Start Screen - Show Desktop Background On in Windows 8.1

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

information   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   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
Default_Windows_8_1_Start_Start_view.jpg
Windows_8_1_Start_Start_view.jpg
Default_Windows_8_1_Start_Apps_view.jpg
Windows_8_1_Start_Apps_view.jpg





OPTION ONE

Set to Show Desktop Background on Start in Navigation Properties


1. From your desktop, right click or press and hold on the taskbar, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)​
Desktop_Background_on_Start-1.jpg
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)​
3. To Show Your Desktop Background on Start
A) Check the Show my desktop background on Start box, and click/tap on OK.​

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

Desktop_Background_on_Start-2.jpg





OPTION TWO

Set to Show Desktop Background on Start in Settings Charm


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.​
2. Click/tap on Personalize. (see screenshot below)​
Desktop_Background_on_Start-3.jpg
3. In the top section of background images, click/tap on the bottom right corner thumbnail showing your current desktop background. (see screenshot below)​
Desktop_Background_on_Start-4.jpg
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   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


1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.​
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.​
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​
Don't_Show_Desktop_Background_on_Start.reg
download

3. To Show Your Desktop Background on Start
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​
Show_Desktop_Background_on_Start.reg
download

4. Save the .reg file to your 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.







That's it,
Shawn


 

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Last edited by a moderator:
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?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8 pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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. :)
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Perfect. :party:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
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