How to Enable or Disable Lock Screen Background in Windows 11

This guide explains how to show or hide the lock screen background picture on your Windows 11 sign-in screen.

The lock screen is the image you see when you first turn on your computer or after you lock it by pressing the Windows key + L. The sign-in screen is the screen where you enter your password or PIN. By default, Windows shows your lock screen image on the sign-in screen as well.

Why change this?

Some users prefer a clean, solid color background on the sign-in screen to make it look professional or to help the text stand out better. Removing the image can also make the sign-in process feel faster.

What happens when done?

Once you turn this setting off, your sign-in screen will no longer show the lock screen wallpaper. It will instead display a plain, simplified background.

To change these settings, you do not need special permissions. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app. You can do this by pressing the Windows key + I on your keyboard, or by clicking Start and then selecting the Settings icon.

2. In the Settings menu on the left side, click on Personalization.
3. On the right side of the window, click on the Lock screen tile.

3. Look for the option labeled Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen.
4. Click the toggle switch to turn it On or Off depending on your preference.

You can now close the Settings window. The changes take effect immediately.

Summary

You can easily control the look of your Windows 11 sign-in screen by visiting Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. By toggling the switch, you can choose whether or not to display your lock screen wallpaper during the sign-in process. This simple adjustment helps you customize your computer’s appearance to suit your personal style.