How To Change Windows 7 Logon Screen Easily (Without Using Hacks & Tools)

4/23/2011 How To Change Windows 7 Logon Scre…
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How To Change Windows 7 Logon Screen Easily [Without Using Hacks Advertisements
& Tools]
Posted March 16, 2009 – 10:55 am in: W indows 7, W indows 7 Guides Categories
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Finally Microsoft has incorporated a new feature in the latest build (7057) of Windows 7
which supports the end user to change the logon screen bac kground without using any
hacks or third-party tools.
Downloads
In previous version of Windows, user had to use third-parry tools like Tune-Up-Utilities to Nero 9 Free Full Version
c hange the logon sc reen bac kground easily. Windows 7 now supports customization of
Download Offic e 2010 RTM Trial
Windows 7 logon sc reen offic ially. Replacing the old logon screen is just another task like
c hanging wallpaper (Desktop bac kground). Thanks to withinwindows for finding out this Kaspersky Internet Security 2011
excellent feature. Nero 10 Free Full Version
Windows Server 2008 R2
Awesome Windows 7 Themes
Windows 7 SP1 Articles
Download Windows 7 Service Pack 1

SP1 Disk Spac e Requirements
Slipstream Windows 7 Service Pack 1
Uninstall Windows 7 Servic e Pac k 1
Freeup Disk After SP1 Installation
Follow the procedure below to change the Windows 7 logon sc reen.

1. Download the registry file from here. Extrac t the file and double-c lic k on the file to
enable this feature (Alternative method: right-click, select Merge).
2. Now, head over to the following folder:

C:\Windows\System32\oobe (“C” is your Windows Seven Installation drive)
3. Here, create a new folder named Info. Again, create a new folder inside the Info
folder and rename it as backgrounds.
4. Copy your favorite image file to this folder and rename it as backgroundDefault. Note
that the image must be in JPG format and the size should be less than 256 KB.
5. You are done. Reboot your system and see the change.
The following files (sorted by width-to-height ratio) are supported in

C:\Windows\System32\oobe\Info\Backgrounds folder:
* backgroundDefault.jpg
* background768×1280.jpg (0.6)
* background1024×768.jpg (1.33-)
* background1600×1200.jpg (1.33-)
* background1360×768.jpg (1.770833-)
intowindows.com/how-to-change-wind… 1/9
Ta gs: Logon, W indows 7
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72 Comments
1. axious
Po sted March 18, 2009 a t 2:58 pm | Pe rm a link
Or you could use this simple little proggy. Works
Here ya go. Source included for the curious (and paranoid. NO MALWARE!)
Feel free to do anything with it.
Does all this in one go:
* Enables/Disables the registry key

* Resizes the selected image to your current rez (or any other size if you tell it to)
* Sets it to 96dpi 24bit
* Finds the highest JPG compression that w ould still keep it below 256kb
* Saves it as backgroundDefault.jpg in the correct folder (and create a backup if one is
already in there)
Tested on Win 7 build 7057 nd works on previous buils to.
http://ww w.neow in.net/forum/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=222340
Original thread here

http://ww w.neow in.net/forum/index.php?show topic=747098&st=105&start=105
2. Samyak
Po sted June 3, 2009 at 1:36 pm | P erm a link
W ill this trick w ork on W indows 7 RC1 also? (Build 7100)
3. Asad Hamdani
Po sted June 5, 2009 at 4:15 a m | P erm a link
You can always type this string in RUN and you w ill always land in the currently installed
W indows’ directories;
%windir%\System32\Oobe
Basically %WinDir% tells the current system to go to the currently installed Window s
Installation Folder.
Great tip on changing the Logon Screen, that’s w hat brought me here anyway
Thanks.
4. MadMonk
Po sted July 9, 2009 a t 3:44 a m | Pe rm a link
^^
Yeah, if you’re dumb enough to change the default installation folder.
5. Jonathan
Po sted Se pte m ber 27, 2009 at 12:17 am | Pe rm alink
This w orked perfect, it’s exactly what I wanted! Thanks!
6. aj
Po sted O ctober 24, 2009 at 8:42 pm | P erm alink
does this w ork on w indows 7 starter… im planning on buying a netbook…
7. admin
Po sted O ctober 25, 2009 at 11:59 a m | Pe rm a link
@ aj
Yes. It should work fine.
8. cheezehead
Po sted No ve m ber 28, 2009 at 1:14 a m | P erm a link
Can you upload the rar file to another filehost site? the link you have for that file is
constantly saying that its over its bandw idth use. Use 4shared.com or mediafire or
something that wont have a bandwidth limit.
9. dangerlem
Po sted No ve m ber 28, 2009 at 2:13 pm | P erm a link
yeah, uhh… bandwidth issues. thanks anyway.
10. admin
Po sted Dece m ber 13, 2009 at 2:41 pm | P erm a link
@Cheezehead
Link updated. You can now directly download it from our server only. Btw , thanks for
notifying about the issue.
11. Keith Hanly

