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Windows 11 has several screens that people commonly call the “startup screen.” The correct way to change it depends on which screen you mean:
- Manufacturer logo: the Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, or motherboard logo shown before Windows loads. This is controlled by UEFI firmware.
- Windows boot screen: the Windows logo, loading indicator, or boot status text displayed while Windows starts.
- Lock screen: the background, clock, notifications, and widgets shown before you authenticate.
- Sign-in screen: the screen containing your account, PIN, password, or Windows Hello controls.
- Startup apps: applications that open after you sign in. They do not control the screens shown before login.
For most Windows 11 users, the practical customization is the lock-screen background. Changing the Windows boot UI or removing it requires Windows editions and deployment features that are not available on Home or Pro.
Change the Windows 11 lock-screen background
To change the screen that appears before you enter your PIN or password:
- Open Start and select Settings.
- Go to Personalization > Lock screen.
- Open the Personalize your lock screen list.
- Choose one of the available options:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Windows spotlight | Displays rotating Microsoft-provided images, along with occasional tips, tricks, and notifications. |
| Picture | Displays one image. Choose a built-in image or select Browse to use a file on your PC. |
| Slideshow | Rotates images stored in one or more selected folders. |
To reuse the lock-screen image behind the authentication controls, turn on Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen. This changes the background behind the sign-in interface; it does not replace the account selector, PIN box, password controls, or Windows Hello interface.
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Change the information shown on the lock screen
Windows 11 can show app information, weather, and other small widgets on the lock screen.
- Open Start > Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
- Under Lock screen status, open the app selector.
- Choose an app such as Weather and more, or choose None.
Weather and more can display weather plus finance, sports, traffic, and other small widgets. Windows currently does not provide a control for selecting individual widgets in this lock-screen list. Location, language, region, and temperature units are configured in the Widgets app settings.
Change apps that start when you sign in
If by “startup” you mean programs that open automatically after login, use Windows 11’s Startup settings:
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Startup.
- Set an app’s toggle to On or Off.
- Select an app’s chevron to see any additional settings available for it.
An app set to On starts automatically when you sign in. It normally does not run before the sign-in screen appears.
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- Right-click Start and select Task Manager.
- Open the Startup apps tab.
- Select an app and choose Enable or Disable.
Task Manager also reports each enabled app’s startup impact:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| None | The app is disabled. |
| Not Measured | The app is enabled, but Windows has no measurement available. |
| Low Impact | Less than 300 ms of CPU time and less than 292 KB of disk activity. |
| Medium Impact | Between the low- and high-impact thresholds. |
| High Impact | More than one second of CPU time or more than 3 MB of disk activity. |
Add an app that is missing from Startup settings
Some desktop applications do not appear in Settings > Apps > Startup. You can add one using a shortcut in a Startup folder.
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter shell:appsfolder and press Enter. This opens a folder containing installed applications.
- Press Windows key + R again.
- Enter shell:startup for your account only, or shell:common startup for every user.
- Drag the application from the first File Explorer window into the Startup folder window.
The physical locations are %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup for your account and %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup for every user.
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To remove an app added this way, delete its shortcut from the relevant Startup folder.
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If Settings shows We couldn’t find this app under Startup, the startup entry points to an executable that Windows cannot access. Typical causes include:
- The application was uninstalled.
- The executable was moved or deleted.
- The file is on a removable drive that is not connected.
- The file is on a network drive that is unavailable.
- The stored path no longer exists.
Select the icon beside the app’s toggle to view the registry location or file path containing the broken entry. Reinstalling the application can create a valid startup entry again. Avoid deleting registry entries unless you understand exactly what they control.
Why changing the lock screen does not change the boot logo
The setting at Settings > Personalization > Lock screen applies after Windows has loaded far enough to display the lock screen. It cannot change:
- The manufacturer or motherboard logo shown by UEFI firmware.
- The Windows logo shown during boot.
- The spinning boot indicator.
- Firmware graphics displayed before Windows takes control.
Likewise, Startup apps and registry Run entries launch applications at user startup, not before authentication. The main startup registry locations are HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, and HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
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Registry changes can have unintended consequences, so the Settings or Task Manager controls are safer for routine startup-app management.
Use Startup Settings for troubleshooting
Windows’ Startup Settings menu is not a personalization feature. It provides temporary boot modes for diagnosing driver and startup problems.
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- Enter the Windows Recovery Environment.
- Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- After the restart, select an option with a number key or F1–F9. Press Enter to start Windows normally.
Available options include:
- Enable debugging
- Enable boot logging
- Enable low-resolution video
- Enable Safe Mode
- Safe Mode with Networking
- Safe Mode with Command Prompt
- Disable Driver Signature Enforcement
- Disable early launch anti-malware protection
- Disable automatic restart on system failure
If the drive is encrypted, Windows may request the BitLocker recovery key.
Stop Windows from repeatedly starting in Safe Mode
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter msconfig and select OK.
- Open the Boot tab.
