Desktop Background Wallpaper - Prevent Change

How to Enable or Prevent the Desktop Background Wallpaper from being Changed in Vista​

   Information

This will allow you to set a default optional Desktop Background Wallpaper of your choice for all user accounts, and prevent it from being changed.

   Note

STEP ONE below will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent the desktop background from being changed. You will have a choice to do this using METHOD ONE or METHOD TWO on below.

   Tip

If you have a blank or solid background, then check this setting to make sure it is unchecked:

• Open the Control Panel (classic view).
• Click on the Ease of Access Center icon.
• Click on the Make the computer easier to see link.
• Uncheck Remove background images (where available) box.
• Click on Save.

   Warning

If you did not disable the ability to change the desktop background, then you may be infected with some form of malware on your computer. I would recommend that you run a very thorugh antivirus and spyware scan to help make sure that your computer is clean.

EXAMPLE:
NOTE: This will be removed in STEP ONE below.

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METHOD ONE

Through the Local Group Policy Editor

Step One

Remove or Show the Desktop Background Option

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   Note

STEP ONE will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent the desktop background from being changed.

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.​

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2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and Display.​

(See screenshot below)​

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3. In the right pane, right click on Prevent changing wallpaper and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)​

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4. To Show the Desktop Background Option​

A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5A)​

5. To Remove the Desktop Background Option​

A) Select (dot) Enabled and click on OK.​

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Step Two

Disable or Enable Changing the Desktop Background

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   Note

This will also disable the Set as Desktop Background option for when a user right clicks on a image. The option will not be grayed out, but it will not work unless this is enabled.

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6. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Desktop, and Desktop.​

(See screenshot below)​

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7. In the right pane, right click on Desktop Wallpaper and click Properties.​

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8. To Enable Changing Desktop Background ​

A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 9D)​

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B) Go to step 10.​

9. To Disable Changing Desktop Background ​

A) Select (dot) Enabled. (See screenshot below step 9D)​

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B) In the Wallpaper Name: box, type in the full path of a wallpaper you want displayed for all user accounts. (See screenshot below step 9D)​

NOTE: You can only use a .BMP or .JPG image. If you just want a blank wallpaper, you can enter a invalid path. (EX: C:\ )​

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C) In the Wallpaper Style: box, select if you want the wallpaper to be in Center, Stretch, or Tile style. (See screenshot below step 9D)​

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D) Click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

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10. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.​

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11. Restart the computer to apply the changes.​

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METHOD TWO

Using a REG File Download

NOTE:STEP ONE will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent the desktop background from being changed.

STEP ONE: ​

1. To Show the Desktop Background Option​

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A) ​

2. To Remove the Desktop Background Option​

NOTE: This will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent this.​

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A) ​

STEP TWO:​

3. To Enable Changing the Wallpaper​

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A) ​

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4. To Disable Changing the Wallpaper​

NOTE: This download will give you a blank wallpaper. If you want to disable changing the wallpaper and have a wallpaper of your choice, then see STEP TWO in the Manual section below.​

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A) ​

5. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.​

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6. Right click the .reg file (on Desktop) and click on Merge.​

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7. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.​

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8. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.​

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9. When done, you can delete the .reg file (on Desktop).​

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10. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.​

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METHOD THREE

Manually in Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu.​

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2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.​

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3. If prompted, click on the Continue button in the UAC prompt.​

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4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies​

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Step One

Remove or Show the Desktop Background Option

   Note

STEP ONE will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent the desktop background from being changed.

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5. To Remove the Desktop Background Option​

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A) In the left pane, right click on Policies and click on New and Key. (See screenshot below step 4)​

NOTE: If you already have the ActiveDesktop key, then go to step 5C.​

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B) Type ActiveDesktop and press Enter. (See screenshot below)​

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C) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32 bit) Value.​

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D) Type NoChangingWallpaper and press Enter. (See screenshot below)​

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E) In the right pane, right click on NoChangingWallpaper and click on Modify.​

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F) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

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6. To Show the Desktop Background Option ​

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A) Right click on NoChangingWallpaper and click on Delete. (See screenshot below step 5E)​

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B) Click on Yes to confirm Delete.​

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C) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)​

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HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop​

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D) In the right pane, repeat steps 6A and 6B if NoChangingWallpaper is there to.​

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Step Two

Disable or Enable Changing the Desktop Background

   Note

This will also disable the Set as Desktop Background option when a user right clicks on a image. It will not be grayed out, but it will not work unless enabled.

