How to Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10
The lock screen is the screen you see at startup and when you lock the computer.
Users can select to use Windows Spotlight, a custom single picture, or a custom slideshow of images as their lock screen background.
This tutorial will show you how to find and save custom background images displayed on the lock screen for users in Windows 10.
You must be an administrator to perform the steps in this tutorial.
Here's How:
1 If you haven't already, you will need to enable the built-in Administrator account.
2 Sign in to the built-in Administrator account. (see screenshot below)
3 Open File Explorer (Win+E), and perform the following: (see screenshot below)
A) Click/tap on the View tab, and check the Hidden items box.
B) Navigate to the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows folder.
C) Right click on the SystemData folder, and click/tap on Properties.
4 Click/tap on the Security tab, and click/tap on the Advanced button. (see screenshot below)
5 Click/tap on the Change link to change the owner. (see screenshot below)
6 Type Administrator into the "Enter the objects name to select" field, and click/tap on the Check Names button. (see screenshot below)
7 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
8 Check the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects box at the top, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
9 Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)
10 Click/tap on OK to close security properties. (see screenshot below)
11 Right click on the SystemData folder, and click/tap on Properties again. (see screenshot below)
12 Click/tap on the Security tab, and click/tap on the Advanced button. (see screenshot below)
13 Check the Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object box at the bottom, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
14 Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)
15 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
16 Open the SystemData folder. (see screenshot below)
17 Open the SID folder of the user you want to find lock screen background images for. (see screenshot below)
If you like, you can use the tutorial below to find the SID (security identifier) for all users to know which SID folder is for which user.
How to Find Security Identifier (SID) of User in Windows
18 Open the ReadOnly folder. (see screenshot below)
19 Open the LockScreen_<letter> folder you want. (see screenshot below)
You may need to open each one to find the image you want inside.
20 You will now see the custom lock screen background image(s). You can copy and save the image(s) to where you want. (see screenshots below)
21 When finished, sign out of the built-in Administrator account.
22 Sign in back to your account.
23 If you like, you can disable the built-in Administrator account.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Change your Lock Screen Background in Windows 10
- How to Find and Save Windows Spotlight Background Images in Windows 10