I have found this method doesn’t w ork on 7 rtm unless you go to Group Policy> Go to
start menu and in the search box type gpedit.msc right click and click ‘run as
administrator…click on Computer Configuration in Group Policy then Administrative
TEmplates then Sysytem and choose ‘Logon’ near the bottom of Logon Double click
‘Alw ays use custom logon background’ and choose ‘enable’ in this…it is set to ‘Not
Configured’ by default.Then do the above tutorial and it should w ork! Hope this helps
someone! Keith!
12. Keith Hanly

Now I just after realising that the Registry dow nload link probably does this for you,
anyw ay…if it doesn’t my last post w ill work!
13. John
Po sted Dece m ber 24, 2009 at 3:28 a m | P erm a link
Hi Keith,
W in7 can’t find gpedit. If have tried the oobe thing, but this doesn’t w ork here. Anyone
else have ideas?
Seems gpedit is only available in Ultimate.
14. Mark
Thanks! Love to tweak!
15. Johnson Yip

Po sted Janua ry 1, 2010 a t 2:43 am | Pe rm a link
Thanks for the tip. I’m so happy now since I no longer have to stare at the borring logon
background that comes w ith Window s 7.
Great tutorial!
16. Silvio Sagovac

Po sted Janua ry 13, 2010 at 5:08 am | P erm alink
Curious, you can’t put an image that is bigger than ~256KB, w hy so, and is there a way
to overide it?
And simple “deactivation”-deleteing the picture!
Excelent post! Got me to this site.
17. Silvio Sagovac

@John, it realy shoud have to find it! Did you w rote “gpedit” or “gpedit.msc”? If you w rite
the full extension (the 2nd option) you will have listed on the top the application in
“Programs” category.
18. aamir
Po sted Janua ry 29, 2010 at 4:20 pm | P erm alink
hey buddy, its good but heres one more utility w here u havent need to do all of this just
select folder n then select picture ur logon screen automatically change…. utilty name is
“w indows 7 logon backgroung changer”
19. Bret
Po sted Fe bruary 2, 2010 a t 7:30 pm | Pe rm a link
@ Keith Hanly: group policy editor (gpedit.msc) is only available to those w ith
Professional or Ultimate editions.
@ Everyone else: If you have a home edition of Window s 7, you need to edit the
registry.
20. MikeVertx
Po sted Fe bruary 9, 2010 a t 6:06 a m | Pe rm a link
you did say:
“w ithout using any hacks or third-party tools”
and then immediately follow ing described how to ‘hack’ the registration files…
respectfully this post is a fail.
here’s w hy:
although this trick may w ork, and I may end up trying and using it… it means manually
editing the registry files *OR* dow nloading a program… w hich means this is *NOT* as
easy as changing your background image. *AND* windows has *NOT* included changing
your log-in screen easily.
the topic and title should have been:
“Change your Window s 7 log-in screen w ith a simple reg edit”
21. Cris!
So easy, so quick, so nice!

Thanks a lot !
22. JBL
Po sted Fe bruary 18, 2010 at 2:40 am | P erm alink
W hen i try to copy jpg files there it says:
Target Folder is not available.
the info folder w as already there too… w ith sony stuff in it.
23. JBL
Sorry to double post, please merge my posts.
I found a w ay to get a .jpg file in the folder, I open it w ith paint and save as in the
backgrounds folder..
anyone know s how I can allow copying files in this folder?
24. Scott Deagan

This w as working for me until today. I added another user account, and now I have the
stupid flower/bird logon w allpaper (looks like something from the 70s) .
25. twjames
Po sted March 1, 2010 at 6:23 am | P erm alink
Keith…thanks…I’m on W in7 Ultimate, just dow nloading the reg key didn’t w ork but it did
after I edited the logon properties with gpedit.msc.
thanx
Tim
26. specter
Po sted March 24, 2010 a t 9:14 a m | Pe rm a link
mmm i just tried follow the instructions but it dos not w ork what else can I do?
27. nina
Po sted May 10, 2010 a t 6:11 am | Pe rm alink
W orked for me. Ty so much.
28. Mohamed Zakzouk

Po sted May 10, 2010 a t 7:06 pm | Pe rm alink
great it’s very helpful thanks so much
29. Imran
Po sted May 22, 2010 a t 11:14 a m | P erm alink
It is not w orking on windows 7 ultimate. Can anyone hep me
30. Pasha
Po sted May 31, 2010 a t 1:32 pm | Pe rm alink
it works fine! thank you
31. Nair
Po sted June 11, 2010 a t 4:20 pm | Pe rm alink
w orks totally fine. just one thing though. how can i have a screen capture of my log in
screen just like the image you show ed in this post. thanks.
32. simithra
I m using w indows starter and i follow ed all the instruction but it didnt w ork…
33. mayford5
If you name your backgrounds in this format

