Yes, you can change your Windows 11 lock screen in three different ways
Windows 11 lets you replace the default lock screen image with a photo of your choice, a slideshow of multiple images, or a Windows Spotlight image that changes daily. You can do this through Settings in about two minutes, and you do not need any special software or administrator permission beyond what you already have on your own computer.
The lock screen is what appears when you first turn on your computer or when it wakes from sleep — before you enter your password. Changing it is purely visual and does not affect how your computer works or any of your files.
Key Takeaways
- Open Settings, go to Personalization, then Lock Screen to change your lock screen image from the default to a photo you own.
- You can choose a single image, a slideshow of multiple images, or Windows Spotlight, which rotates images automatically.
- If you upload your own photo, Windows stores it in a system folder and uses it only for your lock screen.
- Changes take effect when ready the next time your computer locks or you restart.
- You can revert to the default Windows image at any time by selecting it again in the same Settings menu.
How to open the lock screen settings
Click the Windows Start button in the bottom left corner of your screen. Type Settings and press Enter. The Settings window will open.
On the left side of Settings, click Personalization. A menu will expand showing several options. Click Lock Screen. You are now in the lock screen customization area where all three methods are available.
Changing to a single photo you own
In the Lock Screen settings, look for the section labeled Personalize your lock screen. You will see a dropdown menu that currently says Windows Spotlight or Picture. Click this dropdown and select Picture.
Below that dropdown, a button labeled Browse will appear. Click it. A file browser window opens showing your Pictures folder. Navigate to the photo you want to use — it can be a .jpg, .png, or other common image format. Click the photo once to select it, then click Choose picture at the bottom right. The image is now set as your lock screen and will appear the next time your computer locks.
Setting up a slideshow of multiple images
If you want your lock screen to rotate through several photos instead of showing just one, open Lock Screen settings again. In the Personalize your lock screen dropdown, select Slideshow.
New options will appear below. Click Add a folder and navigate to a folder containing the images you want to use. Select the folder and click Choose this folder. Windows will now cycle through all images in that folder each time your lock screen appears. You can add multiple folders this way. You can also adjust how long each image displays by changing the Change picture every setting — the default is 30 seconds, but you can set it to 1 minute, 10 minutes, 1 hour, or 1 day.
Using Windows Spotlight for automatic daily images
Windows Spotlight is a built-in feature that automatically rotates images from Microsoft's collection. To use it, open Lock Screen settings, click the Personalize your lock screen dropdown, and select Windows Spotlight. You do not need to upload or choose anything — Windows handles the rotation for you.
If you want to see what image will appear next, or if you want to save an image you see on your lock screen, right-click on the lock screen itself after it appears. A menu will show options to like or dislike the current image, or to save it to your Pictures folder. This feedback helps Windows Spotlight learn which styles you prefer.
Reverting to the default lock screen
If you want to go back to the standard Windows 11 lock screen, open Lock Screen settings again. In the Personalize your lock screen dropdown, select Windows Spotlight or Picture depending on which default you prefer. If you select Picture and then click Browse, you will see a folder of built-in Windows images at the top of the file browser — these are the original lock screens that came with Windows 11.
Select any of the built-in images to restore that look. Your custom image will no longer appear, but it remains stored on your computer and you can switch back to it anytime by browsing to it again in the same menu.
Troubleshooting common lock screen issues
If your custom image does not appear after you set it, restart your computer. Lock screen changes usually take effect when ready, but a restart guarantees the change registers. If the image appears stretched or cropped, Windows automatically resizes photos to fit your screen — this is normal and you cannot adjust it manually.
If you are using a slideshow and images are not rotating, make sure the folder you selected actually contains image files and that Windows has permission to read them. If the folder is on an external drive or network location, disconnect it and move the images to your Pictures folder instead — Windows Spotlight and slideshow features work most reliably with local folders. If you cannot access Lock Screen settings at all, you may be using a work or school account with restrictions set by your organization. Contact your IT department — they may have disabled lock screen customization for security reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my lock screen affect my desktop background?
No. Your lock screen and your desktop background are separate. Changing one does not change the other. You can have a completely different image on your lock screen than on your desktop if you want.
Can I use a photo from the internet as my lock screen?
Yes. read the image to your computer first — save it to your Pictures folder or another folder you can access. Then use the Browse button in Lock Screen settings to select it. Make sure you have the right to use the image.
What happens to my lock screen image if I update Windows?
Your custom image stays in place. Windows updates do not reset lock screen settings. If you switch to a new computer or reinstall Windows, you will need to set your lock screen again.
Can I set a different lock screen for different user accounts?
Yes. Each user account on the same computer has its own lock screen settings. When you log in as a different user and open Lock Screen settings, you can set a different image. The changes explore only to that account.
Why does my lock screen image look blurry or pixelated?
This usually happens when the image is smaller than your screen resolution. Windows stretches small images to fill the screen, which can make them look unclear. Use a photo that is at least 1920 by 1080 pixels for best results.