Lock Screen - Background Image - Change in Windows 8

How to Change Your Lock Screen Background Image in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1​

   Information

In Windows 8 and 8.1 there are two "Lock" screens.

• The user lock screen is the one that displays when a user locks the PC while still signed in to Windows, and when the user is selected on the sign in screen, times out, and returns to the lock screen. Each user is able to change their lock screen background image to an image of their choice.
• The default Lock screen image is the one that displays when there are no users currently signed in to Windows or selected on the sign in screen.

This tutorial will show you how to change the lock screen background image for your user account to be any image you would like when you lock the PC while signed in to Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

If you are using a Microsoft account and have the Personalize setting turned on to sync, then the lock screen background you currently have set will also be displayed on any PC that you sign in to with the same Microsoft account.

   Note

The default background images used for the lock screen are located in the Screen folder below. If you delete any of the default image in the Screen folder below, you will no longer see recent background images under the current lock screen image.

C:\Windows\Web\Screen

   Tip

When you use choose to use a custom image for your lock screen instead of one of the default images, Windows will save this image in the hidden system LockScreen_(letter) folder location below to open it from. This way if you should lose your original image, you could get a copy of it from here.

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\[B]SystemData[/B]\[COLOR=#ff0000][B]S-1-5-21...[/B][/COLOR]\ReadOnly\[B]LockScreen_[COLOR=#ff0000](letter)[/COLOR][/B]

Here's how to be able to open it and view the image if needed:
NOTE: You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this.

1. You will need to take ownership (option four at link) of the hidden SystemData folder with "Administrators" or your user account, and check the Replace owner of subcontainers and objects box.

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2. Open the SystemData folder, and open the S-1-5-21-.....(long number) folder for the user account that set this custom lock screen image. Each user account on the PC that uses a custom lock screen image will have it's own S-1-5-21-.....(long number) folder, so you may need to go in each one to find yours.

3. Open the ReadOnly folder, then open and look in each LockScreen_(letter) folder for the custom image. Each time you choose a custom image, a new LockScreen_(letter) folder is created in alphabetical order for each image.

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EXAMPLE: Lock Screen

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OPTION ONE

Change Lock Screen Background Image using "PC settings" in Windows 8

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1. Open PC settings.​

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2. In the left pane, click/tap on Personalize, then click/tap on the Lock screen option if not already selected. (see screenshots below)​

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3. Do step 4 or 5 below for what image you would like to use on the lock screen.​

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4. To Select a Default or Previously Used Image as Lock Screen Background​

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A) Click/tap on one of the 5 images to select it, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 2)​

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   Tip

To Restore Default Images under "Change you picture"


Right click or press and hold on one of the images, and click/tap on Revert to defaults.

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5. To Choose an Image as Lock Screen Background​

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A) Click/tap on the Browse button. (see screenshot below step 2)​

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B) Navigate to and select the folder that contains the image you want to select. (see screenshot below)​

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   Tip

How to Navigate:

   Tip

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A) Click/tap on Files to open a root folder to have it's subfolders open in the main window.​

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B) Click/tap on a folder in the main window to open it's subfolders in the main window.​

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C) During this, you can click/tap on Go up to go up one folder level in the main window.​

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C) Open the folder that contains the image, select the image by clicking/tapping on it, click/tap on the Choose picture button at the bottom right corner, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below 5B)​

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6. The image will now be set as the background on your lock screen. If you like, lock your PC to see your new lock screen background. (see screenshot below)​

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7. When finished, you can close PC settings if you like.​

OPTION TWO

Change Lock Screen Background Image using "PC settings" in Windows 8.1

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1. Open PC settings, and either click/tap on Lock screen on the right side or click/tap on PC & devices on the left side. (see screenshot below)​

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2. Click/tap on Lock screen on the left side of PC & devices, and do step 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below)​

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3. To Select a Default or Previously Used Image as Lock Screen Background​

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A) On the right side under Background, click/tap on one of the five images that had been previously chosen as the lock screen background, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below step 2)​

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4. To Choose an Image as Lock Screen Background​

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A) On the right side under Background, click/tap on the Browse button. (see screenshot below step 2)​

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B) Navigate to and open the folder that contains the image you want to select. (see screenshot below)​

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   Tip

How to Navigate:

   Tip

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A) Click/tap on This PC or Libraries to open a root folder to have it's subfolders open in the main window.​

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B) Click/tap on a folder in the main window to open it's subfolders in the main window.​

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C) During this, you can click/tap on Go up to go up one folder level in the main window.​

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C) Open the folder that contains the image, select the image by clicking/tapping on it, click/tap on the Choose image button at the bottom right corner, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below 4B)​

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5. The image will now be set as the background on your lock screen. If you like, lock your PC to see your new lock screen background. (see screenshot below)​

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6. When finished, you can close PC settings if you like.​

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OPTION THREE

Change Lock Screen Background Image Using "Photos" App

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1. Open an image that you want as the lock screen background with the Photos app. (see screenshot below)​

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Open with - Change Default Program in Windows 8​

