Changing your Lock Screen wallpaper on Windows is a straightforward process that allows you to personalize your device's appearance before you even log in. You can choose from automatic stunning images, select a favorite picture, or even set up a rotating slideshow.
Here's how to do it, based on the standard Windows settings:
To change your Lock Screen background, follow these steps:
-
Select Start
> Settings 
. -
Select Personalization > Lock screen. This path is where you manage how your Lock Screen looks and behaves.
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Under "Personalize your lock screen", select the dropdown list. Here you have a few options to choose from for your Lock Screen background:
- Windows spotlight: As mentioned in the reference, selecting this option displays beautiful photography that updates automatically from Microsoft. It often includes fun facts or prompts to learn more about the image.
- Picture: Choose a single image from your computer or cloud storage (like OneDrive). You can select from recent images or browse for a new one.
- Slideshow: Select a folder containing multiple pictures. Windows will then cycle through these images on your Lock Screen. You can choose which folders to include and configure advanced slideshow settings.
Customizing Your Lock Screen
Beyond just the background image, the Lock Screen settings also allow you to:
- Choose apps to show quick status: Display brief information from selected apps, such as weather or calendar appointments.
- Show fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen: Toggle this option on or off, especially relevant if you use Windows Spotlight.
By navigating to Start > Settings > Personalization > Lock screen, you gain full control over how your device greets you.
| Setting | Description | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Choose the type of image(s) displayed on the Lock Screen. | Windows spotlight, Picture, Slideshow |
| Choose apps for quick status | Select apps whose notifications or status updates appear on the Lock Screen. | (Selectable apps, e.g., Weather, Calendar) |
Making these changes is a quick way to make your computer feel more personal and visually appealing every time you start it up or wake it from sleep.
