Personalization Enable or Disable Desktop Background in Windows 11


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Desktop_background_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the desktop background for your account in Windows 11.

You can change your desktop background in Windows 11 to be a picture, solid color, a slideshow, or Windows Spotlight image.

You can enable or disable showing the desktop background on all desktops and displays at once on demand.

When the desktop background is disabled, it will show as a solid black color until enabled again. When the desktop background is enabled again, your currently set desktop background will show again.


EXAMPLE: Desktop background settings removed when disabled

Desktop_background_disabled.png



Here's How:

1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Ease of Access Center icon.

2 Click/tap on the Make the computer easier to see link. (see screenshot below)

disable_desktop_background-1.png

3 Check (disable) or uncheck (enable - default) Remove background images (where available) for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

The Remove background images (where available) setting and others are saved together in the UserPreferencesMask binary value in the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop location for the current user.


disable_desktop_background-2.png

4 You can now close the Ease of Access Center if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 
Last edited:
Why would someone want to do this?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint 22
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    NUC
    CPU
    Intel
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    on board
    Sound Card
    Intel but not working
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 Crucial Nvme
    PSU
    ???
    Case
    square box
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    Logiteck
    Mouse
    IBP Standard
    Internet Speed
    1000Gb's Down-20 Up
    Browser
    Chrome
    Other Info
    I am using an Intel NUC.
Why would someone want to do this?
For the most part, as far as I can recall, back in the day of weaker machines, users would often disable Desktop background when doing a screen recording. The Desktop background process is still a heavy one, along with all of it's affiliated processes.
Some screen recording software still have the option included.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
Also, in OS's of the past, it would show the base color of that special folder the Desktop Folder Proper.
In Windows 11, things have changed, the default seems to be black.

0004018.png
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
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