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2. Either swipe up from the bottom of your touch screen or right click on the image in the Photos app to open the options bar at the bottom, then click/tap on Set as and the Lock screen option. (see screenshot below)​

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3. The image will now be set as the background on your lock screen. If you like, lock your PC to see your new lock screen background.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Change the Default Lock Screen Background Image in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Set a Default Lock Screen Background Image for All Users in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn On or Off the Lock Screen Slide Show in Windows 8.1
• Change Your Start and Sign in Screen Background and Color in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• How to Change Your Desktop Background and Slide Show in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• How to Sign in to Windows 8
• How to Enable or Disable the Lock Screen in Windows 8
• How to Enable or Disable Changing the Lock Screen Background Image in Windows 8
• How to Change the Lock Screen Timeout Period in Windows 8
• Set Desktop, Lock, and Start Background to Show Image or Solid Color in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable Using Camera on Your Lock Screen in Windows 8.1
• How to Create a "Lock Screen" PC Settings Shortcut in Windows 8.1
• How to Change Lock Screen Clock Time Format in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change Lock Screen Clock Date Language in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[moinmoin]

You can also add your best 6 images.

* Go to C:\Windows\Web\Screen
* Copy your image 1920x1200 in this folder
* Delete or move a image (for exemple img104.jpg)
* Rename your screen with the name from the deleted image (for exemple img104.jpg)

 

[Bill2]

Doesnt seem to be any obvious way to do this without metro UI.

 

[DJC]

Another Way is to just double-click on the image you want to set as background in Lock Screen and then right click-> set as lock screen.

 

[Brink]

Hello Kostas,

Thank you. Added as OPTION TWO.

 

[dare2winnn]

tutorial is nice and effective but my problem is when i click in pc setting and personlise to change the start up screen then whole options like 'browse' etc is covered in semi white layer and canot be clicked any where . so what is the problem help

 

[Brink]

Hello dare2winnn,

If it looks like this below with the "Some settings on this page have been disabled by group policy." message, then you'll just need to enable it again using the tutorial below.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...mage-enable-disable-changing-windows-8-a.html






Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[mbratch]

What I don't understand is, with this new GUI, why when I click on "Network Path" to choose an image it just gives me an edit box in which to type in my UNC address. Seriously?? No network neighborhood browser? Did I miss it?

 

[Brink]

Hello mbrath,

Click on Computer instead of Network, then you should be able to just select a mapped drive, network location, or a computer on the homegroup to browse through for an image.

Network is for when you want to manually enter the network folder location instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[mbratch]

Hello mbrath,

Click on Computer instead of Network, then you should be able to just select a mapped drive, network location, or a computer on the homegroup to browse through for an image.

Network is for when you want to manually enter the network folder location instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks Shawn. Will that work if it's not a mapped drive? Will that view show me the Network from which I can choose the computer, etc?

 

[Brink]

You're welcome.

If the network location shows in your Computer window, then it will show here as well. Otherwise it will need to be mapped first.

 

[jjnilton]

Is there a way to remove added imagens from here:




There are two custom images added, I want to remove them, is there a way?

Thanks!

 

[Brink]

Hello jjnilton, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Yes. You could delete the LockScreen_(letter) folder for each image you do not want to show in the recently used Lock screen images in the location in the yellow Tip box at the top of the tutorial on the first page.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[jjnilton]

Thanks, it helped, but I guess I will let there, don't want to mess with system permissions.

 

[Brink]

I don't blame if you are not comfortable with it. Otherwise it's not to bad if you go step by step to do it. I'll be happy to help answer any questions if you wanted to.

 

[pcRat]

For over a year now I've been playing a lot with lock screen image. I'm finally beginning to understand that I didn't have a problem with changing the lock screen image at all. It used the image I chose whenever my account got locked.

I don't know the correct terminology but it is not Lock Screen.

The image I want to change is on the screen we get when we first start our computer. The one with the space needle and we have to click on in order to view the login screen.
I really didn't mind the space needle that much but that hideous broken down red and brown roulette wheel that came with 8.1 update has got to go.

Is there a way to change that screen???

 

[Brink]

Hello Ron,

In Windows 8 there are two Lock screens. One is the current user Lock screen that displays when they are signed in. This is the one set by the method in this tutorial on the first page.

The other is the default Lock screen when there are no users currently signed in. So far, the only method I know to change this is in the tutorial below, but it's only for Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise or domain joined PCs.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/14485-lock-screen-background-image-set-default-windows-8-a.html

 

[pcRat]

Thanks Brink. I've been working it for a few hours and no luck.
Its only 8.1 64-bit not Pro or Enterprise.
I don't even have gpedit.msc according to this pc.

 

[Brink]

Ron,

Here's an option for the "default" lock screen that should work for you.

How to change the background image of the default Lock Screen and the login screen | Winaero

 

[pcRat]

THANK YOU BRINK that did the trick. I don't understand why MS would force us to accept that default lock screen.
That hideous image could be used wisely though. As a desktop background for Administrator accounts. Which would force people to stay on Standard User accounts except when absolutely necessary.
I broke all my family & friends of using the Administrator account with an ugly homemade desktop background.
THANK YOU AGAIN