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“Windows splash screen” can mean two different things. If you mean the picture shown while Windows is locked or before sign-in, change it in Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. If you mean the manufacturer logo shown during the earliest part of startup, that is a UEFI firmware function and is not controlled by the lock-screen wallpaper setting.
This guide separates those two display moments, gives the exact Windows 11 steps first, notes the Windows 10 path and support status, and explains what is required for a custom early-boot logo.
First, identify which “splash screen” you want to change
Windows shows several images during a normal startup and sign-in sequence. The terminology is easy to mix up, but the controls are not interchangeable. Identifying the moment you want to change prevents you from changing a wallpaper when you actually mean the firmware logo.
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| What you see | What it is | Where it is controlled | What you can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotating artwork, a selected photo, or a slideshow while the PC is locked | Windows lock screen | Windows Settings | Choose Spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow; configure widgets; optionally reuse the image at sign-in |
| The image behind the password, PIN, or other sign-in controls | Sign-in screen background | Lock-screen settings | Enable “Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen” |
| A manufacturer logo before Windows has loaded | Firmware boot logo | UEFI firmware and the device’s Boot Graphics Resource Table (BGRT) | Only on hardware and firmware that support the required change |
| Windows animations, status text, or other startup elements | Windows startup interface | In supported deployments, the optional Unbranded Boot feature | Suppress selected Windows startup elements; it is not a general image picker |
Microsoft’s consumer instructions cover the first two rows. They do not turn a lock-screen photo into a replacement for the firmware logo. The firmware and deployment options are separate paths documented for specific hardware or Windows editions.
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A simple test is to watch when the image appears. If you see it after Windows has displayed its sign-in controls, it is probably lock-screen or sign-in content. If it appears immediately after pressing the power button, while the computer maker’s logo or firmware prompts are visible, it is an early-boot image. If you want Windows startup text or animation hidden on a managed device, that is a deployment question rather than a wallpaper question.
Change the Windows 11 lock-screen background
On a current Windows 11 installation, use the following path:
- Open Start and select Settings.
- Select Personalization in the left sidebar.
- Open Lock screen.
- Under Personalize your lock screen, open the selection menu and choose Windows Spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow.
The Microsoft Support instructions are available at Customize the Lock Screen in Windows. Labels and the precise arrangement of controls can vary by Windows 11 release, but the Settings path remains the starting point.
After making a selection, press Windows logo key + L to lock the computer and preview the result. This lets you verify the lock-screen image without signing out or restarting. If the old image remains, wait briefly for the Settings change to apply, then lock the PC again.
Use Windows Spotlight
Windows Spotlight displays a rotating set of Microsoft-provided images and related content. Choose it when you want Windows to change the lock-screen artwork automatically rather than maintain your own image library. Spotlight is a service-provided feed, so the images are not a fixed local collection that you select one by one.
Spotlight is the least hands-on option: you do not select a folder and you do not have to curate individual files. Its content can change over time, which is useful if you prefer variety but unsuitable if the computer must always show a particular company image or family photo. Related content and availability can also depend on the Windows release and configuration.
Use a single picture
Select Picture when you want one specific image. The control lets you choose an image, including one stored on the device. Browse to the file, select it, and use the preview to confirm that the important part of the photo is visible.
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Use a slideshow
Select Slideshow to use one or more folders of images. Add the folder or folders offered by the settings page, then let Windows rotate through their contents. A slideshow is useful when you want a family of images or a work-related set rather than one permanent photo.
Keep the source folders available on the device. If you move or rename a folder later, Windows may no longer be able to use the images you originally selected; return to the Lock screen page and choose the current folder location. When troubleshooting, check the folder itself first: a slideshow configured with an empty folder cannot display the photos you expect.
Picture and Slideshow are different choices. Picture points to one image, while Slideshow points to folders and can include multiple files. Switching from Slideshow to Picture does not delete your folders; it simply changes which source Windows uses for the lock screen.
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Show the same picture at sign-in
To carry the lock-screen background through to the credential screen, enable Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen on the same Lock screen settings page. This toggle affects the sign-in background only. It does not alter the logo displayed before Windows starts.
There are consequently two Windows display moments to check: the lock screen, which appears while the session is locked, and the sign-in screen, which appears when Windows asks for a password, PIN, or another credential. The toggle links their backgrounds, but it does not change either screen’s security controls or the early-boot firmware display.
Manage lock-screen widgets
Current Windows 11 lock-screen settings also support widgets. Depending on the release and available providers, you can add, remove, reorder, or turn off the widgets shown on the lock screen. Widget availability and provider customization can vary, so a control or provider visible on one Windows 11 device may not appear identically on another. These widgets are lock-screen content, not firmware startup graphics.
If you want a clean photographic lock screen, remove or disable the widgets that your release allows you to manage. If you want weather, calendar, or other glanceable information, leave the relevant providers enabled. Either choice affects only the lock screen and does not change the sign-in background unless you separately enable the background toggle.
