Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10  

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    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10

    How to Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Customization
    15 May 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    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)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-administrator.jpg

    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.

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-1.jpg

    4 Click/tap on the Security tab, and click/tap on the Advanced button. (see screenshot below)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-2.jpg

    5 Click/tap on the Change link to change the owner. (see screenshot below)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-3.jpg

    6 Type Administrator into the "Enter the objects name to select" field, and click/tap on the Check Names button. (see screenshot below)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-4.jpg

    7 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-5.jpg

    8 Check the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects box at the top, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-6.jpg

    9 Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-7.jpg

    10 Click/tap on OK to close security properties. (see screenshot below)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-8.jpg

    11 Right click on the SystemData folder, and click/tap on Properties again. (see screenshot below)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-9.jpg

    12 Click/tap on the Security tab, and click/tap on the Advanced button. (see screenshot below)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-10.jpg

    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)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-11.jpg

    14 Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-12.jpg

    15 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-13.jpg

    16 Open the SystemData folder. (see screenshot below)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-14.jpg

    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

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-15.jpg

    18 Open the ReadOnly folder. (see screenshot below)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-16.jpg

    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.

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-17.jpg

    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)

    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-18a.jpg
    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-18b.jpg
    Find and Save Custom Lock Screen Background Images in Windows 10-find_custom_lock_screen_image-18c.jpg

    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






  1. Posts : 5,048
    Windows 10/11 Pro x64, Various Linux Builds, Networking, Storage, Cybersecurity Specialty.
       #1

    Excellent.

    I could not have done it better!

    Thanks, Shawn!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,672
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Thank you Brian. You're most welcome.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 340
    Windows 10 Home 64 bit (with Creators OS)
       #3

    Wow!


    The steps needed, including first getting rid of the lock screen, are far too complicated. Why on earth did the designers of Windows 10 think it right to make it so difficult? But thanks anyway.

    Steve K.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2
    windows10
       #4
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1
    win10
       #5

    PERFECT tutorial - thank you!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,672
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    vinnyf said:
    PERFECT tutorial - thank you!
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 31
    XP, 7, 10
       #7

    If we have to do this on a per user basis, where might the files come from in the first place?
    Can we delete those so that when a new user is created the images aren't copied across?

    Thanks
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,672
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    AGTDenton said:
    If we have to do this on a per user basis, where might the files come from in the first place?
    Can we delete those so that when a new user is created the images aren't copied across?

    Thanks
    Hello,

    The custom images used on the lock screen are a per user setting, so they shouldn't be copied across accounts unless manually done so.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 31
    XP, 7, 10
       #9

    Brink said:
    The custom images used on the lock screen are a per user setting, so they shouldn't be copied across accounts unless manually done so.
    Sorry I managed to miss that key word 'custom'. I was thinking the default/preloaded was there too
      My Computer


 

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