Solved Help | Where to find this transparent default User Account Picture?


0xSinner

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images.jpeg-2.jpg
I don't know which folder to look for.

The files in "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\User Account Pictures" are not the one being used since the pictures stored there are not transparent and has a solid white background color..
 
Windows Build/Version
Windows 11 latest Beta

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
If you enable file extensions, you should see two versions of each picture, one BMP and one PNG. Are you sure the PNG version is not transparent?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 64-bit (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
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    4GB
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    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
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    1280x800
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    MICROSOFT EDGE
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    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v23H2 (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
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    Gainward NE5105T018G1-1070F (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5)
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    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
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    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
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    Patriot Burst Elite 480GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
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    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
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    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
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    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
The actual user account picture is located here
Users\*username*\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\AccountPictures
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows
Hi guys,

Long time lurker here and decided to make a reply to this existing thread rather than create a duplicate one.

I'm having the exact same issues as the OP so also wondering how I can locate the transparent version? Would really appreciate it if someone could help.

If you enable file extensions, you should see two versions of each picture, one BMP and one PNG. Are you sure the PNG version is not transparent?

Hi, i have the PNG one selected - still doesn't seem to give a transparent effect.

The actual user account picture is located here
Users\*username*\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\AccountPictures

Seems to be an empty folder in my case.

1703771517257.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel i7-12700H
    Memory
    15.69 GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080, 75Hz
You can just grab the non-transparent version and remove the background. See attached.
 

Attachments

  • user.png
    user.png
    749 bytes · Views: 13

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 22H2 [22621.3296]
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    Manufacturer/Model
    Intel NUC12WSHi7
    CPU
    12th Gen Intel Core i7-1260P, 2100 MHz
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    NUC12WSBi7
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    64 GB
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    built-in Realtek HD audio
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    Dell U3219Q
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    3840x2160 @ 60Hz
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    CODE 104-Key Mechanical Keyboard with Cherry MX Clears
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    Linux Mint 21.2 (Cinnamon)
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    Intel NUC8i5BEH
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    Intel Core i5-8259U CPU @ 2.30GHz
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    32 GB
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    Iris Plus 655
    Keyboard
    CODE 104-Key Mechanical Keyboard - Cherry MX Clear
If the image is a .bmp and has a black and white alpha, the black part becomes transparent and the white part is what is visible.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11, Pro for Workstations, 22631.2861 (23H2)
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    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Amd Ryzen 5 5500 ("Zen 3") (3.6GHz,45-65W,L3:16M,6/12)
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    DDR4 OLOy Owl Black, 8GB, 3200MHZ, (x2)
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    common
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    commom
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    600mb
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You can just grab the non-transparent version and remove the background. See attached.
I tried using your image and this happened.

1703813470309.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel i7-12700H
    Memory
    15.69 GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080, 75Hz
The image cannot be saved on the system folder. Select "Save as" and save at another folder, such as your desktop. You must then take ownership of the file (or change owner to the Administrators group, not the built-in Administrator account), change access rights to give your account or the Administrators group full access and then replace it. Also, have you enabled Transparency effect in Personalization? If it is disabled it would explain why the image is not transparent. Anyway, I prefer you good old colorful account pictures from Windows 7 or earlier. Thankfully I have kept them before upgrading to 10 and then to 11.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 64-bit (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v23H2 (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    Gainward NE5105T018G1-1070F (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Patriot Burst Elite 480GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Stock Intel CPU Fan, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
The image cannot be saved on the system folder. Select "Save as" and save at another folder, such as your desktop. You must then take ownership of the file (or change owner to the Administrators group, not the built-in Administrator account), change access rights to give your account or the Administrators group full access and then replace it. Also, have you enabled Transparency effect in Personalization? If it is disabled it would explain why the image is not transparent. Anyway, I prefer you good old colorful account pictures from Windows 7 or earlier. Thankfully I have kept them before upgrading to 10 and then to 11.

So from testing on the built-in admin account (which has the default transparent user picture), transparency effects has no correlation with the profile picture itself, it's more to do with the background of the desktop on the lock screen etc.

I have taken ownership of the image kindly provided by pseymour, sadly i'm still getting that blue screen error above - oddly the image also doesn't seem to show a thumbnail (other png images do).

1703859526298.png


Thought i'd add an image for clarity of the two login screens. Built-in Admin account on the left, my account on the right.

