[Fix] Windows 7 Desktop Wallpaper Changed to Solid Black Color Screen

If your Desktop wallpaper suddenly changed to solid Black color in your Windows 7 computer, this tutorial will help you in fixing the issue and applying desired wallpaper again on your Desktop. Once you follow simple steps given in this guide, you’ll be able to replace the solid Black color screen with any custom wallpaper on the Desktop.

PROBLEM SYMPTOM:

You switched on your Windows 7 computer or restarted the device after installing important updates. When Windows 7 signed you in and displayed the Desktop, you were surprised to see a blank or empty solid Black color screen instead of your custom Desktop wallpaper or background.

Suddenly Windows 7 replaced your own Desktop wallpaper with a solid Black color screen. Your previous customized wallpaper has gone and now replaced with a full Black color screen.

You tried to apply the wallpaper again using Desktop Personalization window but nothing happens. Solid Black color screen is stuck on the Desktop.

PROBLEM REASON:

First relax and don’t worry! It’s a known bug which was caused by recently released update KB4534310. This update was released on January 14, 2020 which was EOL (End of Life) or EOS (End of Support) day of Windows 7 when Microsoft ended support for Windows 7 operating system.

Related: No New Updates for Windows 7 After January 14, 2020 (End of Support)

If you manually installed this update in your system or Windows 7 automatically downloaded and installed this update in your computer, it’ll automatically change your Desktop wallpaper to a solid Black color screen after reboot. Many people are calling it as End of Support wallpaper or End of Life wallpaper.

Why does it happen? It happens if your Desktop wallpaper was applied as Stretched. In Windows 7, a wallpaper can be set in different picture positions which are as following:

• Fill
• Fit
• Stretch
• Tile
• Center

If you applied your wallpaper as Stretched in past, you’ll face this bug. If the wallpaper was applied using other picture positions, you’ll not get affected by this bug.

So basically, Stretch picture position feature is broken in this update and if a user’s Desktop wallpaper was showing as stretched previously, it’ll be replaced by solid Black color screen after installing this update. This is why even if you try to re-apply your custom wallpaper, no wallpaper is applied as the picture position is selected as Stretch. It seems “Stretch” wallpaper position is no longer supported by Windows 7 after installing this update and if a wallpaper is applied using Stretch position, Windows 7 displays no wallpaper on Desktop or solid Black color screen.

PROBLEM SOLUTION:

The solution of this problem is very simple.

You just need to apply your desired wallpaper using any picture position other than Stretch. Once you apply the wallpaper again as Fill, Fit, Tile or Center, it’ll apply without any problem and you’ll get rid of the solid Black color screen.

There are 2 ways to apply a custom image as Desktop wallpaper or background in Fill, Fit, Tile or Center positions to fix this solid Black color screen issue:

METHOD 1:

1. Right-click on Desktop and select Personalize option from context menu.

2. It’ll open Personalization window. Now you can click on any Aero Theme or Windows 7 Basic theme thumbnail to apply the default theme and wallpaper in your computer.

The themes will apply the wallpaper as Fill style which will fix the bug and will apply the wallpaper successfully.

3. If you want to set a different wallpaper as Desktop background, click on Desktop Background section link given at the bottom of the window.

4. Now select any desired wallpaper and make sure to change Picture Position option using the drop-down box. Select it as Fill or other options such as Fit, Tile or Center. DO NOT select it as Stretch which is causing this problem.

Click on Save changes button and the solid Black color screen will disappear and you’ll see your new wallpaper on Desktop.

METHOD 2:

You can also directly apply any desired image as Desktop wallpaper by opening it in Windows Explorer.

1. Open My Computer, go to the folder containing your desired wallpaper and double-click on the image file which you want to set as Desktop wallpaper. It’ll open the image in Windows Photo Viewer.

2. Right-click on the image and select “Set as desktop background” option from context menu.

That’s it. It’ll immediately set the desired image as Desktop wallpaper and the solid Black color screen will be removed from Desktop.

This method applies the Desktop wallpaper as Center position.

Also Check:

[Windows 7 Fix] You don’t have Permission to Shut Down This Computer

[Tip] Disable “Your Windows 7 PC is Out of Support” Full Screen Banner