Quick answer: to change your lock screen background in Windows 11 or 10:
- Press Windows + I and go to Personalization › Lock screen.
- Open Personalize your lock screen and choose Windows spotlight (daily Microsoft images), Picture (your own photo) or Slideshow (a folder of photos).
- For Picture, click Browse photos and select your image.
- Press Windows + L to see the result.
To use the same image when you sign in, turn on Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen.
Sommaire
- Windows spotlight, Picture or Slideshow: which to choose?
- How to change the lock screen background in Windows 11
- How to change it in Windows 10
- Use your own photo: size and format tips
- Set up a lock screen slideshow
- Other lock screen settings worth knowing
- Save a Windows spotlight image you like
- Change the lock screen on other devices
- Lock screen background won’t change? Fixes
- Related guides on les-imprimantes.com
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources and methodology
Windows spotlight, Picture or Slideshow: which to choose?
| Option | What it shows | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows spotlight | A new Microsoft photo regularly, with optional tips and info | Variety without effort | Needs an internet connection |
| Picture | One image you choose | Family photo, company image, calm look | Works offline |
| Slideshow | Photos from one or more folders, rotating | Showing a photo collection | Uses a little more battery on laptops |
How to change the lock screen background in Windows 11
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop › Personalize, then click Lock screen. Shortcut: Windows + R, type
ms-settings:lockscreen, press Enter. - Next to Personalize your lock screen, open the drop-down menu.
- Pick your option:
- Windows spotlight: nothing else to do.
- Picture: choose a recent image or click Browse photos.
- Slideshow: click Browse to add a folder (see below).
- Lock your PC with Windows + L to check.
How to change it in Windows 10
- Open Settings › Personalization › Lock screen.
- Under Background, choose Windows spotlight, Picture or Slideshow.
- For Picture, click Browse and pick an image.
Use your own photo: size and format tips
| Item | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Format | JPG or PNG |
| Resolution | Same as your screen or higher (1920 × 1080 for Full HD, 2560 × 1440 or 3840 × 2160 for higher-resolution screens) |
| Orientation | Landscape for laptops and monitors; portrait images get cropped |
| Composition | Keep the subject away from the left and bottom, where the clock and notifications appear |
| Where to store it | A permanent folder (Pictures), not Downloads, so it isn’t deleted by accident |
To find your screen resolution: Settings › System › Display › Display resolution.
Set up a lock screen slideshow
- Choose Slideshow in Personalize your lock screen.
- Click Browse to add a folder. Add several if you like, and remove the default Pictures folder if you don’t want it.
- Open the advanced slideshow settings to fine-tune options such as including camera roll folders from this PC and OneDrive, using only pictures that fit your screen, showing the lock screen instead of turning off the screen when the PC is inactive, and when to turn off the screen after the slideshow.
Option names can vary slightly between Windows versions.
Other lock screen settings worth knowing
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Get fun facts, tips, and more on your lock screen | Adds Microsoft text and suggestions over your picture or slideshow. Turn off for a clean image. |
| Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen | Uses the same image on the password screen. When off, the sign-in screen shows a plain color. |
| Widgets (Windows 11) | Shows small widgets such as weather. Reorder, customize, add with Add widget, or turn the toggle off to hide them. |
| Make lock screen background respond when I move my device | Subtle motion effect on devices with sensors. |
Source: Microsoft Support – Customize the lock screen in Windows.
Lock screen vs desktop background: they are separate settings. The desktop wallpaper is in Settings › Personalization › Background.
Save a Windows spotlight image you like
- Easiest: on recent Windows 11 versions, Spotlight adds a Learn more about this picture link on the desktop or lock screen, which opens the image details; you can search the image name to find it.
- Advanced: Windows stores recent Spotlight images in a hidden folder. Paste this path into the File Explorer address bar:
%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\AssetsCopy the largest files (around 300 KB and more) to another folder and rename them with .jpg at the end. Only keep them for personal use: the images belong to their photographers.
Change the lock screen on other devices
| Device | Where to change it |
|---|---|
| iPhone | Touch and hold the lock screen › Customize, or Settings › Wallpaper › Add New Wallpaper |
| Android | Touch and hold the home screen › Wallpaper & style (name varies by brand), then choose Lock screen |
| Mac | The lock screen uses your desktop wallpaper: System Settings › Wallpaper |
Lock screen background won’t change? Fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Options greyed out, “You need to activate Windows” | Windows not activated | Activate Windows in Settings › System › Activation |
| “Some of these settings are managed by your organization” | Work or school policy | Ask your IT department |
| Windows spotlight stuck on the same image | No internet, metered connection, or corrupted cache | Switch to Picture, restart, then back to Windows spotlight; check your connection |
| Picture reverts after restart | Image was moved or deleted | Store the image in a permanent folder and select it again |
| Sign-in screen still plain color | Sign-in option off | Turn on Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen |
| Image blurry or cropped | Resolution too low or wrong orientation | Use a landscape image at least your screen’s resolution |
| Slideshow doesn’t start | Empty folder or unsupported files | Check the folder contains JPG or PNG images |
If the problem started after an update, check that no Windows update is still pending (in French).
🛠️ Real-world case: a company photo that kept disappearing
| Situation | Small office PCs under Windows 11; the lock screen showed the company logo for a few days, then went back to the default image |
|---|---|
| Cause | The image had been selected directly from the Downloads folder, which the user cleaned regularly |
| Fix | Image copied to Pictures › Lock screen, selected again, and the fun facts toggle turned off for a clean look |
| Time | About 2 minutes per PC |
Takeaway: Windows doesn’t copy the image you choose. Keep it in a folder you won’t clean.
Related guides on les-imprimantes.com
- All our Windows guides
- Install a pending Windows update (in French)
- Uninstall a program on Windows and Mac (in French)
- Set your default printer in Windows (in French)
Frequently asked questions
How do I change my lock screen background in Windows 11?
Open Settings › Personalization › Lock screen, choose Picture in Personalize your lock screen, then click Browse photos and select your image. Press Windows + L to check.
What is Windows spotlight?
Windows spotlight shows a new Microsoft photo on your lock screen regularly, downloaded from the internet. You can turn it on in Personalize your lock screen.
Why can’t I change my lock screen background?
Usually because Windows isn’t activated, or because a work or school policy manages the setting. Activate Windows or ask your IT department.
How do I use the same picture on the sign-in screen?
In Settings › Personalization › Lock screen, turn on Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen.
How do I remove tips and ads from the lock screen?
Choose Picture or Slideshow, then turn off Get fun facts, tips, and more on your lock screen.
Where are Windows spotlight images saved?
In a hidden folder under LocalAppData, in the Packages folder of ContentDeliveryManager, LocalState, Assets. The files have no extension; copy them and add .jpg to view them.
Is the lock screen background the same as the desktop wallpaper?
No. They are separate settings in Windows: the desktop wallpaper is in Settings › Personalization › Background.
Sources and methodology
- Microsoft Support – Customize the lock screen in Windows
- Methodology: steps checked on [PC model] with Windows 11 [version] and Windows 10 22H2, on [test date].
