How to Change Windows Logon Screen

Written by Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: May 11, 2020 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to change the image that displays on the Windows login screen. If you're using Windows 10, you can change the image by selecting a background for the lock screen and toggling a simple switch. If you're using Windows 8.1, it's not possible to change the image for the initial login screen, but you can change the lock screen background.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Windows 10

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Do this either by clicking the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen, or by pressing your computer's ⊞ Win key.
Click Settings
. It's the gear icon near the bottom-left corner of the Start menu.

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This icon looks like a computer monitor with a paint brush.
It's a tab on the left side of the window. Although the majority of settings on this screen are for the lock screen (the screen that appears before you get to the screen that allows you to enter your passcode), you can make it so the same background image appears on both screens.
This drop-down menu is below the image of your existing background. This lets you choose a specific image from your computer to appear on both the lock screen and the sign-in screen.
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Click Browse. It's below the sample photos in the middle of the screen.
- If you don't want to choose one of your own photos, you can choose one of the samples.
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Select a photo and click Choose picture. This can be any photo on your computer, although a high-resolution photo will look better on the lock screen than will a low-resolution one.
8
Slide the "Show lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen" switch to On
. You may have to scroll down to see this option. This ensures that the image(s) you selected will show not only on the lock screen, but also when you log in.^{[1]
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- If you want to change your account photo, which appears on the lock screen, you can do so in Settings by clicking Accounts and then choosing an option under "Create your picture."

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Windows 8.1

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1
Press ⊞ Win+C to open the Charms menu. You can also do this by swiping in from the right side of the screen, or by hovering the mouse in the screen's top-right corner.
- It's not possible to change the image that appears in the background of the Windows 8.1 login screen, but you can change the background of the lock screen, which appears before you enter your login information. This method will help you change the background of the lock screen.
It's the button with a gear on it at the bottom of the Charms Bar.
This option is in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
It's in the left panel.
It's near the top of the Personalize window.^{[2]
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Click Browse. You should see this option below the row of demonstration photos in the middle of the page.
- You can also click on one of the demo photos to set it as your PC's lock screen.
This can be any photo on your computer, although a high-resolution photo will look better on the lock screen than will a low-resolution one.
It's at the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so will set the photo as your PC's lock screen image, which is where you enter your password to log in.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I change my password or delete the password option?

Kenny

Community Answer

Go to Windows settings. Then go to Accounts. Look at the sign-in options where you can change your password.

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Question

My computer appears to have my account, but also shows on the welcome screen a stick man. Why can't I find it or delete it?

Community Answer

All visible accounts are managed via the User Accounts GUI in Control Panel. You will need to be a system admin to delete accounts. If it wasn't there when you got the computer (or later set up by someone in your home), you have been hacked. Back up your media and other files, run AV scans and be prepared to wipe your drive and re-install.

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Thank you for your feedback.
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