How to Set a Custom Logon Screen Background on Windows 7

How to Set a Custom Logon Screen Background on Windows 7

 

Enabling Custom Backgrounds:

Step:1

Launch the Registry Editor by typing regedit into the search box in the Start menu and pressing Enter.

Step:2

In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background

Step:3

You’ll see a DWORD value named OEMBackground. If you don’t see it, right-click in the right pane, point to the New submenu, and create a new DWORD value with this name.

Double-click the OEMBackground value and set its value to 1.

 

Step:4

Changing the setting in group policy will allow it to persist even when you change your theme, but the Group Policy Editor is only available in Professional editions of Windows.

If you have access to the Group Policy Editor, launch gpedit.msc from the Start menu.

 

Step:5

Navigate to the following section in the Group Policy Editor window: 

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon 

 

Step:6

You’ll find a setting named “Always use custom login background.” Double-click it and set it to Enabled.

Setting An Image:

Step:1

Your image file must be less than 256 KB in size. It’s also a good idea to use an image file that matches the resolution of your monitor, so it won’t look stretched.

Windows looks for the custom logon screen background image in the following directory:

C:\Windows\System32\oobe\info\backgrounds

Step:2

By default, the info and background folders don’t exist. Navigate to the C:\Windows\System32\oobe folder and create them yourself by right-clicking inside the folder, pointing to New, and selecting New Folder.

Copy your desired background image to the backgrounds folder and name it backgroundDefault.jpg.