Change the background during log in

vsub · Oct 11, 2025

I have set the desktop background and I also have set the log in background and it does show it when I log out but if I restart the laptop,it shows a different background while loading and then switches to the one I actually have set

Do I have to edit the registry to be able to do that?
I find it here
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper

Ghot · Oct 11, 2025

vsub said:
I have set the desktop background and I also have set the log in background and it does show it when I log out but if I restart the laptop,it shows a different background while loading and then switches to the one I actually have set

Do I have to edit the registry to be able to do that?
I find it here
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper

I have mine set like this, and the image doesn't change after a reboot...

You also need to DISABLE the lock screen slideshow... Option Two, step #3, here...

Enable or Disable Lock Screen Slideshow in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to show a slideshow on the lock screen background for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11. The lock screen (aka: welcome screen) is the screen you see at startup and when you lock (Win+L) the PC. You will need to dismiss the...

www.elevenforum.com

vsub · Oct 11, 2025

Yes that's exactly how it is set,both the desktop background and the log in screen are using the same image but if I restart,during the loading it shows a different image(the 3rd image from your screenshot)and then switches to the correct one.

Ghot · Oct 11, 2025

vsub said:
Yes that's exactly how it is set,both the desktop background and the log in screen are using the same image but if I restart,during the loading it shows a different image(the 3rd image from your screenshot)and then switches to the correct one.

Do Option Two, step 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ...in the tutorial I linked.
Then... set whatever image you want for the lock screen.

Then it should stay on your image.

This is the image I use, for my lock screen...

dacrone · Oct 11, 2025

here is how i set it permanently per user...

Lock Screen

I have installed 25h2. I have 2 off line accounts admin1 and admin2. I have set everything up in admin1 including a lock screen that i have setup using the following "Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization" in GPEditor but when i sign out and click on...

www.elevenforum.com

but others use this script:

Set lockscreen wallpaper with command prompt

Hey guys. I have an image in "C:\Windows\Web\Screen" (its name is "lockscreenwallpaper.jpg"). How can I set it as lockscreen background with cmd? I want to let the user change it later in settings so changing registry key may cause some restrcitions in settings. Thanks.

www.elevenforum.com

Josey Wales · Oct 11, 2025

I just set my wallpaper to the same image as The Lock Screen.

vsub · Oct 11, 2025

Ghot said:
Do Option Two, step 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ...in the tutorial I linked.
Then... set whatever image you want for the lock screen.

Then it should stay on your image.

This is the image I use, for my lock screen...

View attachment 148531

No change
When I sign out or lock the workstation it show the correct image but when I restart,during the windows loading process,after the initial loading process and then black screen,the first thing that appears after that is the correct image I have set and then windows switches to that blue one during the "Preparing Windows" and then switches to the wallpaper I have set

And I am going to repeat myself,setting the lock screen wallpaper works properly but during the windows loading process,it shows my itema=>the wrong image=>the desktop appears with the correct wallpaper

vsub · Oct 11, 2025

Here is a video

dacrone · Oct 11, 2025

i gave you the answer...

garlin · Oct 11, 2025

I believe it's this file (which is protected by TrustedInstaller rights):
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\SystemData\<SID>\ReadOnly\LockScreen_Z\LockScreen___3636_1959_notdimmed.jpg

Some SID's have LockScreen_W and LockScreen_O versions (?)

This isn't the same file as \Windows\Web\Screen\img100.jpg, even though they appear identical.

dacrone · Oct 11, 2025

garlin said:
I believe it's this file (which is protected by TrustedInstaller rights):
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\SystemData\<SID>\ReadOnly\LockScreen_Z\LockScreen___3636_1959_notdimmed.jpg

Some SID's have LockScreen_W and LockScreen_O versions (?)

This isn't the same file as \Windows\Web\Screen\img100.jpg, even though they appear identical.

View attachment 148579

thats why i was saying i provided the answer. in my post, i stated i set it on mine, rebooted, then went in there, took ownership, then overwrote all images in all sub folders. never had anything change it since

garlin · Oct 11, 2025

I don't think it's the same answer, and I'll explain why. When you see "Preparing Windows", it's running in a system context and not supposed to be your individual lock screen. That's why in the video it briefly switches appearance.

You can specify an alternate image by updating "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SystemProtectedUserData\<SID>\AnyoneRead\LockScreen"

This copies my personal Lock Screen image under LockScreen_A, but LockScreen_Z stays unchanged as the special picture.