- Under Boot options, clear Safe boot.
- Select Apply, then OK, and restart.
Suppress the Windows boot screen with Unbranded Boot
Microsoft’s supported Unbranded Boot feature can suppress the Windows boot logo, status indicator, and status message. It is intended mainly for managed, kiosk, embedded, and specialized devices—not ordinary desktop personalization.
Microsoft lists these supported Windows 11 editions:
- Enterprise
- Enterprise LTSC
- Education
- IoT Enterprise
- IoT Enterprise LTSC
It is not available on Windows 11 Home or Pro. The feature is optional and disabled by default.
Enable Unbranded Boot through Windows Features
- Open Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off.
- Expand Device Lockdown.
- Select Unbranded Boot.
- Select OK and restart.
You can open the Windows Features dialog directly by pressing Windows key + R, entering optionalfeatures.exe, and pressing Enter.
Enable it with PowerShell
Open PowerShell as an administrator and run Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName Client-DeviceLockdown,Client-EmbeddedBootExp -Online.
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Restart when the command completes. Microsoft notes that the first user to sign in after enabling the feature should be an administrator so its RunOnce settings are applied correctly.
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Suppress boot elements with BCDEdit
In an elevated Command Prompt, run bcdedit.exe -set {globalsettings} advancedoptions false, bcdedit.exe -set {globalsettings} optionsedit false, bcdedit.exe -set {globalsettings} bootuxdisabled on, and bcdedit.exe -set {bootmgr} noerrordisplay on.
These settings have significant troubleshooting consequences:
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
| advancedoptions false | Disables F8 access to Advanced startup options. |
| optionsedit false | Disables F10 access to Advanced startup options. |
| bootuxdisabled on | Suppresses Windows boot UI elements, including the logo, status indicator, and status message. |
| noerrordisplay on | Suppresses boot error screens. A WinLoad Error or Bad Disk Error may instead appear as a black screen. |
BCDEdit modifies the Boot Configuration Data and requires administrator privileges. Do not use these commands merely to change a lock-screen image.
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There is no normal Windows 11 setting that lets you select a custom boot image. Microsoft’s current Unbranded Boot documentation states that the supported method for replacing the startup logo is modifying the Boot Graphics Resource Table (BGRT) on a device using UEFI firmware.
That is a firmware and device-implementation task, not a consumer Personalization option. If the firmware supplies a custom logo through BGRT, that logo is always displayed and cannot be suppressed through Unbranded Boot. Unbranded Boot can hide Windows boot UI; it does not provide a “choose a custom boot image” button.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What you can change
| What you want to change | Correct method | Available to typical Home/Pro users? |
|---|---|---|
| Lock-screen wallpaper | Settings > Personalization > Lock screen | Yes |
| Background behind PIN or password controls | Turn on Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen | Yes |
| Lock-screen weather and status | Lock screen status in Settings | Yes |
| Apps opened after login | Settings > Apps > Startup or Task Manager | Yes |
| Windows boot logo or status indicator | Unbranded Boot on supported editions | No; not on Home or Pro |
| Manufacturer logo before Windows | UEFI/OEM firmware settings or device-specific firmware work | Depends on the manufacturer |
| Custom Windows boot image | UEFI BGRT implementation in supported hardware/deployment scenarios | Not through Windows Settings |
FAQ
How do I change the startup picture in Windows 11?
If you mean the lock-screen picture, open Start > Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. Choose Picture and select Browse, or choose Windows spotlight or Slideshow. If you mean the manufacturer logo or Windows boot logo, this setting will not change it.
Can I change the Windows 11 boot logo from Settings?
No. Windows 11 Settings can change the lock-screen background, not the UEFI manufacturer logo or Windows boot logo. Custom boot-logo replacement requires UEFI/BGRT device implementation rather than a normal Windows setting.
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Why does my lock-screen image not appear on the sign-in screen?
Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and turn on Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen. The switch changes only the background behind the sign-in controls; it does not remove or replace those controls.
Do startup apps run before the Windows 11 login screen?
Normally, no. Startup apps are launched when the user signs in. They affect what opens after authentication and do not control the pre-login boot or lock screens.
Can Windows 11 Home or Pro use Unbranded Boot?
Microsoft’s current supported-edition list does not include Home or Pro. It lists Enterprise, Enterprise LTSC, Education, IoT Enterprise, and IoT Enterprise LTSC.
How do I stop Windows 11 from booting into Safe Mode?
Press Windows key + R, enter msconfig, open the Boot tab, clear Safe boot under Boot options, select Apply and OK, and restart.
The Bottom Line
For a normal Windows 11 PC, change the visual startup experience through Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. Enable the sign-in background option if you want the same image behind the PIN or password controls. Manage programs that open after login under Settings > Apps > Startup.
The manufacturer logo is controlled by UEFI firmware, while the Windows boot logo can only be suppressed through supported Unbranded Boot configurations. Windows 11 does not offer a general Settings option for replacing either boot logo with a custom image.
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