How to Change Windows 11 Lock Screen Wallpaper — A Step-by-Step Guide

Your Windows 11 lock screen is the first thing you see when you start your PC — so why not make it beautiful and personal? Whether you want a stunning nature shot, your favorite photo, or a motivational quote, changing your Windows 11 lock screen wallpaper is quick and easy.

In this complete guide, we’ll walk you through how to change the Windows 11 lock screen wallpaper, customize background styles, and even fix issues if your wallpaper won’t change.

Let’s get started!

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What Is the Lock Screen in Windows 11?

Before we dive in, let’s clarify what the lock screen actually is.

The lock screen in Windows 11 appears before you sign in or when your computer locks after being idle. It displays the time, date, quick notifications, and — most importantly — a wallpaper background.

You can customize this wallpaper to:

• Show Windows Spotlight images (daily Bing photos),

• Use a Picture of your choice, or

• Set up a Slideshow that cycles through multiple images.

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Why Change the Windows 11 Lock Screen Wallpaper?

Changing your lock screen wallpaper isn’t just about looks. It’s about personalization and productivity. Here’s why many users choose to customize it:

• 🎨 Personal Expression: Reflect your style, mood, or favorite places.

• 🌅 Inspiration: Use motivational quotes or calming nature scenes.

• 📸 Memories: Display family or travel photos every time you log in.

• ⚙️ Consistency: Match your wallpaper theme with your desktop for a seamless aesthetic.

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Different Lock Screen Wallpaper Options in Windows 11

Windows 11 offers three main wallpaper modes for your lock screen:

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How to Change Windows 11 Lock Screen Wallpaper (Step-by-Step Guide)

Let’s go through each method step by step — whether you prefer Spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow mode.

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🧭 Step 1: Open Windows Settings

1. Press Windows + I on your keyboard to open Settings.

2. From the left sidebar, select Personalization.

3. Click Lock screen on the right panel.

You’ll now see all your lock screen customization options.

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🖼️ Step 2: Choose Your Lock Screen Background Style

Under Personalize your lock screen, click the dropdown menu.
You’ll see three options:

• Windows spotlight

• Picture

• Slideshow

Select your preferred one — then move on to the next steps for each.

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Option 1: Set Windows Spotlight as Your Lock Screen Background

Windows Spotlight automatically downloads and applies stunning daily wallpapers from Bing.

Here’s how:

1. Go to Settings → Personalization → Lock screen.

2. Under Personalize your lock screen, select Windows Spotlight.

3. That’s it! Windows will automatically update your lock screen with fresh images every day.

💡 Tip: If Spotlight images don’t change, try turning the feature off and back on again, or check your internet connection.

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Option 2: Use a Picture as Your Lock Screen Wallpaper

If you want to use your own photo or a custom wallpaper:

1. In Lock screen settings, select Picture.

2. Click Browse photos.

3. Navigate to the image you want to use.

4. Select it, then click Choose picture.

Your lock screen wallpaper will instantly update to your chosen image.

✅ Supported file formats: JPG, PNG, BMP.

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Option 3: Use a Slideshow as Your Lock Screen Background

Want your lock screen to display multiple wallpapers in rotation? Use the Slideshow option.

1. Go to Settings → Personalization → Lock screen.

2. Choose Slideshow from the dropdown.

3. Click Add a folder → select a folder containing your favorite photos.

4. You can add multiple folders if you wish.

5. Turn on or off:

   • Include camera roll folders

   • Play a slideshow when using battery power

   • Only use pictures that fit my screen

Your lock screen will now rotate through these wallpapers automatically.

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How to Change the Lock Screen Wallpaper Using File Explorer

Here’s a quick shortcut method:

1. Open File Explorer.

2. Navigate to the folder containing the image you want.

3. Right-click the image and select Set as lock screen.

Windows 11 will instantly apply that image as your lock screen wallpaper.

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How to Change Lock Screen Wallpaper Using Group Policy (For Admins)

If you’re using Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you can enforce a specific lock screen wallpaper across multiple PCs.

