How to Allow or Prevent Changing Desktop Background in Windows
InformationThis tutorial will show you how to allow or prevent all or specific users to be able to add, configure, or change desktop background wallpaper through Personalization in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.
The Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions do not have the Personalization feature included in them, so this tutorial will not apply to them.
You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.
WarningThis will not prevent users on the computer from right clicking on an image and clicking on Set as desktop background (on computer) or Set as Background (on website), to change the desktop background wallpaper as that image.
To disable Set as desktop background, you could specify a desktop background wallpaper that will be displayed on all users' desktops that cannot be changed afterwards.
You could also remove Set as desktop background from the context menu.
EXAMPLE: Desktop Background in Personalization
NOTE: This is Desktop Background set to be allowed (left screenshot below) and prevented (right screenshot below) in Personalization.
OPTION ONETo Allow or Prevent Changing Desktop Background using REG File
1. To Allow Changing Desktop Background for Only Current User
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.2. To Prevent Changing Desktop Background for Only Current User
Allow_Changing_Desktop_Background.reg
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.3. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
4. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
5. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC Windows 7/8) or Continue (UAC Vista), Yes, and OK when prompted.
6. Restart the computer to fully apply.
7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
OPTION TWOTo Allow or Prevent Changing Desktop Background using Group Policy
1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.That's it,
2. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and Personalization. (See screenshot below)
3. In the right pane of Personalization, double click/tap on Prevent changing desktop background to edit it. (See screenshot above)
4. To Allow Changing Desktop Background
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, and go to step 6 below. (See screenshot below step 6)5. To Prevent Changing Desktop Background
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Enabled, and go to step 6 below. (See screenshot below step 6)6. Click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below)
7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.
8. Restart the computer to fully apply.
Shawn
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