[Solution] Cannot Change Desktop Wallpaper in Windows

Many times Windows users face a strange problem. When they try to change the desktop wallpaper from Desktop Properties, following things happen:

  • Wallpaper list as well as Browse button is disabled.
  • They apply the desired wallpaper but desktop doesn’t show it. It remains empty.

If you are also facing such problems, this tutorial will help you in fixing the issue. Such kind of issues might occur if there are some kind of restrictions exist in Registry which are preventing users from customizing Desktop wallpaper. Many times these issues occur if the active desktop feature is enabled.

Simply follow these simple methods to fix this problem:

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METHOD 1: Using Ease of Access Center

1. Open Control Panel, click on “Ease of Access“, then click on “Ease of Access Center” and then click on “Make the computer easier to see” link.

Alternatively, you can directly open the page by running following command in RUN dialog box:

explorer shell:::{D555645E-D4F8-4C29-A827-D93C859C4F2A}\pageEasierToSee

2. Now disable “Remove background images (where available)” option and apply the changes.

Thanks to our reader Rafael for sharing this method…

METHOD 2: Using Registry Editor

If Method 1 doesn’t work, then do as following:

1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now go to following keys one by one:

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

2. Under these keys, if you see “ActiveDesktop” key, delete it.

Active_Desktop_Registry_Key.png

3. Now Look for “System” key under “Policies” key. If you find it, then select it and look for a string value “Wallpaper” in right-side pane. If it exists, then delete it.

4. Restart your system and you should be able to set the wallpaper.

METHOD 3: Using Desktop Context Menu

Right-click on Desktop and make sure “Lock Web Items on Desktop” option is not enabled in “Arrange Icons by” menu. If its enabled, then disable it and your problem should be solved.

Also Check:

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. thank you very much…Method 1 worked for me on win 8.1. Wallpaper was not changing and now it is ……. thank you for sharing

  2. This was the answer I was looking for. I spent 2 days trying to find out how to get my desktop wallpaper to show on the desktop. Why would MS hide such an obscure setting in Ease Of Access? Method 1 worked perfectly. Thanks for the help. You can’t find this answer by using Start Search. It only takes you where you can change the desktop wallpaper. Not turn it on and off. Thanks again. This worked perfect in Windows 8.1

  3. how to turn off, disable “center” view in Desktop
    Do not want it setting image center.
    Much thanks

  4. i have done all those..bt still i cant change my wallpaper.. plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz help me……………………… πŸ™

  5. Thanks for the first tip.. I thought i could not activate my pirate windows πŸ˜€

  6. Thanks !!. Method 1. worked well and I did not find it in any other searches today (8/25/2015).

  7. Hi there, first, thanks for your guide he was a bit helpful but not totally :/

    The first method :

    When i’m doing it, i can see my wallpaper for 3s, and after my screen go back the a black wallpaper…. And when i go back to the menu, the “Remove background images” is still enable! I can’t disabled it!!

    The second method :

    I found only one “Active Desktop” in “local_machine” and no “wallpaper” keys, and when i reboot, nothing πŸ™

    Third method :

    I don’t found it, i’m french so my desktop is a bit different in the name, but i don’t found any value which change something so…

    Can we have hope into a update from microsoft? Because I’m so sick about this black wallpaper so damn ugly! πŸ™

    Thanks by advance if a fourth method is found, and cya

  8. This worked for me. No other tips worked.
    I had to remove all of the registry keys mentioned before I could make changes.
    1 degree less repression = happier worker

  9. Software support company (that we are very unhappy with) set our server to always have their logo on the server desktop. It was like rubbing salt in a wound. With your tips, their logo is gone and we are happy.

  10. Method 1 worked for me.
    Never play around with “ease of use” control panel or designs if you don’t really have a disability.
    I was changing the design to a “high contrasted” one, just to see how it looked like, not because I would need it. Changing back to Standard left several settings in the “ease of use”, including the “remove background”. Preventing any change until I found askvg. Thanks!

  11. OH MY GOD! IT REALLY WORKS!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I THOUGHT I WILL NEVER GET IT BACK, I REALLY DO LOSE MY HOPE, BUT THEN I SAW THIS, AND DIDN’T HESITATE TO DO IT, AND IT REALLY WORKS! THANK YOU FROM THE DEEPEST OF MY HEART πŸ™‚

  12. This is so not helpful….So what if you do all of this and Still no fix to the problem?

  13. i followed the methods but still the black wallpaper is not disappearing,what can i do further to restore my background pictures?

  14. I have been puzzled by this problem for quite some time.
    Your fix worked for me.

    Thanks for posting…

  15. thanks!! the method with easy access that people keep talking about didnt work for me, i already had it unchecked, but deleting the active desktop and wallpaper from registry worked!

  16. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
    This is the only thing that worked for me. Deleting the reg keys did the trick. Thanks again

  17. I can’t change my background from a solid black to anything else.

    Things I’ve tried:
    1) Ease of Access – unchecked
    2) changed TranscodedWallpaper.jpg and confirmed no text in the Slideshow.ini
    3) Confirmed no integrity violations with OS (Windows 7 Ultimate SP1, x64)
    4) Confirmed Power Options advance settings
    5) no group policy enabled
    6) Deleting active desktop from registry did not work.
    7) added key \HLM\software\microsoft\windows\currentverison\policies\activdesktop – NoChangingWallPaper – set to 0
    8) Reviewed each subsection of each HKey to ensure everything looks right.
    9) System restore to earliest point.
    10) Obviously I have tried changing themes, customizing, etc. They did not work.

    I do not want to reformat the PC. I’ve been living with it as it, but there HAS to be a way to take control of this.

    Any other suggestions?

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