How to Enable or Disable JPEG Desktop Wallpaper Import Quality Reduction in Windows 10
When you set an image as your desktop background wallpaper or slideshow, Windows will import a copy of this image and store it as the TranscodedWallpaper file in the %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes folder. Your desktop background wallpaper is loaded from this TranscodedWallpaper file cache.
If you select a JPEG image as your desktop background wallpaper, then Windows will automatically compress and reduce the quality of the imported copy to only 85% of the original JPEG image quality. This is done to help save disk space, RAM, and improve the performance of Windows while showing the desktop wallpaper image or when cycling wallpaper images during a desktop slideshow. Of course, the JPEG desktop wallpaper will not look as good as the original.
If you have a decent performing system, then you may wish to disable this automatic quality reduction of JPEG desktop wallpapers to have the imported image show with the full quality as the original JPEG image.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the automatic import quality reduction of a JPEG desktop wallpaper for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
If you use a PNG image as your desktop background wallpaper or slideshow, then you are not affected by this automatic quality reduction since it only happens to JPEG images.
Here's How:
The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
JPEGImportQuality DWORD
(delete) = Enable JPEG import quality reduction
64 (hex) or 100 (decimal) = Disable JPEG import quality reduction
1. Do step 2 (disable) or step 3 (enable) below for what you would like to do.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_JPEG_Desktop_wallpaper_import_quality.reg
Download
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_JPEG_Desktop_wallpaper_import_quality.reg
Download
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7. Restart the computer to apply.
8. Change your desktop background wallpaper to the JPEG file you want to import a new copy for your applied changes.
9. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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