Want to set a default background wallpaper for all users in Windows 10?
Remember the blissfully relaxing rolling green hills wallpaper by Windows that was loved by almost every single user? Good times.
Although the legacy of the rolling green hills Windows wallpaper will never fade, the vast number of different options available today allows everyone to have the background of their choice.
Normally, this works great for users with their own computers but in the case of shared computers, it might not be a great idea. For instance, corporate offices might want to set a default background for all users in Windows 10 to achieve a more professional look, remind employees of important activities, or promote company values.
If you are looking for ways to set a default desktop background due to any reason, you are in the right place. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of doing so in detail.
Let’s get started.
1. Use Group Policy Editor.
Group Policy is a Windows feature that gives advanced users the ability to modify their operating system in accordance with their preferences.
The Group Policy Editor contains information in the form of policies, and by altering the policies, we can personalize the working environment of Windows. In this method, we will be modifying the desktop-related policies to make the desired changes.
Here is what you need to do:
- Open a Run dialogue box by pressing Windows + R keys simultaneously.
- Inside the text field of the dialogue box, type ‘gpedit.msc’ and hit Enter. Doing so will launch the Group Policy Editor.
- Inside the Group Policy Editor window, navigate to the location mentioned below.
User Configuration/ Administrative Templates/ Desktop/ Desktop
- Double-click Desktop and in the right pane, locate Desktop Wallpaper.
- Double-click on it and select Enabled.
- Under Wallpaper name, type the path of the image that you want to set as your default background.
- Once done, log out of your user account and then log back in.
Your preferred image will be set as the default wallpaper upon logging back.
2. Try Using CleanMyPC.
In the event our recommended solutions do not work for you, there is a possibility that your system is infected with bugs or corruption errors that are preventing you from executing certain operations. The best choice in this scenario is to remove the junk files before you begin troubleshooting.
You can remove clutter from your computer by using an efficient computer cleaner. If you need one, our personal favorite is CleanMyPC.
Besides removing junk files, CleanMyPC has a range of system maintenance tools that can handle other PC-related issues as well. After installing the tool and running an initial scan, it will automatically identify and fix problems with little to no user intervention.
Furthermore, CleanMyPC is very easy to use, so even if this is your first time using a PC cleaner, you should do just fine!
3. Use Windows Registry.
Another easy way to set a default background wallpaper for all users in Windows 10 is via Windows Registry.
Windows Registry functions similarly to the Group Policy Editor as it too is a powerful tool that users can use to tweak the Windows operating system according to their preferences. For those of you who find using the Group Policy Editor difficult, try using the Windows Registry instead.
Here is what you need to do:
- Open a Run dialogue box by pressing Windows + R keys simultaneously.
- Inside the text field of the dialogue box, type ‘regedit’ and hit Enter. Doing so will launch Windows Registry.
- Inside the Registry Editor, navigate to the location mentioned below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
- Right-click on Policies and select New > Key.
- Name this new key as System and double click this newly created key.
- Now in the right pane, right-click anywhere and select New > String Value.
- Name this newly created value as Wallpaper and double-click on it.
- Under Value Data, type the path of the image that you want to set as your default wallpaper.
- Finally, restart your PC.
That’s it. The image you chose the path to will be set as default wallpaper on your PC.
This brings us to the end of our guide on ways to set a default background wallpaper for all users in Windows 10. We hope that one of the steps we mentioned in this guide did the trick for you. If you still have any questions about the troubleshooting steps, feel free to let us know in the comment section below.
If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂
