Start Screen - Change Background Color and Image

How to Change Your Start and Sign in Screen Background and Color in Windows 8 and 8.1
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   Information

This tutorial will show you how to easily change your Start screen background image and color, modern UI accent color, and your sign in screen color in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

There is still currently no known way to set a custom wallpaper as the sign in screen background.

EXAMPLE: Start and Sign in Screen Background and Color

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OPTION ONE

Change Your Sign in and Start Screen Background Image and Color in Settings Charm in Windows 8.1

   Note

This option will show you how to change only the background image (desktop or default) and color of your Start screen, and only the color of your sign in using PC settings in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.

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1. While on your Start screen (Start or Apps view), open the Settings charm.​

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NOTE: This will not work if done from your desktop.​

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2. Click/tap on Personalize. (see screenshot below)​

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3. In the top background images section, click/tap on one of the 15 image thumbnails you want set as your Start screen background. (see screenshot below step 5)​

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   Note

The bottom right corner thumbnail is for setting your Start screen background to be the same as your current desktop background. When selected, the Background color option in step 4 below will only change your Sign in screen background color and not your Start screen.

   Note

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If you select any of the other image thumbnails as your Start screen background, then the selected image will be inlayed on top of the Background color option you selected in step 4 below for your Start screen background color.​

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4. In the middle Background color section, click/tap on a color family you want in the bottom bar, then click/tap on a color shade above the bottom bar to set (check) as your Start and Sign in screen background color. (see screenshot below step 5)​

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   Note

If you selected the desktop background thumbnail in step 3 above, then this will not change your Start screen background color, and will only change your sign in screen background color instead.

   Note

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Examples of items that use the background color would be:​

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• Start screen background unless as per above.
• App highlight box on Start screen (Start and Apps view).
• Arrow button background on bottom of Start screen (Start and Apps view).
• Sign in screen background.
• Charms flyout background.
• Charms menu title header background
• etc....

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   Tip

Your background color is stored as a hex value of the StartColor DWORD at the registry location below.

   Tip

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent​

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5. In the bottom Accent color section, click/tap on a color family you want in the bottom bar, then click/tap on a color shade above the bottom bar to set (check) for all of your modern UI screens accent color. (see screenshot below step 5)​

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   Note

Examples of items that use the accent color would be:

   Note

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• Start button (ex: taskbar, charms bar) when hovered on.
• Selected menus on the left side in PC settings.
• Slider colors in PC settings.
• Menu titles in PC settings.
• etc....

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   Tip

Your accent color is stored as a hex value of the AccentColor DWORD at the registry location below.

   Tip

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent​

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6. When finished, you can click/tap on an empty area on Start to close the Personalize flyout.​

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OPTION TWO

Change Your Sign in and Start Screen Background Image and Color in "PC settings" in Windows 8

   Note

This option will show you how to change only the background image and color of your Start screen, and only the color of your sign in using PC settings in Windows 8 and Windows RT.

If you like, you can use this option to change the color of your sign in screen background, and also use OPTION THREE below to use a custom image on your Start screen background.

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1. Open PC settings, click/tap on Personalize in the right pane, and Start Screen in the left pane. (see screenshot below)​

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2. From here, you can choose an image for the Start screen background, and/or choose a color for the Start and sign in screen background. (see screenshot above)​

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   Note

If you use OPTION TWO below, then it will override the image and color selected here on your Start screen.

   Note

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The color you select will only be applied to your Start and sign in screen, and not to the default sign in screen that shows all users.​

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

OPTION THREE

Change Your Start Screen Background using "Windows 8 Start Screen Customizer"

   Note

This option will show you how to change your Start screen background to any custom image you like. If you like, you could also select more than one picture to have a slideshow on the Start screen.

Once you have the picture selected, you could adjust the Start screen opacity and tiles opacity separately to display how transparent or solid you would like.

