Login screen changes

hake · 04 Oct 2021

I am unable to change the 'Windows Spotlight' to 'Picture'. The Policy Editor has never been used to disable such changes so I am stuck. I have the .jpg file ready to go but it is blocked.

dalchina · 04 Oct 2021

Hi, what do you see here? A screenshot would help..

Do you see any text in red, or greyed out options?

You refer to the Policy Editor... please confirm you have Pro, and as per the forum prompt, your full Windows build number.

I have the .jpg file ready to go but it is blocked.

- by what, when- do you receive a specific message? If so, please post a screenshot.

Have a look at
Can't set background picture on sign-in screen
and see if that helps.

Thanks.

hake · 16 Oct 2021

I have found that a registry entry HideLogonBackgroundImage is set to zero (0). If I change this to one (1), will my chosen image now appear?

This registry value is confusing me. 1 is the setting for Hide and 0 is the setting for NotHide. That seems to be counter-intuitive. I am reluctant to change from 0 to 1 in case it screws up.

I see on another of my Windows 10 systems on which there is no login screen problem, the HideLogonBackgroundImage is absent. I am reluctant to delete it in case it causes a problem.

Berton · 16 Oct 2021

hake said:

I have found that a registry entry HideLogonBackgroundImage is set to zero (0). If I change this to one (1), will my chosen image now appear?

This registry value is confusing me. 1 is the setting for Hide and 0 is the setting for NotHide. That seems to be counter-intuitive. I am reluctant to change from 0 to 1 in case it screws up.

I see on another of my Windows 10 systems on which there is no login screen problem, the HideLogonBackgroundImage is absent. I am reluctant to delete it in case it causes a problem.

Yes, the Registry can be a dangerous place to play, a dire consequence would be the requirement to reinstall Windows. Under File in Regedit is an Export item, would be a good idea to use that 'just in case'.

hake · 17 Oct 2021

My thanks to dalchina and Berton for taking the trouble to assist me.

After doing a full system backup, I attempted to change the value of HideLogonBackgroundImage from 0 to 1 but was blocked from doing so. Since I have not done anything that I can think of to cause this difficulty, I am presently unable to enable the picture that I would like to see on the login screen. I am in unfamiliar territory as I have little or no experience with the Windows 10 tools to enable my making this registry change. I need pointing in the right direction.

dalchina · 17 Oct 2021

Regarding HideLogonBackgroundImage I have

0 = FALSE 1 = TRUE
I can change background etc.

I therefore suggest that looking at that may be a red herring.

Please create a new user for test purposes. Log in as that user.

I am unable to change the 'Windows Spotlight' to 'Picture'.

Can you now do so in Settings?
- do you see any text in red in Settings?

And what is the effect when you log in?

Again - the forum prompted you for your full build version (as below), and I asked you for this .. please provide a screenshot like this:

- which also show whether you are using Home or Pro (you referred to group policy).

Again:

I have the .jpg file ready to go but it is blocked.

- by what, when- do you receive a specific message? Please post a screenshot.

Thanks.