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Windows 10 uses the same broad Settings route: Start > Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. The Microsoft Support article describes the Windows 10 controls separately because the wording and layout differ from Windows 11. Open Microsoft’s lock-screen instructions, select the Windows 10 portion, and follow the labels shown for your release.
Depending on the Windows 10 build, you may see the same basic choices—Spotlight, Picture, and Slideshow—but their placement and surrounding options can differ. Use the labels actually shown on your PC rather than assuming that a Windows 11 screenshot will match. The sign-in-background option, when present, is still a separate setting from the lock-screen source.
Microsoft states that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. The lock-screen controls can still exist on an installed Windows 10 system, but the operating system is no longer in its normal supported lifecycle. For a supported installation, use the Windows 11 steps above and check the exact release shown under Settings > System > About when a label does not match the article.
Why changing the lock screen does not change the boot logo
The manufacturer logo that appears immediately after pressing the power button is rendered during firmware startup, before Windows has taken over the display. That image is therefore outside the normal Personalization settings. It can appear even when Windows is unable to boot, which is another clue that it is supplied by firmware rather than by a Windows wallpaper file.
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That statement describes a device-level firmware path, not a normal consumer personalization task. Whether a custom logo is feasible depends on the computer’s UEFI implementation, the manufacturer’s firmware design, and the deployment method available to the device owner. A PC can support Windows 11 lock-screen customization while offering no supported way for an end user to replace its early-boot logo.
What the BGRT requirement means in practice
- UEFI is required for the documented method. A legacy firmware configuration does not meet the condition Microsoft specifies for BGRT-based replacement.
- The change is firmware-level. Selecting a picture in Windows Settings cannot write a new BGRT logo.
- Firmware support is decisive. Even on a UEFI computer, the manufacturer may restrict, omit, or expose no supported process for changing the logo.
- Use device documentation before attempting a firmware change. Firmware modifications can affect startup behavior and are not equivalent to changing a Windows wallpaper.
Do not assume that entering the UEFI setup screen guarantees a logo-setting option. Some systems expose branding controls only to the original equipment manufacturer or through an approved enterprise deployment process. Others display a fixed logo that cannot be replaced without unsupported firmware alteration. If the manufacturer supplies no documented procedure, Windows Settings cannot create one.
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Microsoft’s design guidance for a firmware logo
Microsoft’s OEM boot-screen guidance describes a black background and does not support transparency. It recommends placing the logo center 38.2% of the screen height from the top edge and limiting the logo to 40% of the screen height and width. Those figures are OEM design recommendations for a firmware boot logo; they are not requirements for a lock-screen photograph or a sign-in background. The guidance is included in Boot Screen Components.
The black-background and transparency guidance matters only when an OEM or approved firmware workflow is preparing a boot asset. Do not crop a family photo to 40 percent merely because you read the firmware recommendation; a lock-screen photo follows the normal Windows image-selection experience instead. Likewise, the 38.2-percent placement is not a Windows Settings alignment control.
Unbranded Boot: a separate specialized option
Unbranded Boot is an optional Windows feature for deployments that need to suppress Windows elements shown during startup. Microsoft lists support for Windows 11 and Windows 10 editions including Enterprise, Enterprise LTSC, Education, IoT Enterprise, and IoT Enterprise LTSC. It is not enabled by default.
The feature’s documented settings concern hiding startup user-interface elements. It is not a general consumer control for selecting a custom splash image, and it does not replace the UEFI/BGRT requirement for a custom firmware logo. Read Microsoft’s current details at Unbranded Boot, last updated April 11, 2025, before planning a managed-device deployment.
Unbranded Boot therefore answers a different question: “Which Windows startup elements can this managed device suppress?” It does not answer “Which personal picture can I set in Windows Settings?” Its edition boundary, administrative requirements, and deployment testing make it inappropriate for a casual home customization.
When Unbranded Boot is the right fit
- You manage a supported Windows edition in a kiosk, appliance, classroom, point-of-sale, or other controlled deployment.
- Your goal is to hide Windows startup elements rather than choose a personal photograph.
- You can apply and test deployment settings centrally and have the edition and hardware support Microsoft’s documented configuration.
If you simply want a different picture when you walk away from your PC, use the Lock screen settings instead. Deploying Unbranded Boot for that purpose adds complexity without changing the lock-screen image.
Choose the approach that matches the display moment
| Goal | Required access | Compatibility boundary | Correct approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change the image shown while Windows is locked | Ordinary Windows user access to Settings | Windows 11 and the corresponding Windows 10 settings | Settings > Personalization > Lock screen |
| Use that image behind the sign-in controls | Lock-screen settings | Toggle availability can vary by release | Enable “Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen” |
| Replace the manufacturer image before Windows starts | Device firmware or an approved OEM/deployment process | UEFI device with a supported BGRT implementation | Follow the manufacturer’s firmware process; Microsoft identifies BGRT modification as the supported method |
| Remove Windows startup UI in a managed deployment | Administrative deployment access | Supported Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions | Evaluate and configure Unbranded Boot |
Use the table as a decision point, not as a list of interchangeable tweaks. Ordinary Settings access is enough for the lock screen. A sign-in background needs the explicit toggle. A firmware logo needs UEFI, BGRT support, and an approved device process. Suppressing Windows startup UI needs a supported edition and administrative deployment capability.
