Policy

Prevent changing desktop background

Windows 11 25H2

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Policy overview

Key metadata and intent for this policy.

ClassUser
CategoryControl Panel > Personalization
Supported onAt least Windows 2000

Supported OS tags: Windows10, Windows10RT, Windows11, Windows2000, Windows7, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2003, WindowsServer2008, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsServer2016, WindowsVista, WindowsXP

Prevents users from adding or changing the background design of the desktop. By default, users can use the Desktop Background page in the Personalization or Display Control Panel to add a background design (wallpaper) to their desktop. If you enable this setting, none of the Desktop Background settings can be changed by the user. To specify wallpaper for a group, use the "Desktop Wallpaper" setting. Note: You must also enable the "Desktop Wallpaper" setting to prevent users from changing the desktop wallpaper. Refer to KB article: Q327998 for more information. Also, see the "Allow only bitmapped wallpaper" setting.

Internal name
CPL_Personalization_NoDesktopBackgroundUI
Policy ID
da6f25d98696
Elements
0

Registry values

How enabled and disabled states update the registry.

Registry locationTypeEnabled valueDisabled value
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop\NoChangingWallPaperREG_DWORD
1
0

Policy elements

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This policy has no additional user input fields.

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