Start Screen - Show Desktop Background On in Windows 8.1

How to Show your Desktop Background on Start Screen in Windows 8.1​

   Information

Windows 8.1 introduces a new feature that allows you to now have whatever your current Desktop background wallpaper also as the Start screen background in both the Start and Apps view.

This tutorial will show you how to set to show or don't show your desktop background on your Start screen as well in Windows 8.1.

   Note

If you setup a desktop slide show, then that slide show will also play on your Start screen if you select to show your current desktop background on your Start screen.

EXAMPLE: Start Background Comparison in Start and Apps view

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OPTION ONE

Set to Show Desktop Background on Start in Navigation Properties

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1. From your desktop, right click or press and hold on the taskbar, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)​

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2. In Taskbar and Navigation properties, click/tap on the Navigation tab, and do step 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below)​

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3. To Show Your Desktop Background on Start​

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A) Check the Show my desktop background on Start box, and click/tap on OK.​

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4. To Not Show Your Desktop Background on Start​

NOTE: This is the default setting. Your Start screen will show the background and color you set instead.​

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A) Uncheck the Show my desktop background on Start box, and click/tap on OK.​

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OPTION TWO

Set to Show Desktop Background on Start in Settings Charm

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

NOTE: This will not work if you do this from your desktop instead. It must be done from your Start screen.​

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

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3. In the top section of background images, click/tap on the bottom right corner thumbnail showing your current desktop background. (see screenshot below)​

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4. You can click/tap on an empty area on Start to close the Personalize flyout.​

OPTION THREE

Set to Show Desktop Background on Start using a REG File

   Note

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent

MotionAccentId_v1.00 DWORD

219 (decimal) = show desktop background on Start
221 (decimal) = Not show desktop background on Start

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1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.​

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2. To Not Show Your Desktop Background on Start​

NOTE: This is the default setting. Your Start screen will show the background and color you set instead.​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

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Don't_Show_Desktop_Background_on_Start.reg​

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3. To Show Your Desktop Background on Start​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

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Show_Desktop_Background_on_Start.reg​

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4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.​

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5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.​

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6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK.​

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7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• Change Your Start and Sign in Screen Background and Color in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• How to Force a Specific Background and Accent Color in Windows 8.1 Modern UI
• How to Open the "Start" Screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable Changing the Start Screen Background in Windows 8
• How to Set a Default Start Background Image for All Users in Windows 8.1
• How to Change Your Desktop Background and Slide Show in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• How to Specify a Desktop Background for Users in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• Allow or Prevent Changing Desktop Background in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• Set Bing Homepage Image in Bing Desktop as Desktop Background in Windows 8
• How to Have Start Screen Docked to your Desktop or Add a Taskbar in Windows 8
• How to Sort Items on Your Apps Screen in Windows 8.1
• How to List Desktop Apps or Store Apps First on Your Apps Screen in Windows 8.1
• How to Allow or Prevent Users from Customizing Start Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Set Desktop, Lock, and Start Background to Show Image or Solid Color in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable Start Screen Animation in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[dipakharwara]

Whwn I click on personalize , control panel opens(in personalize mode) instead of opennig personalize window as you posted in screenshot in step 3. So I can't personalize my start screen. Do you have any fixes or patch?

 

[Brink]

Hello dipakharwara,

This tutorial only applies to Windows 8.1 Preview, and Windows 8.1 RTM (final) when it's released later this year.

If you have Windows 8, then you will not see this, and see what you did instead.

 

[dipakharwara]

I have this problem in windows 8.1

 

[Brink]

In that case, did you do Option Two in the tutorial from the "Start" screen instead of from your desktop?

Only from the "Start" screen will you see this.

 

[dipakharwara]

Great!! It worked for me. Keep it up & Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Perfect.

 

[hck4]

One addition:
In desktop background apparently the "Show my desktop background on Start" may be blanked because of the "remove background images" in "Ease of access center--> make the computer easier to see". so just need to uncheck this box and then In desktop background apparently the "Show my desktop background on Start" in the task bar is available.