Start Screen Background - Enable or Disable Changing in Windows 8

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


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

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


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






OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Changing Start 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

NoChangingStartMenuBackground DWORD

0 = Enable changing Start background
1 = Disable changing Start background


1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.​
2. To Enable Changing the Start Screen Background and Color
NOTE: This is the default setting.​
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.​
Enable_Changing_Start_Screen_Background.reg
download
B) Go to step 4 below.​
3. To Disable Changing the Start Screen Background and Color
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.​
Disable_Changing_Start_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 Start 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 start menu background. (see screenshot above)​
5. Do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do.​
6. To Enable Changing the Start Screen Background and Color
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 Start Screen Background and Color
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


 

Attachments

  • Disable_Changing_Start_Screen_Background.reg
    694 bytes · Views: 1,396
  • Enable_Changing_Start_Screen_Background.reg
    668 bytes · Views: 2,430
  • Start_Screen.png
    Start_Screen.png
    520 bytes · Views: 275
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