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To change the image that appears before you sign in to Windows 11, go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and choose Picture, Slideshow, or Windows spotlight. To show that image behind the PIN or password prompt too, turn on Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen.
“Opening screen” is not an official Windows 11 setting name. It usually refers to the lock screen, the sign-in screen, or the desktop that appears after you sign in. Use the section below that matches the screen you want to change.
- Lock screen: the screen with the time, date, notifications, and background image that appears when Windows starts, wakes, or is locked.
- Sign-in screen: the screen where you select an account and enter a PIN, password, fingerprint, or other credential.
- Desktop: the screen shown after you sign in.
Change the Windows 11 lock-screen image
To change the picture shown before you sign in:
- Open Settings. You can use Win + I.
- Select Personalization.
- Select Lock screen.
- Open the Personalize your lock screen menu.
- Choose one of the available options:
- Windows spotlight displays rotating images supplied by Microsoft.
- Picture displays one image that you choose.
- Slideshow rotates images from one or more folders.
If you select Picture, choose Browse photos or the available image picker and select the image. If you select Slideshow, add the folder containing the images.
The full Settings path is:
Start > Settings > Personalization > Lock screen
Open the Lock screen settings directly
You can jump straight to the correct page with a Settings URI:
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- Press Win + R.
- Enter ms-settings:lockscreen.
- Press Enter.
Show the lock-screen image on the sign-in screen
Changing the lock-screen picture does not automatically guarantee that Windows will use the same picture behind the PIN or password box. The lock screen and sign-in screen are separate stages.
To reuse the lock-screen background on the sign-in screen:
- Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
- Find Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen.
- Turn the switch On.
Now lock the computer with Win + L and test it. Windows should show the selected lock-screen picture both before and during credential entry.
Change the desktop background
If by “opening screen” you mean the normal desktop that appears after signing in, change the background separately:
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- Open Settings.
- Go to Personalization > Background.
- Open the Personalize your background menu.
- Choose Picture, Solid color, Slideshow, or Windows spotlight.
- For a single image, choose Browse and select the file.
You can also right-click an image in File Explorer and select Set as desktop background. In the Photos app, select More (…) > Set as > Background.
The desktop and lock-screen backgrounds are independent. Changing one does not change the other.
Change the account picture shown at sign-in
If you want to change the user avatar displayed on the sign-in screen, use your account settings:
- Open Settings.
- Select Accounts.
- Select Your info.
- Under Adjust your photo, select Choose a file > Browse files.
- Select the picture you want to use.
If your computer has a camera, you can select Open camera instead. Windows keeps the last three account pictures available on the Your info page.
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Which background option should you choose?
| Option | Result | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Picture | Shows one image | A fixed personal photo or wallpaper |
| Slideshow | Rotates images from selected folders | Using a personal collection |
| Windows spotlight | Rotates Microsoft-provided images and may show tips or suggestions | Automatically changing scenery |
Choose Picture if you want the same image to remain in place. Windows Spotlight is designed to change images, so it is not suitable when you want a permanent picture.
What to do if the image will not change
Check the sign-in-screen switch
If the new picture appears on the lock screen but not behind the PIN or password box, return to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and turn on Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen. Test with Win + L.
Check whether an organization controls the setting
A message such as Some of these settings are managed by your organization usually means that Group Policy, Microsoft Intune, or another device-management system controls the image.
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Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization
Relevant policies include:
- Force a specific default lock screen and logon image
- Prevent changing lock screen and logon image
The first policy specifies a fixed image, while the second prevents users from replacing it. Microsoft documents the enforced-image policy for Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions from version 21H2, build 22000, onward.
If this is a work or school computer, contact the administrator. Do not remove policies or registry entries without understanding their effect.
Check a personal computer that says it is managed
A personal PC can retain settings from a previous employer, school, domain, Microsoft Entra connection, or mobile-device-management enrollment. Check:
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Settings > Accounts > Access work or school
Do not disconnect an organizational account blindly. It may remove work access or security configuration. If the computer previously belonged to an organization, the former administrator may need to remove the management enrollment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does not change the opening screen?
- Changing Personalization > Background changes the desktop, not the lock screen.
- Windows 11 does not normally provide a separate custom-image picker solely for the sign-in screen. The supported switch reuses the lock-screen image.
- A registry hack is not required for an ordinary personal Windows 11 installation.
- Windows Spotlight does not keep one image permanently; it rotates Microsoft-provided content.
FAQ
How do I change the startup picture in Windows 11?
Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. Under Personalize your lock screen, select Picture, then choose Browse photos or the available image picker and select an image.
How do I make the lock screen and sign-in screen use the same image?
Go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and turn on Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen.
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Why does my desktop wallpaper not change the Windows 11 opening screen?
The desktop background and lock-screen background use different settings. Change the lock screen under Personalization > Lock screen; use Personalization > Background for the desktop.
Can I use a different picture only on the Windows 11 sign-in screen?
The normal Windows 11 Settings app does not provide a separate personal image picker for only the sign-in screen. It provides a switch to reuse the lock-screen picture on the sign-in screen.
Why is Windows 11 preventing me from changing the lock-screen image?
A Group Policy, Intune policy, or other management setting may enforce the image or prevent changes. Check Settings > Accounts > Access work or school, and contact the organization managing the PC if necessary.
The Bottom Line
For most Windows 11 PCs, change the opening image at Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. Select Picture for a fixed image, then enable Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen if you want it to appear behind the PIN or password prompt. Use Personalization > Background only when you mean the desktop wallpaper.
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