfigParam(baseDir, 'instanceTitle')
     htmlStr = htmlHeaderWithExternalStyle(cssFilename, instanceTitle)
+    if backgroundExt:
+        if backgroundExt != 'jpg':
+            htmlStr = htmlStr.replace('"follow-background.jpg"',
+                                      '"follow-background.' +
+                                      backgroundExt + '"')
 
     # show a banner above the search box
     searchBannerFile, searchBannerFilename = \
diff --git a/webapp_search.py b/webapp_search.py
index 7375d4f47..94b820ec5 100644
--- a/webapp_search.py
+++ b/webapp_search.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ from skills import getSkillsFromList
 from categories import getHashtagCategory
 from feeds import rss2TagHeader
 from feeds import rss2TagFooter
+from webapp_utils import setCustomBackground
 from webapp_utils import htmlKeyboardNavigation
 from webapp_utils import htmlHeaderWithExternalStyle
 from webapp_utils import htmlFooter
@@ -327,10 +328,7 @@ def htmlSearchEmojiTextEntry(cssCache: {}, translate: {},
     actor = path.replace('/search', '')
     domain, port = getDomainFromActor(actor)
 
-    if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/img/search-background.png'):
-        if not os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/accounts/search-background.png'):
-            copyfile(baseDir + '/img/search-background.png',
-                     baseDir + '/accounts/search-background.png')
+    backgroundExt = setCustomBackground(baseDir, 'search-background')
 
     cssFilename = baseDir + '/epicyon-follow.css'
     if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/follow.css'):
@@ -339,6 +337,11 @@ def htmlSearchEmojiTextEntry(cssCache: {}, translate: {},
     instanceTitle = \
         getConfigParam(baseDir, 'instanceTitle')
     emojiStr = htmlHeaderWithExternalStyle(cssFilename, instanceTitle)
+    if backgroundExt:
+        if backgroundExt != 'jpg':
+            emojiStr = emojiStr.replace('"follow-background.jpg"',
+                                        '"follow-background.' +
+                                        backgroundExt + '"')
     emojiStr += '<div class="follow">\n'
     emojiStr += '  <div class="followAvatar">\n'
     emojiStr += '  <center>\n'
@@ -370,10 +373,7 @@ def htmlSearch(cssCache: {}, translate: {},
     actor = path.replace('/search', '')
     searchNickname = getNicknameFromActor(actor)
 
-    if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/img/search-background.png'):
-        if not os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/accounts/search-background.png'):
-            copyfile(baseDir + '/img/search-background.png',
-                     baseDir + '/accounts/search-background.png')
+    backgroundExt = setCustomBackground(baseDir, 'search-background')
 
     cssFilename = baseDir + '/epicyon-search.css'
     if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/search.css'):
@@ -381,6 +381,11 @@ def htmlSearch(cssCache: {}, translate: {},
 
     instanceTitle = getConfigParam(baseDir, 'instanceTitle')
     followStr = htmlHeaderWithExternalStyle(cssFilename, instanceTitle)
+    if backgroundExt:
+        if backgroundExt != 'jpg':
+            followStr = followStr.replace('"follow-background.jpg"',
+                                          '"follow-background.' +
+                                          backgroundExt + '"')
 
     # show a banner above the search box
     searchBannerFile, searchBannerFilename = \
diff --git a/webapp_utils.py b/webapp_utils.py
index 97b7b0141..fa098e881 100644
--- a/webapp_utils.py
+++ b/webapp_utils.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ __status__ = "Production"
 __module_group__ = "Web Interface"
 
 import os
+from shutil import copyfile
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from session import getJson
 from utils import isAccountDir
@@ -1455,3 +1456,18 @@ def htmlShowShare(baseDir: str, domain: str, nickname: str,
 
     return htmlHeaderWithExternalStyle(cssFilename, instanceTitle) + \
         shareStr + htmlFooter()
+
+
+def setCustomBackground(baseDir: str, background: str) -> str:
+    """Sets a custom background
+    Returns the extension, if found
+    """
+    extensions = getImageExtensions()
+    for ext in extensions:
+        if os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/img/' + background + '.' + ext):
+            if not os.path.isfile(baseDir + '/accounts/' +
+                                  background + '.' + ext):
+                copyfile(baseDir + '/img/' + background + '.' + ext,
+                         baseDir + '/accounts/' + background + '.' + ext)
+            return ext
+    return None