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.

2. Go to:
   Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Control Panel → Personalization

3. Double-click Force a specific default lock screen image.

4. Select Enabled and enter the full path to the wallpaper image.

5. Click Apply → OK.

💡 This method is great for offices or shared computers.

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How to Change Lock Screen Wallpaper via Registry Editor

For advanced users, here’s a registry method (use carefully):

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

2. Navigate to:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization

3. If the Personalization key doesn’t exist, create it.

4. Inside it, create a new String Value named LockScreenImage.

5. Double-click it and enter the full file path to your desired image.

6. Restart your PC to apply changes.

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How to Change Lock Screen Wallpaper on a Locked Computer

Even if you can’t sign in, there’s a workaround using another account or Safe Mode:

1. Restart your PC and boot into Safe Mode (press Shift + Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Enable Safe Mode).

2. Log in with an administrator account.

3. Follow the standard Settings → Personalization → Lock screen steps.

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How to Fix “Can’t Change Lock Screen Wallpaper” Issue in Windows 11

Sometimes, the option to change your lock screen wallpaper might be greyed out or not work. Here’s how to fix it:

1. Check Windows Activation

Unactivated Windows copies have limited personalization features.
Go to Settings → System → Activation and check your activation status.

2. Run Windows Update

Outdated system files can cause lock screen issues.
Run Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates.

3. Reset Personalization Settings

• Open Settings → Personalization → Lock screen

• Switch to another background type (e.g., from Picture to Spotlight)

• Restart, then switch back.

4. Check Group Policy Restrictions

Ensure the Force a specific default lock screen image policy isn’t enabled unintentionally.

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Bonus Tip: Match Your Lock Screen and Sign-In Screen Wallpaper

Want your lock screen and sign-in screen to have the same wallpaper?

1. Go to Settings → Personalization → Lock screen.

2. Scroll down and enable Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen.

Now your PC will have a consistent look from start to sign-in.

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Troubleshooting Spotlight Not Updating

If Windows Spotlight stops refreshing:

1. Go to Settings → Personalization → Lock screen → Windows spotlight.

2. Switch to Picture, restart, then switch back to Windows Spotlight.

3. Run this command in PowerShell as admin:

   Get-AppxPackage -allusers *ContentDeliveryManager* | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}


4. Restart your PC.

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How to Find and Save Windows Spotlight Images

Want to save those beautiful Spotlight wallpapers?

1. Press Windows + R, paste this path, and hit Enter:

   %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets


2. Copy the files to another folder.

3. Add “.jpg” extension to view them as normal images.

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Best Wallpaper Resolutions for Windows 11 Lock Screen

To ensure your wallpaper looks perfect:

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Conclusion

Customizing your Windows 11 lock screen wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to make your PC truly yours. Whether you choose Windows Spotlight, a single photo, or a slideshow, you can personalize your device in just a few clicks.

If your wallpaper doesn’t change, don’t worry — follow the troubleshooting steps we covered above to fix it quickly.

Take a few minutes today to set an image that motivates you every time you log in. A little customization goes a long way in making Windows 11 feel like home. 💻✨

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FAQs About Changing Windows 11 Lock Screen Wallpaper

1. Why can’t I change my lock screen wallpaper in Windows 11?

You might be using an unactivated Windows version or a restricted account. Make sure your PC is activated and you’re logged in as an administrator.

2. Can I use my own photo as a lock screen wallpaper?

Yes! Just choose Picture → Browse photos and select any image file (JPG, PNG, BMP).

3. Does changing the lock screen wallpaper affect my desktop background?

No. The lock screen and desktop wallpapers are separate, but you can match them manually for consistency.

4. How often does Windows Spotlight change images?

Spotlight typically updates images once a day, provided you’re connected to the internet.

5. Can I have different lock screen wallpapers on multiple monitors?

No. Windows 11 uses one lock screen image across all connected displays.

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Summary — Key Takeaways

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Now you know exactly how to change Windows 11 lock screen wallpaper — whether you want something inspiring, calming, or simply personal.