How To Change Windows 8 Lock Screen Background

The Windows 8 Consumer Preview released today brought approximately 100,000 changes from the previously available Developer Preview of Microsoft’s newest OS iteration. Among these numerous changes lies the native ability to change the new Lock Screen’s background, something that was only doable through third-party tools until now. With the Consumer Preview of Windows 8, users can now not only easily change the background for lockscreen, but also set a custom picture of their liking, much akin to desktop backgrounds. Read past the break to find out how.

To begin, you need to access your PC’s personalization settings. One approach to getting there would be as follows.

First, pull up the Charms bar by moving your mouse to the lower or upper right corners of the screen, and select Settings.

Change_Lockscreen_Background (2)

In the new Settings panel that opens, click on More PC settings at the bottom, as shown in the screenshot below.

Change_Lockscreen_Background (3)

The first panel in PC settings will be Personalize, where the pre-selected option would let you change lock screen background. Choose the background of your liking, or browse for a picture of your choice. Your changes will be applied automatically.

Change_Lockscreen_Background (1)

That’s it – no need for any third party tools anymore. Changing lock screen background is something most users would heartily welcome, as this was one minor customization aspect that Microsoft omitted in the Developers Preview of Windows 8, and that would certainly give a more personal touch to your OS experience.

Noetic_Hatter
Thanks a lot for this tip. I just installed the CP, and I am getting over the learning curve slowly but surely. I am a fan so far.
Count Zander
Is there a way to make the lock screen cycle through pictures?
- ankit
  use Lockerz App from store
  http://apps.microsoft.com/webpdp/app/lockerz/7be26247-cf81-4f24-96d8-84d9afd5b07d
Bahnjee
There’s no need to drag the lockscreen window away. Simply start typing, or hit Ctrl+Alt+Del, or click the mouse, or sneeze (OK, maybe sneezing doesn’t work, but just about anything else does).
JonniJi
NOTE: YOU CAN’T modify your ‘Personal Settings’ if your Windows-8 is not Activated..
Slava Linchuk
My Windows is activated but not Trusted PC is it stops me from personalize the customization?
mido
it’s activated but i can’t change the lock screen :S …. it’s disabled !!
any help please ?!!
Nino Brunori
This is only to change that cover screen that boots up. There is the screen where you type in the password which you can’t change.
Microsucks
Why could microsucks not give a simple personalization option to change this which actually persists and applies to all backgrounds?? I use this lock screen personalization and on lock or login the screen is some default screen I find extremely annoying. What were you thinking microsucks? If I want a personalized background, I want it on all background screens, not where Microsucks thinks I want it or what Microsucks thinks I want. Seriously.