Windows Lock Screen custom picture not working

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garlin

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• Jul 5, 2025

• #21

If there is a Group Policy, "gpupdate /force" immediately applies the policy again. Normally a policy is enforced on reboot. Running the command means you don't have to wait for a reboot to confirm a policy is changing the setting.

 

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QuicktellPro

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• Jul 5, 2025

• #22

garlin said:

If there is a Group Policy, "gpupdate /force" immediately applies the policy again. Normally a policy is enforced on reboot. Running the command means you don't have to wait for a reboot to confirm a policy is changing the setting.

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Right, but I can't see if the lock screen image is mine or the default Windows image until I restart.

 

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garlin

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• Jul 5, 2025

• #23

I don't understand. Why can't you log out to see the changes?

 

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• Jul 5, 2025

• #24

garlin said:

I don't understand. Why can't you log out to see the changes?

Click to expand...

Because that would close all running programs including the Macrium Reflect full backup which is currently running.

 

My Computer

System One

• OS

  Windows 11

  Computer type

  Laptop

  Manufacturer/Model

  Alienware A51 R2

  CPU

  Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-10900K CPU @ 3.70GHz

  Memory

  32,0 GB

  Graphics Card(s)

  Nvidia GeForce RTX2080 Super

  Sound Card

  Realtek

  Screen Resolution

  4K

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• Jul 5, 2025

• #25

Reflect completed its backup allowing me to restart. Regretfully, the default image still displays.
I'm going to try my idea of renaming my lockscreen image to replace the blue default image.

 

My Computer

System One

• OS

  Windows 11

  Computer type

  Laptop

  Manufacturer/Model

  Alienware A51 R2

  CPU

  Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-10900K CPU @ 3.70GHz

  Memory

  32,0 GB

  Graphics Card(s)

  Nvidia GeForce RTX2080 Super

  Sound Card

  Realtek

  Screen Resolution

  4K

QuicktellPro

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• Jul 6, 2025

• #26

Renaming the images did not work either. It's as though Windows is either keeping its default photo cached, or it has a copy hidden in another directory.

 

My Computer

System One

• OS

  Windows 11

  Computer type

  Laptop

  Manufacturer/Model

  Alienware A51 R2

  CPU

  Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-10900K CPU @ 3.70GHz

  Memory

  32,0 GB

  Graphics Card(s)

  Nvidia GeForce RTX2080 Super

  Sound Card

  Realtek

  Screen Resolution

  4K

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• Monday at 5:10 AM

• #27

Ok, I solved this with a workaround. It appears the default file Windows kept calling up on boot was C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Windows\img19.jpg. Replacing that with my image having renamed it to img19.jpg did the trick.

Although this is a solution, it is not THE SOLUTION, because setting your choice of image for the lockscreen in Windows personalization should work. Just another H24 bug.

 

My Computer

System One

• OS

  Windows 11

  Computer type

  Laptop

  Manufacturer/Model

  Alienware A51 R2

  CPU

  Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-10900K CPU @ 3.70GHz

  Memory

  32,0 GB

  Graphics Card(s)

  Nvidia GeForce RTX2080 Super

  Sound Card

  Realtek

  Screen Resolution

  4K

QuicktellPro

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• Wednesday at 2:40 AM

• #28

After a Windows update this morning, my lockscreen image has once again been hijacked by Microsoft. I have eliminated all images of the default blue image from Windows\Web and its subfolders, so clearly Microsoft has hidden a copy elsewhere. I would dearly like to get to the bottom of this because I find it intensely annoying. Not so much because I do not like the default blue photo, but because Microsoft has taken it upon themselves to take control of MY computer.

 

My Computer

System One

• OS

  Windows 11

  Computer type

  Laptop

  Manufacturer/Model

  Alienware A51 R2

  CPU

  Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-10900K CPU @ 3.70GHz

  Memory

  32,0 GB

  Graphics Card(s)

  Nvidia GeForce RTX2080 Super

  Sound Card

  Realtek

  Screen Resolution

  4K