Desktop Background Bug. Wallpaper Keeps Reverting. Other Users Affected Too

Hi

Recently, I got a brand new Asus laptop with windows 11 in it. I set it up by creating two users, both as admins with two different backgrounds themes (pictures, not slideshow).

At first it seemed that the second users background always reverted to be the same as first user. So I created two more users and deleted the previous two. Then for every user I set a new picture as background, both different than those of previous users. After that both backgrounds were acting totally crazy and kept reverting to a specific picture, one of the deleted users background!!

After trying several things with no luck (eg. checking third party apps, deleting wallpaper values in the in registry, running sfc /scannow etc) I decided to restore windows 11 by formating the brand new laptop and deleting everything. I did that by local reinstallation of the windows 11. During installation I had the laptop plugged, so at the end of the procedure it was fully charged.

Next day, I was on my battery and everything was working fine for hours. Again, I made two local users, both as admins, and gave them to different backgrounds (as pictures, not slideshow). I installed my apps again, restarting the machine when it was needed, signing in and out without any problem so far. Then my battery died, so I did plugged it in and started to downloading steam. As soon as I plugged the laptop in and installed the steam, second users background changed to slideshow, even though I have set it to be picture!! And here we go again...

I set the same background as a picture maybe 5 or 6 times and every time it kept reverting back to slideshow! Then I edited the power plan and chose slideshow to be paused even when the laptop is plugged. This is when second users background started to reverting again into first user background! Ever since the problem continues...

Is it another windows 11 bug or maybe something about power plan or even the steam app (lol)?

Any suggestions on how to resolve this issue?

Thanks in advance

Ps. The laptop came with windows 11

So the same thing also happens if I create two desktops (in one user) and give them two different backgrounds. They are reverting to be the same

I don't have any suggestion that you haven't already tried. None of the reports from people on the web or feedback hub had found a solution.

_B_User said:

So the same thing also happens if I create two desktops (in one user) and give them two different backgrounds. They are reverting to be the same

Click to expand...

I've actually done this one myself, and not had that problem - I've created 2 virtual desktops, one for personal stuff and one for Work, and I have different wallpapers on 2 monitors in each virtual DT.

I've noticed that the DTs are a lot slower to load when I have different one per VDT, but I can try it again and see if the bug is new, or what.

The only thing I can think that might possible be affecting that might be some sort of AV suite that came with the laptop that is aggressively monitoring your registry for changes and keeps reverting changes made to things like the DTWP, a setting which is stored in the registry.

What security software came with the laptop?

glasskuter said:

I don't have any suggestion that you haven't already tried. None of the reports from people on the web or feedback hub had found a solution.

Click to expand...

Still, you gave me the idea to report it in feedback hub too, which I did! I even attached a system recording lol

@johnlgalt the laptop came with McAfee, which I uninstalled it from the beginning. I can't find what DTWP is about.

Concerning a workaround I created a custom theme which I saved it hopping that it will somehow override something in the registry, but without any luck..

Lol sorry - Desktop Wallpaper - just using abbreviations.

Good idea on the theme - that might have been it if it is set to synchronize your current theme to your Microsoft account.

johnlgalt said:

Lol sorry - Desktop Wallpaper - just using abbreviations.

Good idea on the theme - that might have been it if it is set to synchronize your current theme to your Microsoft account.

Click to expand...

Oh right, of course it was the desktop wallpaper. I tried resetting the values in the registry. It didn't work.

Both users are local, but I could change one of them and try your suggestion to see if it will work.

If I found out something I will report back here for future reference

@_B_User I suspect your problem may be having two administrator accounts. I can't see why you'd want or need two of them. In any case, I'd get rid of one them and see if that solves the issue.

if you run this command, it brings up the old style Desktop backgound settings GUI
shell:::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921}.

check it in Regedit to see which user its allocated to......

Quick update: nothing changed and the problem persist.

@oldschool I changed the one user to standard, it didn't resolve the issue.

@torchwood what exactly are you suggesting to do in the registry?

_B_User said:

Quick update: nothing changed and the problem persist.

Click to expand...

Control Panel\Power Options\Edit Plan Settings --> "Change advanced power settings" and >Paused< Slideshow under Desktop background settings