If you cannot change desktop background on your Windows 10 PC because the Desktop Background setting has been disabled, as shown in the following picture, you can tack the problem using the method illustrated by the steps below.
Video guide on what to do when you cannot change desktop background on Windows 10:
Step 1: Access the Local Group Policy Editor.
Step 2: Find and open the setting named "Prevent changing desktop background".
FYR, in User Configuration/Administrative Templates/Control Panel/Personalization, you can locate the setting. And then open it with double clicks.
Step 3: Have this setting disabled.
Choose Disabled and tap OK in the setting's window.
Tip: If you make this setting non-configured, you can realize the same aim. That is, select Not Configured and click OK in the above window.
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Most of us enjoy displaying our favorite Desktop Background or Wallpaper on our Windows Desktop. But, if you find for some reason that you cannot change the desktop background or wallpaper in Windows 10 or Windows 10/8/7, you may try some of these troubleshooting steps.
Cannot change Wallpaper in Windows 10
Before you begin, please check if you have installed and third-party customization software and if it is restricting you from changing the desktop background. If so uninstall it and restart your Windows PC. Here are a few other things that you need to check:
- Check Accessibility setting
- Check Power Options
- Reset wallpaper cache
- Check Registry setting
- Check Group Policy.
1] Check Accessibility setting
Open Control Panel and select the ‘Ease of Access’ Center. Then, click on ‘Optimize Visual display’ link. Scroll down until you find ‘Make the computer easier to see’ section. Once found, make sure that Remove background images [where available] is unchecked. Save, Apply, Exit.
This should help!
2] Check Power Options
Open your Power Setting in Control Panel. Open Power Options > Select your power plan > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings > Expand the Desktop background settings option > Expand Slide show.
Ensure that the Plugged in option is set to Available.
3] Reset wallpaper cache
If the above option too fails, maybe your TranscodedWallpaper.jpg file has become corrupted.
Open explorer and type the following in the address bar and hit Enter:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\Here, rename TranscodedWallpaper.jpg to TranscodedWallpaper.old.
Next, double-click slideshow.ini file and open it with Notepad. Empty its contents. That is, select all the text and delete it. Save the changes. Close explorer windows.
4] Check Registry setting
If not, try this. Run regedit and navigate to the following key in the Registry Editor:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PoliciesRight-click on Policies > New > KEY > name it as ActiveDesktop.
Next in the right side, right-click > New > DWORD > name it as NoChangingWallPaper.
The DWORD value 1 will restrict change in desktop wallpaper. To allow change give it value as 0.
Reboot.
5] Check Group Policy
Alternatively, you could open the Group Policy Editor, by typing gpedit.msc in Run box and hitting Enter.
Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop. Click Desktop again. Double-click Desktop Wallpaper.
Ensure that the Not Configured option is selected. This will enable the option to change the desktop background.
Read: Desktop Background Group Policy is not applying.
I hope something helps!
See this post if you want to prevent users from changing the Screensaver.
If you are unable to change desktop background in Windows 10, it is likely that changing of desktop background has been disabled on your computer via Registry or Group Policy.
Unable to Change Desktop Background in Windows 10
The easiest way to Change Desktop Background in Windows 10 is to simply right-click on the Picture that you want to set as desktop background and click on Set as desktop background option in the contextual menu.
Another way to change desktop background is to open Settings > click on Personalization > Background and select the picture that you want to set as desktop background.
However, you won’t be able to change desktop background on your computer, if the option to change desktop background has been disabled via Group Policy Editor [Windows Pro] or Registry [Windows Home].
In such cases, you may see a message reading “Some settings are managed by your organization” or similar in the “Personalization” section of Settings on your computer.
1. Check Activation Status of Windows 10
If you are unable to change desktop background using Settings, the most likely reason for this is due to Windows 10 being not activated on your computer.
1. Open Settings > click on Update & Security.
2. On the next screen, click on Activation and make sure that Windows 10 operating system on your computer is activated.
Note: Even if Windows 10 is not activated, you will be able to right-click on any Picture and choose Set As Desktop Background option in the contextual menu.
2. Enable Changing Wallpaper in Registry
In case of computers running Windows Home Edition, changing of Desktop Background can be enabled or disabled using the Registry Editor.
1. Right-click on Start button and click on Run.
2. In the Run Command window, type Regedit and click on OK.
3. On the Registry Editor Screen, navigate to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop and double-click on NoChangingWallpaper.
4. In the Edit DWORD pop-up, set the Value data to 0 and click on OK.
5. Restart your computer to apply this change and see if you are now able to change Desktop Background.
3. Enable Changing Desktop Wallpaper in Group Policy
If you have Professional Edition of Windows 10, it is likely that changing of desktop background has been disabled in Group Policy Editor.
1. Click on the Start button > Run.
2. In the Run Command Window, type gpedit.msc and click on OK.
3. In Group Policy Editor, navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization and Double click on Prevent Changing desktop background policy.
4. In the pop-up, make sure that Not Configured or Disable option is selected.
After this you will be able to change desktop background image on your computer.
4. Check Ease of Access Settings
If you are looking at a black or dark desktop background on your computer, the problem is most likely due to Show Desktop Background Image being disabled in Ease of Access Settings.
Open Settings > Ease of Access > Display and make sure that Enable Show Desktop Background image option is enabled.
If this did not help and you are still looking at dark or black background on your computer, you can refer to this guide: How to Fix Black Desktop Background in Windows 10