For more information about how to use the free Windows 8 Start Screen Customizer program, please also see: codigobit apps

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1. If you have not already, then you will need to download the latest version of the portable or installer Windows 8 Start Screen Customizer .exe file at the link below.​

NOTE: If you download the portable executable, you will need to extract ModernUIStartScreen.ex_ and rename it to ModernUIStartScreen.exe.​

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Windows 8 Start Screen Customizer Free Download​

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2. Unblock the ModernUIStartScreen.exe (portable) or Win8StartScreenCustomizerEN.exe (installer) file, then run the .exe file.​

NOTE: You would need to use OPTION ONE at this link to unblock the .exe.​

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3. From here, you can select to use your current desktop wallpaper or load a picture to use on your Start screen. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: If you choose to Load Picture, then you will also need to drag the select box borders to include what you want to be displayed from the loaded picture. Only what is inside the select box is what will show on the Start screen.​

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4. If you would like to have a Start screen slideshow, then use Select Pictures to select more than one image, check Slideshow, select the change picture interval time, and select if you want the selected pictures to display randomly in the slideshow. (see screenshot below step 3)​

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5. You can also adjust the sliders for the Start Screen Opacity and Tiles Opacity for how transparent or solid you would like them to be. (see screenshot below step 3)​

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6. Check the Run at startup box. (see screenshot below step 3)​

NOTE: If you do not check this box, then the Start screen picture will go back to default like in OPTION ONE whenever you restart the computer or sign out.​

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7. When finished, click/tap on the Apply & Save button. (see screenshot below step 6)​

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8. This will take you to the Start screen to see how your selected picture(s) look. Click on the Desktop tile to go back.​

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9. Make any other changes you may like in Windows 8 Start Screen Customizer, and repeat step 7 until you have the Start screen how you like.​

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10. When finished, either click/tap on Exit or the Hide button. (see screenshot below step 6)​

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   Note

When you click on the Hide button, the program will stay running in the background and have an icon in the taskbar notification area (systray).

   Note

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When you click on Exit, the program will close. The Start screen picture will still remain displayed until you either restart the computer or sign out unless you checked the Run at startup box in step 6 above.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Force a Specific Background and Accent Color in Windows 8.1 Modern UI
• How to Set a Default Start Background Image for All Users in Windows 8.1
• How to Change the Color of Window Borders and Taskbar in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Show your Desktop Background on Start Screen in Windows 8.1
• How to Change Background Color of Default Sign-in Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable Changing Start Screen Background in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change Lock Screen Background Image in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Change Your Desktop Background and Slide Show in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• Change Number of Apps Rows on "Start" Screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• How to Download a "Start" Screen Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Set Windows 8 to Require Users to Sign in with User Name and Password
• Set Desktop, Lock, and Start Background to Show Image or Solid Color in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create a "Personalize Modern UI" Shortcut in Windows 8.1
• How to Display Information about Previous Logons during User Sign-in to Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[robinb9]

I just tried to install Windows 8 Start Screen Customizer- windows 8 blocks the install, even if I rename it to the exe
I tried downloading the other one but ie stops it
also some are having problems with it on sites I am reading reviews
I think I still like decor8 but it is no biggy
I am sure others will come out with a better free one
Classic Shell free or start8 are still good ones
robin
robin

 

[Brink]

Hello Robin,

You should be able to just unblock the .exe file using OPTION ONE in the tutorial below to allow it to run.

Open File - Security Warning : Unblock File - Windows 7 Forums

 

[robinb9]

Why would it do this anyway? If it is a secured and signed program shouldn't windows just install it like any other exe file? I did not have to do this to decor8 which is basically the same program?
robin

 

[Brink]

Hey Robin,

It's because the .exe doesn't have a digital signature, so it's classified as an unknown. That's enough to get it blocked by Windows SmartScreen filter until you unblock it. It's perfectly safe though.