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7. To Disable Changing the Desktop Background​

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A) In the left pane, right click on Policies and click on New and Key. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: If you already have the System key, then go to step 7C.​

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B) Type System and press Enter. (See screenshot below)​

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C) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and String Value.​

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D) Type Wallpaper and press Enter. (See screenshot below)​

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E) In the right pane, right click on Wallpaper and click on Modify.​

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F) Type in the full path of a wallpaper you want displayed for all user accounts and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: You can only use a .BMP or .JPG image. If you just want a blank wallpaper, you can enter a invalid path. (EX: C:\ )​

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G) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and String Value. (See screenshot below)​

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H) Type WallpaperStyle and press Enter.​

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I) In the right pane, right click on WallpaperStyle and click on Modify.​

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J) Type in a number below in bold for the wallpaper to be in Center, Stretch, or Tile style, and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

• Type 0 to Center the wallpaper on the desktop.
• Type 1 to Tile the wallpaper on the desktop.
• Type 2 to Stretch the wallpaper to fit the desktop.

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8. To Enable Changing the Desktop Background​

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A) In the right pane, right click on both Wallpaper and WallpaperStyle and click Delete. (See screenshot below step 7I)​

NOTE: You will have to do these one at a time.​

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B) Click on Yes to confirm each deletion.​

9. Close regedit.​

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10. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply changes.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change the Desktop Background Wallpaper in Vista
• How to Create a Change "Desktop Background" Shortcut in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Install and Use DreamScene in Vista
• How to Enhance Windows Vista DreamScene with Stardock DeskScapes
• How to Add or Remove the Theme Option in Vista
• How to Add or Remove the Screen Saver Option in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable Changing Display Settings in Vista

 

[Brink]

You might try a older restore point.

 

[Yarelysa]

I COULD NOT SEE THE “DESKTOP BACKGROUND” OPTION BACK IN YOUR PERSONILAZATION APPEARANCE & SOUNDS SCREEN...it stated that the feature was disabled and that I had to contact system administrator...and I am the system admin...with the help of this tutorial...USING THESE STEPS BELOW...I was able to "restore" the option to change my DESKTOP BACKGROUND.
FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS BELOW:
METHOD TWO
THROUGH THE REGISTRY
STEP ONE—THEN #1 (skip #2)
STEP TWO—THEN #1 (skip #2)
RESTART YOUR COMP AND THEN YOU SHOULD SEE “DESKTOP BACKGROUND” OPTION BACK IN YOUR PERSONILAZATION APPEARANCE & SOUNDS SCREEN
Thanks for posting this tutorial!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Yarelysa, and welcome to Vista Forums.

 

[need4steer]

Thanks a lot for this great tutorial.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Need4steer, and welcome to Vista Forums.

 

[william1]

Hi there,

I have issue on the wallpaper.

The machine was on a domain before and they have their wall paper fixed on a page.

On METHOD THREE - Step Two

I have revert back all the settings - delete the wall paper key also delete the wall paper style key.

I have also done METHOD ONE - Step Two 8 - To Enable Changing Desktop Background

On control panel they will have option change the wallpaper but when i click on any picture nothing happen.

It allow to change the colour of the background but not allow change the whole picture on it.

Also when right click on a picture and set as background it said it stops by group policy.

I went to the gpedit and check it looks like nothing wrong.

Any ideas please?

Many thanks

William.

 

[Brink]

Hello William, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Double check from the yellow TIP box at the top of the tutorial to make sure that you have the Remove background images (where available) box unchecked in the Ease of Access Center.

In addition, try using both enable and show REG downloads in METHOD TWO to see if that may help.

If this is the same user account that was on the domain, then you might create a new local administrator account and log on to it to see if you may be able to change the background in it.

If this doesn't help, then please export the Policies registry keys at the locations below and upload them here. I'll be happy to take a look at them to see if there may be an entry that's causing it.

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[tetley]

i can't change the solid color background wallpaper on vista home premium

 

[Brink]

Hello Tetley, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Have you already checked the setting in the yellow TIP box at the top of the tutorial to make sure Remove background images (where available) is unchecked?

 

[tetley]

Hi tried that it won't uncheck just keeps coming back

 

[Brink]

Tetley,

Are you part of a domain? If so, then that will override your setting when you log on to the domain.