1703861103662.png
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel i7-12700H
    Memory
    15.69 GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080, 75Hz
Just a shot in the dark: I have a custom user account pic for my main account, and it was easy to get it used by Windows, but not on my startup screen (at boot). I had to log in to my MS account and set the pic I wanted as my profile pic, then log back in to Windows and change back to my Local Account, and THEN it appeared during the boot process. You might try this pic with a transparent BG and go through all that nonsense, and it might just work.
User Account Picture.png
 

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System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkCentre M920S SFF
    CPU
    i7-9700 @ 3.00GHz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo 3132
    Memory
    32GBDDR4 @ 2666MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 630 Graphics onboard
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG E2442
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x Samsung 970 EVO PLUS 500GB NVMe SSD, 1 x WD_BLACK SN770
    250GB NVMe SSD (OS and programs), 1 x WD_BLACK SN770
    500GB NVMe SSD (Data)
    Case
    Lenovo SFF
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream TKL JK-8600US-2 Wired
    Mouse
    LogiTech M510 wireless
    Internet Speed
    Fast (for fixed wireless!)
    Browser
    Chrome, sometimes Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes Premium & Defender (working together beautifully!)
  • Operating System
    11 Pro 23H2 22631.3374
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkCentre M920S SFF
    CPU
    i5-8400 @ 2.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo 3132
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 @ 2600MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel HD 630 Graphics onboard
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG FULL HD (1920x1080@59Hz)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x Samsung 970 EVO PLUS NVMe; 1 x Samsung 980 NVMe SSD
    Case
    Lenovo Think Centre SFF
    Mouse
    LogiTech M510 wireless
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream TKL JK-8600US-2 Wired
    Internet Speed
    Fast (for fixed wireless!)
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes Premium and MS Defender, beautiful together
Just a shot in the dark: I have a custom user account pic for my main account, and it was easy to get it used by Windows, but not on my startup screen (at boot). I had to log in to my MS account and set the pic I wanted as my profile pic, then log back in to Windows and change back to my Local Account, and THEN it appeared during the boot process. You might try this pic with a transparent BG and go through all that nonsense, and it might just work.
View attachment 82622
Doesn't work for me sadly, i guess it's going to remain a mystery on how to do this without removing my local account and making a fresh one.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel i7-12700H
    Memory
    15.69 GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080, 75Hz
If you have a Microsoft Account try converting it to a local account. Change the user picture. See if it works properly. You could then convert back to Microsoft Account but it could affect or replace the image, so I wouldn't. Also you can download and install Winaero Tweaker. Have a look at the settings, it might have what you are looking for.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 64-bit (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v23H2 (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    Gainward NE5105T018G1-1070F (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Patriot Burst Elite 480GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Stock Intel CPU Fan, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
GUYSS!!! I found the only way to get that transparent profile picture for windows 11, but you need to reset the windows and not save the data. You need to start at the beginning. Once your computer is reseted, you need to create or use another microsoft account than you had at your own before. After that, you need run as administrator the registry editor and go to the explorer file (here's the location for that: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer) and create a new value in DWORD (32 bit) and name it "UseDefaultTile". Then click on that value created and edit the value data to number 1. You have done this before but it shows as the white background. After you've done these, go to the settings and go to accounts, scroll down and find the option "Other users", then click to "Add user" to get another user account. Log in to the microsoft account that you had it on your own (don't worry, you will get all of your data back). Then get back the registry editor (don't forget to run as administrator for that) and get to the same location file and edit back the data value to 0 to the value that you have created. After you have done these tasks, go to the lock screen and you've got the beautiful transparent profile picture account. Believe me, I tried that so and it really worked! :))
You can delete your new user account that you have created but before you do that, you have to change your own user's account type to administrator.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ThinkBook15 - 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-1115G4 @ 3.00GHz 3.00 GHz
Congratulations that you get it work, but sounds like a lot of trouble. Isn't there an easier workaround? Hello Registry Gurus! Please post.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 64-bit (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v23H2 (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    Gainward NE5105T018G1-1070F (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Patriot Burst Elite 480GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Stock Intel CPU Fan, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
GUYSS!!! I found the only way to get that transparent profile picture for windows 11, but you need to reset the windows and not save the data. You need to start at the beginning. Once your computer is reseted, you need to create or use another microsoft account than you had at your own before. After that, you need run as administrator the registry editor and go to the explorer file (here's the location for that: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer) and create a new value in DWORD (32 bit) and name it "UseDefaultTile". Then click on that value created and edit the value data to number 1. You have done this before but it shows as the white background. After you've done these, go to the settings and go to accounts, scroll down and find the option "Other users", then click to "Add user" to get another user account. Log in to the microsoft account that you had it on your own (don't worry, you will get all of your data back). Then get back the registry editor (don't forget to run as administrator for that) and get to the same location file and edit back the data value to 0 to the value that you have created. After you have done these tasks, go to the lock screen and you've got the beautiful transparent profile picture account. Believe me, I tried that so and it really worked! :))
You can delete your new user account that you have created but before you do that, you have to change your own user's account type to administrator.
Tysm, I just tried it with just crating the key and it worked! (It is a litte buggy tho)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11, macOS
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI

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