Windows 11 Lock Screen Background: Turn On/Off & Change
To turn the Windows 11 lock screen background on or off, or to change the image, you use the Settings app under Personalization > Lock screen. From there you can pick a Windows spotlight image, a picture, or a slideshow, and you can also disable the lock screen background entirely by turning off the “Show lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen” option.
Where the Lock Screen Settings Live
All lock screen personalization is in one place: Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. You can get there quickly by pressing Win + I, clicking Personalization in the left sidebar, then choosing Lock screen. This page controls what appears on the lock screen itself, as well as the sign-in screen that follows it.
How to Change the Lock Screen Background
Under the Background drop-down, you have three choices:
- Windows spotlight – Microsoft automatically rotates a curated set of high-resolution photos. It also occasionally shows tips and facts on the lock screen.
- Picture – You pick a single image from your computer or from the built-in options.
- Slideshow – You choose a folder (or several folders) and Windows cycles through those images at a set interval.
To set a custom picture, select Picture, then click Browse photos and choose an image file. Windows accepts common formats like JPG, PNG, and BMP. For a slideshow, pick Slideshow, click Browse to add folders, and adjust the frequency (from every minute to every day) and whether the slideshow should continue when your PC is on battery power.
Turning the Lock Screen Background Off
If you want a plain, solid-color lock screen (or no background at all), the setting is slightly hidden. On the same Lock screen page, look for Show lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen. This toggle controls whether the lock screen image also appears on the sign-in screen where you type your password or PIN.
To completely remove the background image from the lock screen, you have two options:
- Set the background to a solid color (via Personalization > Colors), which replaces the image with a flat color.
- Use the Show lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen toggle to keep the lock screen image but hide it on the sign-in screen. This does not remove the lock screen image itself.
There is no official toggle that makes the lock screen completely blank with no color. The closest you can get is choosing a dark solid color from the Colors settings.
How Windows Spotlight Works
Windows Spotlight is Microsoft’s service that downloads new images periodically. When you select it, Windows fetches a batch of photos (usually a few at a time) and rotates them each time you lock your PC or sign in. The images are stored in a hidden folder under %LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager\LocalState\Assets. You can manually extract them, but it’s not necessary for normal use.
Spotlight also overlays a small “Like what you see?” icon. You can hover over it to get a thumbs-up or thumbs-down, which helps Microsoft tailor future images. If you don’t want the extra tips and facts, you can turn off Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen on the same settings page.
Common Problems and Fixes
- Lock screen background not changing – If you set a picture but it doesn’t appear, make sure the file is not corrupted and that you have permission to read it. Also, some Windows editions (like Windows 11 Pro with Group Policy) may enforce a default lock screen image via policy.
- Slideshow not working – Check that the folder contains at least one image and that the images are in a supported format. Also, if your PC is on battery, the slideshow may pause unless you enable the battery option.
- Spotlight not updating – Sometimes Spotlight gets stuck. You can restart the Windows Spotlight service by opening Task Manager, finding Windows Spotlight under Processes, and clicking Restart. Or you can delete the contents of the Assets folder and restart the PC.
- Lock screen background is gray or black – This often indicates a corrupted user profile or a policy restriction. Try creating a new local user account to see if the issue persists.
Lock Screen vs. Sign-in Screen
Many users confuse the lock screen with the sign-in screen. The lock screen appears first when you wake your PC; it shows the clock, date, and notifications. The sign-in screen appears after you dismiss the lock screen (by pressing a key or clicking) and is where you enter your password, PIN, or fingerprint.
In Windows 11, the sign-in screen can use the same background as the lock screen, or you can turn off that link with the toggle mentioned earlier. If you turn it off, the sign-in screen uses a default blue background. There is no separate setting to change the sign-in screen background to a custom image; it always follows the lock screen setting unless you disable the toggle.
Using Group Policy or Registry (Advanced)
For IT administrators or power users, you can force a specific lock screen image using Group Policy. In gpedit.msc, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization and enable Force a specific default lock screen image. You must provide a path to a JPG file. This policy overrides user settings and is often used in corporate environments.
In the Registry, the same setting lives under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization with a value named LockScreenImage. Editing the registry is riskier, so it’s recommended to use Group Policy if available (Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a video as my lock screen background?
No, Windows 11 does not support video files as lock screen backgrounds. You can only use static images or a slideshow of images. Third-party apps exist that claim to add video backgrounds, but they are not officially supported and may stop working after updates.
Why does my lock screen background keep changing back to Windows Spotlight?
This usually happens if you have a third-party app or a Group Policy that enforces Spotlight. It can also occur if you accidentally clicked “Like what you see?” on the lock screen, which doesn’t change the setting but may make it seem like Spotlight is active. Check your Personalization settings and any installed “background manager” apps.
How do I save a Windows Spotlight image?
You can find the downloaded Spotlight images in the Assets folder mentioned earlier. Copy the files (they have no extension) to another folder and rename them with a .jpg extension. You can then use them as your own lock screen or desktop background.
Does changing the lock screen background affect performance?
No, a static image has no noticeable effect. A slideshow may use a small amount of CPU and disk I/O when it changes images, but it is negligible on modern hardware. Windows Spotlight uses a little network bandwidth to download new images periodically.
Can I set different lock screen backgrounds for different users?
Yes, each user account has its own lock screen settings. When you sign in, your personalization settings apply. However, if an administrator enforces a policy, that can override individual settings.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.