 

[znod]

Problem Changing Start Screen Background

I been using this tutorial in trying to change my metro start screen background. Everything seems clear. I didn't need to unblock in any context. And, everything works until restart. It seem to me that I have tried all the alternatives for keeping the background change from reverting on restart. FWIW, I am not running uEFI. Originally, BitDefender and I fought it out on allowing the app to work. But, I uninstalled BitDefender just to see .... I do have one problem; the app sometimes doesn't start properly. I have tired several different downloads; every on works the same way. I was thinking that this problem could be an issue upon restart after choosing the "Hide" alternative. But, I want to emphasize the "Exit" option anyway.

 

[Brink]

Hello znod,

If you're using OPTION TWO, double check to make sure that you have checked the Run at startup box at step 6 to see if that may be the issue.

Hope this helps.

 

[znod]

Thanks for your reply. It's definitely checked. I have tried checking it both before and after using "Apply and Save" and using each "Hide" or "Exit."

 

[Brink]

Are using the Win8StartScreenCustomizerEN.exe version that installs on the computer?

Do you have any other security program installed that may be blocking it from running at startup?

 

[znod]

I am using the version noted here:

"If you have not already, then you will need to download the latest version of the portable or installer Windows 8 Start Screen Customizer .exe file at the link below. NOTE: If you download the portable executable, you will need to extract ModernUIStartScreen.ex_and rename it to ModernUIStartScreen.exe."

I had to change to "exe." Only using Windows Defender. As noted, I uninstalled BitDefender when it gave me problems with the program. BitDefender is completely off my machine. I did a clean install as it had remnants that kept interfering.

 

[Brink]

Ah, ok. Give the installable version a try instead. It works great for me.

 

[znod]

I may give it a shot. Actually, it's so easy to reinstate what's shown on the start screen with the portable app that I might bother no more. I don't restart very often anyway. Are you aware of 3rd party AV's, such as BitDefentder, having problems with the install version--which was the case with the portable version?

Now if I could just get a screen shot of my altered start screen, then .... You probably have, but, if not, then please see this topic on screenshots.

 

[Brink]

I don't use 3rd party AV programs, but I'm sure you could add the program to the AV's safe/exception list.

I posted this below to help with the direct screenshot issue.

http://www.eightforums.com/software...screen-shot-capture-thoughs-4.html#post173457

 

[znod]

I tried adding it as an exception in BitDefender. BitDefender didn't cooperate so I uninstalled. I see that you saw my solution to the print screen issue. Thanks for your input.

I have interesting news on the change the start screen background issue. The program decided to start working without me doing anything--well, just a little. When I restart, the original start screen displays. But, after I go to the desktop and back to the start screen, the program works--displaying my new background. Go figure.

 

[Brink]

Hmm, gotta love those quirks, but glad it's working for you.

You might pass that along to the program developer at their site as well. Hopefully they'll have a fix for it in the next release.

 

[znod]

Yes, on both counts. I should have added that what happen is that at some point the program starts running/appears in the notifications area. This is the behavior I would have expected if I had chosen "Hide," I selected "Exit." Thanks again.

 

[znod]

Hmm, gotta love those quirks, but glad it's working for you.

You might pass that along to the program developer at their site as well. Hopefully they'll have a fix for it in the next release.

Restarted again. This time I waited in the start screen. Sure enough, after a short while the program started and my start screen changed to my new one. So, I don't have to go to the desktop and back to the start screen for the program to work. It still seems like it is working as if I had chosen "Hide," but I chose "Exit."

 

[Brink]

Sounds like a slight delay while loading your startup programs before it gets to the program.

 

[znod]

Definitely yes. I am not sure why so slow though. I only have 4 "little" startup items. I disabled 2 of them. Eventually, I'll see if it makes a difference.

 

[Tepid]

Hi, for me, the Windows 8 Start Screen Customizer is ok for a free choice, but Decor8 is much much better in my opinion, well worth the $4.99.

However, I am waiting for the next WindowBlinds or more stardock items to be 8 ready before I purchase as I want the suite.

When it comes to Start8, I like ClassicShell better. However, I may take another look at Start8. But ultimately, ClassicShell I think, is better over all.

 

[znod]

Thanks for the info.