Windows 7 - Desktop Background - Allow or Prevent Changing

Brink

How to Allow or Prevent Changing Desktop Background in Windows 7

Information

This will show you how to allow or prevent all users on the computer to be able to add, configure, or change the desktop background wallpaper through Personalization in Windows 7.

The Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions do not have this feature included in them.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

Warning

This will not prevent users on the computer from right clicking on a 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 prevent this, you will also need to specify a desktop background wallpaper that will be displayed on all users' desktops that cannot be changed afterwards.

Desktop Background - Allow or Prevent Changing-set-desktop-background.jpg

Desktop Background - Allow or Prevent Changing-set-background.jpg

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 ONE

Using a REG File Download

1. To Allow Changing Desktop Background
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Allow_Changing_Desktop_Background.reg

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Prevent Changing Desktop Background
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Prevent_Changing_Desktop_Background.reg

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. Restart the computer to fully apply.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

OPTION TWO

Through the Local Group Policy Editor

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.

2. In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and Personalization. (See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Prevent changing desktop background and click on Edit. (See screenshot above)

4. To Allow Changing Desktop Background
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled. (See screenshot below step 6)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Prevent Changing Desktop Background
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (See screenshot below step 6)

6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

8. Restart the computer to fully apply.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

need4steer · 04-12-2011

Thanks a lot for this great tutorial.
Will you please combine it with http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/62048-desktop-background-specify-prevent-change.html ?

Brink · 04-12-2011

Hello Need4steer,

Thank you. It's already in the warning box at the top of the tutorial.

yogi369 · 10-26-2011

Hi Guys, ok did the reg file download and restarted. However still have the same issue, cant change desktop background and the and cant use option 2 as im running Windows 7 Home Premium

any ideas? Thanks in advance

Brink · 10-26-2011

Hello Yogi, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Could you post some screenshots of what is wrong when you try to change your desktop background, and give more details on what is or is not happening? For example, any of the options grayed out, or you are only able to change to solid colors, etc......

yogi369 · 10-26-2011

Hi Brink, many thanks for the prompt reply, didnt expect to get one so quick

Tried to reply with a screenshot of the desktop personalisation options but didnt work.

Anyway doesnt really matter as its the usual issue: can only choose solid colour options, and the writing under 'Desktop Background' is greyed out... Help....???? Feel like im goingcrazy here, found your tutorial and thought i was sorted however the reg file didnt seem to work for me

Sorry, i see my first post came thorugh but the screenshot didnt load properly, maybe you can delete that post? In realtion to my issue, i noticed on another thread that you had changed the reg download for another user and that then worked, maybe if i got the original reg download that may work for me? Perhaps not but just a thought. Thanks

Brink · 10-26-2011

Yogi,

In addition, check the turtorial below to make sure you have it set to 'Not specify a desktop background".

Desktop Background - Specify and Prevent Change

Also, check the tutorial below to make sure that you have the Remove background images (where available) box unchecked.

Remove Background Images (where available)

yogi369 · 10-26-2011

Hi Brink, many thanks for the follow up, unfortunately no joy though.

I had already tried:
Remove background images (where available) .Remove Background Images (where available)

And i just tried with no success:
Not specify a desktop background.Desktop Background - Specify and Prevent Change

First i tried without step 5, i.e. have a locked wallpaper, this didnt work.
Then tried with step 5, i.e. the default setting allowing users to change their own desktop backgrounds. Still no luck

Starting to get worried now, nothing seems to be working, any other suggestions.
I know not having the exact pic I want is not a major deal in the grand scheme of things, however this is now really annoying me, have spent so ling trying to resolve what should be such a straight forward thing.

Any other ideas or suggestions would be greatly, greatly appreciated. Thanks

Brink · 10-26-2011

Yogi,

Well, we tried the usual suspects. You could do a system restore using a restore point (if available) dated before this started happening to hopefully undo and fix it.

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