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The picture appears on the lock screen but not at sign-in
Return to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and check that Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen is enabled. The lock screen and sign-in background are related settings, but the sign-in display requires that explicit toggle. Lock the PC again with Windows logo key + L and then sign in to test both moments.
The Settings page does not match these labels
Windows releases can rearrange controls or use slightly different wording. Confirm whether the device is running Windows 11 or Windows 10, then use the corresponding section of Microsoft’s Customize the Lock Screen in Windows article. Do not infer that a missing lock-screen control is a firmware limitation; first verify the Windows release and the page you opened.
A slideshow stops showing the images you selected
Check that the folders still exist at the locations selected in Lock screen settings. If a folder was moved or renamed, select the new location again. Slideshow configuration uses folders, while Picture uses an individual image. Also check that the folder still contains image files and that you did not accidentally switch the setting back to Picture or Spotlight.
The logo before Windows still has not changed
That is expected if you changed only the lock-screen or sign-in background. The early-boot logo is controlled by UEFI firmware and BGRT, not by Personalization. Check the computer maker’s firmware documentation to determine whether a supported logo-change procedure exists. If the documentation does not provide one, Windows Settings cannot supply it.
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Widgets are missing or different from another PC
Windows 11 widget availability and provider customization can vary by release and configuration. Reordering or disabling widgets affects lock-screen content only; it has no effect on the sign-in background or firmware logo. Compare the Windows release and available providers before treating the difference as a fault.
The image looks wrong or is cropped
For a lock-screen Picture, try another crop or source image that keeps its important subject away from the edges. The OEM measurements—38.2 percent placement and 40 percent maximum size—apply to a firmware boot logo, not to Windows wallpaper. Do not use those figures as a lock-screen formatting rule.
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Optional: personalize more of Windows with themes
If your goal extends beyond the lock screen, Windows themes can coordinate backgrounds and other visual settings. Microsoft’s overview is Personalize Your Windows Experience With Themes. Themes remain Windows personalization features and do not provide a supported replacement for the manufacturer’s pre-Windows boot logo.
A theme can be useful when you want a consistent desktop and lock-screen appearance, but it does not change the distinction described above. Check the Lock screen page directly when you need to confirm the selected Spotlight, Picture, Slideshow, or sign-in setting.
Safety and expectation checklist
- Decide whether you mean the lock screen, sign-in background, firmware logo, or hidden startup elements before changing anything.
- For a normal personal computer, start with Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
- Enable the sign-in-background toggle separately if you want the same image after the lock screen.
- Treat Spotlight, Picture, and Slideshow as Windows content choices, not firmware settings.
- Do not use the OEM logo-size recommendations as cropping rules for a lock-screen photo.
- Only investigate BGRT when the requested image is the logo shown before Windows starts and the device uses UEFI.
- Consider Unbranded Boot only for its supported managed-edition purpose of suppressing startup UI.
- Back up important data and follow the device maker’s instructions before attempting any firmware-level change.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change the Windows splash screen?
First decide which screen you mean. For the lock screen, open Start > Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and choose Spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow. The manufacturer logo shown before Windows starts is a separate UEFI firmware feature.
How do I change the Windows lock-screen background?
Open Start > Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. Under Personalize your lock screen, select Windows Spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow, then choose the image or folder requested by that option.
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Can I use the lock-screen picture on the sign-in screen?
Yes. On the Lock screen settings page, enable Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen. This affects the sign-in background, not the early-boot logo.
Can Windows Settings change the logo that appears when my PC boots?
No. Microsoft identifies a UEFI firmware path involving the Boot Graphics Resource Table (BGRT). Whether it is possible depends on the computer maker’s firmware and an approved device-specific process.
What is Windows Spotlight?
Spotlight automatically displays rotating Microsoft-provided images and related content. It is different from Picture, which uses one selected local image, and Slideshow, which uses one or more folders.
Why are my Windows 11 lock-screen widgets different from another PC’s?
Widget availability and provider customization can vary by Windows release and configuration. You can add, remove, reorder, or turn off supported widgets, but widgets affect only the lock screen.
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What is Unbranded Boot used for?
Unbranded Boot is an optional feature for supported Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions. It suppresses selected Windows startup elements in managed deployments; it is not a consumer image picker.
Is Windows 10 still supported?
Microsoft says Windows 10 support ended October 14, 2025. Its lock-screen controls may remain available, but supported installations should use Windows 11 guidance and verify the exact release when labels differ.
The Bottom Line
For the normal Windows “splash screen” request, use Settings > Personalization > Lock screen, then choose Spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow. Enable the sign-in-background toggle if you want the same image behind your credentials. A logo shown before Windows loads is different: it belongs to UEFI firmware and BGRT, and only the device maker’s supported process can determine whether it may be replaced.
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