Lock Screen Background Image - Set Default in Windows 8

How to Set a Default Lock Screen Background Image for All Users in Windows 8 and 8.1

information   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 specify a default lock screen background image for all users in Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise, and Windows 8.1 Enterprise.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do any of the options in this tutorial.

Note   Note
This will specify and override both the default lock screen background image that shows when no users are signed in, and the lock screen set by users the displays while they are signed in.

Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise or Windows Server 2012 can use this group policy (GP) via Domain GP or via local GP.

Windows 8/8.1 Pro can also be a target of the GP if the machine is joined to a domain

Windows 8 Customizing the Default Lock Screen

This will not work in the Windows 8/8.1 or Windows RT/RT 8.1 editions.





OPTION ONE

To Specify a Default Lock Screen Background Image in Group Policy


1. From your 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/tap on Yes.​
3. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and open Personalization. (see screenshot below)​
Windows_8_Default_Lock_Screen-1.jpg
4. In the right pane of Personalization, double click/tap on Force a specific default lock screen image. (see screenshot above)​
5. Do step 6, 7, or 8 below for what you would like to do.​
6. To Let Users Set their Lock Screen Background Image
A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured, click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 7B)​
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.​
B) If you previously did step 8 below, then you may wish to also enable users to be able to change their lock screen background image.​
C) Go to step 9 below.​
7. To Set Default Lock Screen Background Image when No User is Signed In
NOTE: This is to only specify a default lock screen background image when there is not a user signed in.​
A) Select (dot) Enabled, type in the full path of the image file, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: Do not have the full path in quotes. It will not work if you do.​
B) If you previously did step 8 below, then enable users to be able to change their lock screen background image.​
C) Go to step 9 below.​
Windows_8_Default_Lock_Screen-2.jpg
8. Set Default Lock Screen Background Image when User is Signed In or Not
NOTE: This is to specify a default lock screen background image whether there is a user signed in or not.​
A) Do step 7A above.​
C) Go to step 9 below.​
9. You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor window if you like.​




OPTION TWO

To Specify a Default Lock Screen Background Image in Registry Editor



NOTE: This option is the manual method of OPTION ONE above.
1. Press the Windows+R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and click/tap on OK.​
2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​
3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: If you do not have the Personalization key in the left pane, then right click on the Windows key, click/tap on New and Key, type Personalization, and press Enter.​
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization
Windows_8_Default_Lock_Screen-3.jpg
4. Do step 5, 6, or 7 below for what you would like to do.​
5. To Let Users Set their Lock Screen Background Image
NOTE: This is the default setting.​
A) In the right pane of Personalization, right click on the LockScreenImage string value if there, and click on Delete. (see screenshot below step 3)​
B) Click/tap on Yes. (see screenshot below)​
Windows_8_Default_Lock_Screen-5.jpg
C) If you previously did step 7 below, then you may wish to also enable users to be able to change their lock screen background image.​
D) Go to step 8 below.​
6. To Set Default Lock Screen Background Image when No User is Signed In
NOTE: This is to only specify a default lock screen background image when there is not a user signed in.​
A) In the right pane of Personalization, double click\tap on the LockScreenImage string value to modify it. (see screenshot below step 3)​
NOTE: If you do not have the LockScreenImage string value in the left pane (not there by default), then right click on an empty area in the right pane, click/tap on New and String Value, type LockScreenImage, and press Enter.​
B) Type in the full path of the image file, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: Do not have the full path in quotes. It will not work if you do.​
Windows_8_Default_Lock_Screen-4.jpg
C) If you previously did step 7 below, then enable users to be able to change their lock screen background image.​
D) Go to step 8 below.​
7. Set Default Lock Screen Background Image when User is Signed In or Not
NOTE: This is to specify a default lock screen background image whether there is a user signed in or not.​
A) Do steps 6A and 6B above.​
C) Go to step 8 below.​
8. You can now close Registry Editor if you like.​


That's it,
Shawn


 

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I have aWindows 8 standard and gpedit was non-existent.
Your solution worked
I am very satisfied French:thumbsup:

Thank you again. I very much appreciate your assistance.
 
[To BRINK]
Hi bro,I have a problem with windows 8 professional x64:I can not change lock screen image,when I select my favorite image it changes with selected[in preview window],but when I sign out, I get the default lock screen image,I don't know what to do,help me please.Thank you in advance :)
 
Hello Gelashvili,

There are two lock screens in Windows 8. One used for the specific user while signed in, and a default one for all users when no user is signed in.

Unfortunately, the one for all users in this tutorial can only be done in Windows 8 Enterprise.

Since you have Windows 8 Pro, you will only be able to change the lock screen for your user account while you are signed in. :(
 
Hello Gelashvili,

There are two lock screens in Windows 8. One used for the specific user while signed in, and a default one for all users when no user is signed in.

Unfortunately, the one for all users in this tutorial can only be done in Windows 8 Enterprise.

Since you have Windows 8 Pro, you will only be able to change the lock screen for your user account while you are signed in. :(
Hi bro,Your instruction is right,but didn't work for me and that's why I have found another way to change the lock screen:First of all,I have to say,that I have acer laptop-travelmate 5760G[I think it's neccesary].
The second:I downloaded updated BIOS from acer official webpage and updated the BIOS version[If you decide to do the same,that I have done,update the BIOS even the versions are "slightly same",for example:if you have BIOS version 1.8.0 and 1.8.1 it's recomended to make update :) ],and then... I got crazy result,I solved the problem by this way,so I think it's the best way to solve the problem :)
 
I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted, but I'm not sure what the BIOS update has to do with the lock screen background image though. Do you mean the boot splash screen instead of the lock screen?

You might check to see if you may have some program included by Acer that is controlling the lock screen image.
 
The gpedit.msc method also works in Windows 8 Pro 64-bit. We use this at work and I was able to make the change before going Enterprise from Pro (it's not really an upgrade). I didn't try the regedit method on Pro.
 
Hello lucidgreen, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Thank you for the confirmation. The regedit methos is just the manual way of doing the gpedit method. I through it in mostly for reference for those that like to play in the Registry Editor. :)
 
This all works fine for me. I can select an image for use. But then it just does not change the default wallpaper when I restart the computer. I have Windows 8 Pro.
 
Hello Sean, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Unfortunately this would only work if your Windows 8 Pro it's joined to a domain that has this policy set in it. Otherwise this will only work locally in Windows 8 Enterprise. :(

UPDATE: OPTION ONE can be used now.
 
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