Step-by-Step Guide to Change Your Windows Login Screen Image
If you’re bored with the default login screen of your Windows desktop, this guide will help you change your Windows login screen image. We’ll start with straightforward steps and progress to advanced techniques and third-party applications. With these methods, you can personalize your login experience every time you boot your computer.
Change Windows Login Screen Image Using “Personalization”
To customize your login screen image, right-click an empty area on your desktop and select Personalize, then choose Lock screen. Alternatively, you can access this through Settings -> Personalization -> Lock screen.
If you’re using Windows 11, select Personalize your lock screen. For Windows 10 users, select Background. In both cases, you will find three options available.
- Windows spotlight displays a different stunning image daily, courtesy of Microsoft.
- Picture allows you to choose a specific image for your lock screen.
- Slideshow enables you to select a folder containing images, which your login screen will cycle through. You can access Advanced slideshow settings to refine the slideshow parameters.
When selecting either Windows Spotlight or Picture, you can click Browse photos to add your personal images.
After selecting your background, scroll down to the option that says Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen. Toggle the slider to On, and your login screen will now feature the same image as your lock screen, which you can manage from this interface!
Use Group Policy Editor
To access it, press Win + R to open the Run dialog. Type “gpedit.msc” and navigate to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Control Panel -> Personalization.
Double-click on Force a specific default lock screen and logon image. The default status will show as Not configured, which you can change.
A window will open where you set Force a specific default lock screen and logon image to Enabled.
In the Options: section below, the Path to lock screen image box lets you paste the image path. Locate your chosen image and use its local path, for example, C:\Windows\Username\Downloads\ImageName.JPG. For shared network images, use a LAN path like \\Server\Share\Imagename.JPG.
Click Apply and OK.
Did you know? It is possible to take a screenshot of the Windows login screen.
Tweak the Registry Editor
The Registry Editor can also be utilized to set your desired lock screen image during the Windows login process. Use the Run command to type “regedit” and launch the Registry Editor. There are two methods to modify the login image.
Method 1
Navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PersonalizationIf the Personalization key doesn’t exist, create it. Add a New String Value named LockScreenImage and assign it the full path of your image.
Method 2
For users who prefer a solid color background instead of an image, you can modify the registry to disable the logon image entirely. Go to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SystemCreate a new DWORD (32-bit) entry named “DisableLogonBackgroundImage.” Right-click it to modify and set its value to “1.”
Run a Login Image Script Using Task Scheduler
Although not common, using the Task Scheduler allows automation of changing your logon background without manual intervention. You can enable a script to run upon logging into your computer, featuring an image gallery that updates automatically.
Open Task Scheduler through the Windows search and navigate to the Task Scheduler Library. Right-click and choose Create Basic Task. Name it something like “Logon Image-Background.” In the Trigger section, set it to initiate When I log on, and for the Action, select Start a Program.
For Start a Program, ensure you have an image gallery script available in the form of an EXE file. Many wallpaper scripts can be found online. After completing this, click Finish to create a scheduled task for your wallpaper gallery.
Use Third-Party Applications to Change Login Screen Image
In addition to native Windows methods, you can explore third-party applications from the Microsoft Store and other sources to alter your login screen image. Two notable options are readily available for download and installation.
First, you can try Easy Lockscreen Changer from the Microsoft Store. It’s user-friendly; simply select a folder with your favorite pictures and set a frequency for image changes, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 weeks. Once you hit Start, your lock screen will be consistently customized.
Another excellent application is Background Switcher, which allows you to change both your desktop and lock screen images.
The login screen is the initial interface you encounter when opening Windows, and it serves as a reflection of your personalized Windows experience.
Image Credit: Pixabay. All screenshots by Sayak Boral.
Leave a Reply