Key Takeaways

To change the login screen, open the Settings app, then navigate to Personalization > Lock Screen, and make sure "Show Lock Screen Background Picture on the Sign-in Screen" is enabled. Choose between "Windows Spotlight," "Picture," and "Slideshow."

You can easily set any image you like as your login screen background on Windows 10. This was complicated in the initial release of Windows 10, but Microsoft made it simple with the Anniversary Update.

First, head to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and enable the "Show lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen" option. You may also right-click empty space on your desktop and select "Personalization."

Press Windows+i to quickly open the Settings app. You may also right-click empty space on your desktop and select "Personalization."

Make sure "Show Lock Screen Background Picture On the Sign-in Screen" is enabled.

You can configure the sign-in screen background you want on the Lock screen settings page, too. Scroll up, then click the dropdown menu under "Background." You have three choices:

  • Windows Spotlight: Displays a changing collection of images from Microsoft
  • Picture: Displays a single image you select from your PC
  • Slideshow: Rotates between images in a folder you specify

Windows Spotlight is the default option on Windows 10. You must choose "Picture" or "Slideshow" if you want to display your own images.

The image you select here will appear as both your lock screen background and sign-in screen background.

Change the setting from "Windows Spotlight" to whatever you'd like.

If you'd rather use a flat color instead of a background image, disable the "Show lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen". Navigate to Settings > Personalization > Colors. The color you choose here will be used for your sign-in screen background as well as other elements on the Windows desktop.

You can select from a large number of pre-generated colors or use the color picker to select anything from black to red to the most nauseating shade of green you can imagine.

You may also set a custom color scheme for your windows.

You can press Windows+L to lock your PC and see your changes. and check how they look.

Backgrounds and login screens are only the beginning of what you can do to customize Windows. If you really want to dial it up to 11, you can install custom themes, too.

Related: 30 Essential Windows Key Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 10