Josey Wales · Oct 11, 2025

Josey Wales said:
I just set my wallpaper to the same image as The Lock Screen.

OK the first image is my Background, the second is my lockscreen which is the same as my Login.

dacrone · Oct 11, 2025

garlin said:
I don't think it's the same answer, and I'll explain why. When you see "Preparing Windows", it's running in a system context and not supposed to be your individual lock screen. That's why in the video it briefly switches appearance.

You can specify an alternate image by updating "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SystemProtectedUserData\<SID>\AnyoneRead\LockScreen"

This copies my personal Lock Screen image under LockScreen_A, but LockScreen_Z stays unchanged as the special picture.

not trying to argue or anything, but i'm saying i did it my way and i have never had it flash any other backgrounds.. not during "preparing windows" (post upgrade/CU, etc), not when logging off/on, not when shutting down/cold boot... never. always remains my custom image

*EDIT*
perhaps i worded it incorrectly... not just all sub Lockscreen_ folders inside your SID, but all sub folders under all SIDs. overwrite them all (and yeah, i just pasted all resolutions in every folder... even the ones that only contained 1 image)

Skeptic Mike · Oct 11, 2025

I think that @garlin is correct about the lock screen at start up. You can see which images are used for all the lock screens set on your system by copying the contents of C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\SystemData\ using the /b option in robocopy. You don't need to make any changes to the permissions or ownership.

create a suitable empty directory, and run the following command from an elevated terminal. Replace the target (second) directory with your chosen directory.

robocopy C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\SystemData C:\Users\Public\Pictures\lockscreen * /b /s

If you look through the images you should see the ones (under S-1-5-18) which are displayed at startup. There will probably be identically sized (and named) images under the user (S-1-5-21-*) folders with the image you want. Replace images as you wish, preserving the sizes. Copy them back using robocopy. (Swap the source and target directories.)

This is still work for probably only a marginal improvement. But at least you're not messing with ownerships and permissions.

I have a vague recollection that there is an option for OEMs to add their own tasteless lock screen to "brand" your computer, which might increase your wish to replace it.

dacrone · Oct 11, 2025

Skeptic Mike said:
I think that @garlin is correct about the lock screen at start up. You can see which images are used for all the lock screens set on your system by copying the contents of C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\SystemData\ using the /b option in robocopy. You don't need to make any changes to the permissions or ownership.

create a suitable empty directory, and run the following command from an elevated terminal. Replace the target (second) directory with your chosen directory.

robocopy C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\SystemData C:\Users\Public\Pictures\lockscreen * /b /s

If you look through the images you should see the ones (under S-1-5-18) which are displayed at startup. There will probably be identically sized (and named) images under the user (S-1-5-21-*) folders with the image you want. Replace images as you wish, preserving the sizes. Copy them back using robocopy. (Swap the source and target directories.)

This is still work for probably only a marginal improvement. But at least you're not messing with ownerships and permissions.

I have a vague recollection that there is an option for OEMs to add their own tasteless lock screen to "brand" your computer, which might increase your wish to replace it.

taking ownership of SystemData is reverted immediately. close that instance of FE and go back, you wont have perms anymore.

what the OP video shows is not an OEM image. its the windows 11 blue flower or whatever it is.
if you're talking about the POST screen, then no.. i have never modified that on Win 10 or 11.

garlin · Oct 12, 2025

This article suggests removing the LockScreen_Z folder:
Fixing the Windows 10 Pre-Login Background Screen

vsub · Oct 12, 2025

The only files I have in
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\SystemData\
are just images and I can preview all of them(they are not the problematic one)except the one from LockScreen_Z
I take the ownership of that folder and delete it
When I restart,there was no change and the LockScreen_Z was back there with the image in it

It's like if I delete the LockScreen_Z folder,windows will copy the file from
"C:\Windows\Web\Screen\img100.jpg"
and place it there

I don't want to keep taking ownership or manually deleting\replacing images every time I want to change my lockescreen
I want when I set a lockscreen,it will display only that image between the lockscreen and the desktop(I usually have the same one on the lockscreen and the desktop)

dacrone · Oct 12, 2025

Overwrite it. Not delete.

vsub · Oct 12, 2025

Overwrite it with what?
As I said,I don't want to do this every time I want to change the wallpaper
Why is there a in between image,I want to remove that so I will only have an image on the lockscreen and on the desktop
The image in the "Preparing Windows" should be the same one I set for the Lockscreen the "normal way" every time I change it the normal way from Personalize=>Lock Screen

Change the background during log in

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