The fastest way to change your lock screen

Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then go to Personalization in the left menu. Click Lock screen. Under "Personalize your lock screen," you will see a dropdown that says Windows spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow. Choose whichever you want, and Windows will update your lock screen the next time you lock your computer.

If you pick Picture, click the plus sign to browse your computer for an image file. Windows accepts .jpg, .png, .bmp, and .gif files. If you pick Slideshow, add a folder of images and Windows will rotate through them each time you lock the screen.

Windows Spotlight is the default — it shows a different image from Microsoft's collection every day. You do not have to do anything; it changes on its own.

Key Takeaways

  • The Settings app is the only place to change your lock screen; right-clicking the desktop will not work.
  • You can use a single picture, a rotating slideshow from a folder, or Windows Spotlight, which changes daily.
  • Image files must be in .jpg, .png, .bmp, or .gif format; other formats will not show up in the file browser.
  • Changes take effect the next time you lock your screen, not when ready.
  • You can also turn off the lock screen entirely in Settings if you prefer to go straight to the sign-in screen.

Using a picture from your computer

Go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and select Picture from the dropdown. Click the plus icon below the preview. A file browser will open showing your Pictures folder by default, but you can navigate to any folder on your computer.

Select one image and click Choose picture. The preview updates when ready, but the lock screen itself will not change until the next time you lock your computer. If you want to try a different image, repeat the process — there is no limit to how many times you can change it.

Windows stores your chosen image in a system folder, so you can delete the original file from your Pictures folder without affecting the lock screen.

Setting up a slideshow that rotates images

Select Slideshow from the dropdown in Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. Click Add a folder and choose a folder that contains images. Windows will cycle through every image in that folder each time you lock your screen.

You can add multiple folders if you want images from different places. Windows will pull from all of them. To remove a folder, click the minus icon next to its name.

The slideshow does not have a set interval — it shows a new image each time you lock and unlock your computer. If you lock your screen many times in a day, you will cycle through your images quickly.

Turning off the lock screen entirely

If you do not want a lock screen at all and prefer to go straight to the sign-in screen, you can disable it. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Scroll down to Lock screen and toggle Show lock screen to off.

This removes the lock screen but does not remove your password requirement. You will still need to sign in with your password or PIN after your computer wakes up or you restart it.

Troubleshooting images that will not show up

If you select an image and it does not appear in the preview, check the file format. Windows 11 lock screen only accepts .jpg, .png, .bmp, and .gif. If your image is in .webp, .tiff, or another format, you will need to convert it first using a free tool like Paint or an online converter.

If the image is in the right format but still will not show, try moving it to your Pictures folder. Some folders have permission restrictions that prevent Windows from reading the file. Copying the image to a standard location usually solves this.

For slideshow folders, make sure every file in the folder is an image. If Windows finds a document, video, or other non-image file, it may skip the entire folder or show an error.

What happens to your old lock screen image

When you change your lock screen, Windows does not delete the old image. If you used a picture from your computer, the original file stays in its folder. If you used Windows Spotlight, those images are stored in a hidden system folder that you do not need to manage.

If you want to go back to a previous image, you can select it again from your Pictures folder. There is no "undo" button, but you can always re-choose any image you have saved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a video as my lock screen?

No. Windows 11 lock screen only supports still images in .jpg, .png, .bmp, and .gif format. You cannot use video files, animated GIFs, or live wallpapers on the lock screen itself.

Why does my lock screen keep changing back to the default?

If you are using a work or school account, your organization may have a policy that overrides your personal lock screen settings. Contact your IT department to confirm. If you are using a personal account, restart your computer and try changing it again — sometimes the setting does not save on the first try.

Can I set different lock screens for different user accounts?

Yes. Each user account on your computer has its own lock screen settings. Sign in to a different account and repeat the process in Settings. The lock screen you see depends on which account you are signed into.

What size image should I use for the best quality?

Windows 11 works best with images that are at least 1920 by 1080 pixels, which matches most modern monitors. Smaller images may appear blurry or stretched. Larger images are fine — Windows will scale them down automatically.

Does changing the lock screen affect my desktop background?

No. Your lock screen and desktop background are separate. You can change one without affecting the other. Go to Settings > Personalization > Background to change your desktop background.