Lock Screen Background Image - Enable or Disable Changing in Windows 8

How to Enable or Disable Changing Lock Screen Background Image in Windows 8 and 8.1

information   Information
This will show you how to allow or prevent all users from being able to change their lock screen background image from what it was set as prior in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8.1 RT.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.


EXAMPLE: Changing Lock Screen Disabled in Windows 8
disabled.jpg






OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Changing Lock Screen using a REG File Download



Note   Note
The .reg files below are for the registry key and value below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization

NoChangingLockScreen DWORD

0 = Enable Changing Lock Screen Background
1 = Disable Changing Lock Screen Background


1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.​
2. To Enable Changing the Lock Screen Background Image
NOTE: This is the default setting.​
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.​
Enable_Changing_Lock_Screen_Background.reg
download
B) Go to step 4 below.​
3. To Disable Changing the Lock Screen Background Image
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.​
Disable_Changing_Lock_Screen_Background.reg
download
B) Go to step 4 below.​
4. Save the .reg file to the desktop.​
5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to Merge it.​
6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK.​
7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​







OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Changing Lock Screen in Local Group Policy Editor


NOTE: This option for using group policy is only available in the Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise editions.
1. From the Start screen, start typing gpedit.msc and press Enter when finished.​
NOTE: You could also press Windows+R to open the Run dialog, type gpedit.msc, and click/tap on OK.​
2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.​
3. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and open Personalization. (see screenshot below)​
GPEDIT-1.jpg
4. In the right pane of Personalization, double click/tap on Prevent changing lock screen image. (see screenshot above)​
5. Do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do.​
6. To Enable Changing the Lock Screen Background Image
A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below step 7A)​
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.​
7. To Disable Changing the Lock Screen Background Image
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)​
GPEDIT-2.jpg
8. You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor window if you like.​

That's it,
Shawn


 

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