backgroundresolution.jpg(ex..background1280X1024.jpg) it should work everytime. You
w ill just need to edit the .jpg w ith paint and resize it to your current resolution. Then
name your .jpg in the above manner for your resolution and it should work just fine. This
has worked for me numerous times now.
34. arieljannai
Po sted August 26, 2010 at 10:09 pm | Pe rm alink
hey, i w as also trying to change my logon background, but it just doesn’t work on my
computer. i’ve edited the registry and i’ve also changed the state in the gpedit.
you have any ideas what can possibly be the problem?
it should work also if i have a couple of users right?
35. chase
Po sted Se pte m ber 17, 2010 at 1:56 pm | P erm a link
helpp i tried several times and it didn’t w ork can come one email me some help on this
please
36. GMMY
Po sted Se pte m ber 24, 2010 at 10:30 pm | Pe rm alink
THERE ALREADY EXIST INFO & BACKGROUND FOLDERS SO PLEEEEEEEEEEZ HELP ME OUT
37. GMMY
I AM USING WIN7 HB
38. TAKEO
did it work on windows 7 starter???
39. 116cl
Po sted Se pte m ber 29, 2010 at 11:50 am | Pe rm alink
This MESSED UP my computer. I’m getting a blue screen w ith a long message that says
something like, “If this is the first time you saw this or you saw this is more than once.”
How do I fix w hat the registry dow nload changed? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
40. admin
Restore your system to the previous system restore point by booting into the W inRE
environment. To do this, just turn on your PC, hit F8 key and then select Advanced
options. In the install screen, click Repair my computer and finally click restore my
computer to earlier restore point.
41. oblikovanje internet

W orks perfect, thank you for this guide!
42. sachi
Po sted O ctober 3, 2010 a t 12:34 am | P erm alink
thanks…………….alot
43. emgee
This w orked great for w in7pro, muchas gracias! My only problem now is I don’t have the
‘Other User’ option available on my logon screen. I can disable show ing the last logged
on user and then logon as another user, but I’d prefer to show the last user. Any ideas?
44. Mark
W orth reiterating that 1920×1080 is NOT supported. I think I just saw 1920×1200 in the
list and read it as 1080. I just copied my image to both backgroundDefault.jpg and
background1920x1200.jpg instead of background1920x1080.jpg but left both images at
a 1920×1080 resolution and it works. Not sure w hich of those 2 names really did the
trick but I don’t want to break it playing w ith figuring that out.
45. Bryce
Po sted O ctober 24, 2010 at 1:07 am | P erm alink
Hello, I have an alienware laptop that came with this regedit already installed (so that it
came w ith a cool alienw are logon screen). Unfortunately, I think after a w indows update
or something, the logon screen reverted back to the original w in 7 picture (lame).
I can’t figure out to fix this, none of the .exe files work. I don’t want to just delete the file
out of the system32 folder since it’s a registry edit and reinstall. Can/should I do that?
The image is named properly and is in the info folder.
I’m using w in 7 home premium 64 bit.
Thank you in advance!
46. andrew
Po sted O ctober 24, 2010 at 1:09 am | P erm alink
to bad, that image must be 256KB or less, because I have a really nice looking image,
but it’s 500KB.. Tried resizing, but then the quality of image w ent dow n.. Still nice trick
you got there
47. mike
Po sted No ve m ber 4, 2010 a t 4:50 am | Pe rm alink
I have used logonStudio since vista came out and it has worked great, even w ith w in7.
However, I just bought a Dell Inspiron 570 for a customer and it came with an OEM login
screen. LogonStudio could not change it.
So, I used the regedit file provided here, follow ed the loacation in the registry and
changed it from a value of 1 to a value of 0. Now LogonStudio works!
It seems that dell has used the information here to change the default logon. thanks for
the reg file, it helped me find w hat value to change.
48. Dirk
Po sted No ve m ber 7, 2010 a t 4:48 am | Pe rm alink
Thanks! Very handy.
Your reg key really w as the answ er for me.

By the way is there also a w ay to get rid of: the small
“Window s 7 ultimate” logo at the bottom of the screen during starting?
49. David
Po sted No ve m ber 8, 2010 a t 8:24 pm | Pe rm alink
@Dirk,
Here you can find the guide How to Remove “Branding Logo” and “Ease of Access”
(Accessibility) Button from W indows 7 Logon Screen
http://ww w.funamess.com/tw/how-to-remove-branding-logo-and-ease-of-access-
accessibility-button-from-7-logon-screen
50. spook
Po sted No ve m ber 12, 2010 at 5:41 pm | P erm a link
W orked great! Thanks a bunch!
51. Jay
Po sted No ve m ber 30, 2010 at 5:17 a m | P erm a link
Dude it really worked just follow the steps and its so easy u have to resize the
w allpaper in ur current resolution and then name it with that resolution. For example:
current res is 800×600 u need one wallpaper background800x600.jpg and
backgrounddefault.jpg must be 800×600 too. (u can resize it w ith paint, only before
placing in the map!) At paint choose Options, Properties, change scale & height (make
sure its in pixels) make it all ur ow n resolution! if u have problems w ith the reg dow nload
w indow s tw eaker so u can take ow nership of the reg and can do anything w ith it.
Peace!
52. Promod
Po sted Dece m ber 7, 2010 a t 8:34 pm | Pe rm alink
A very big thanx. it w ork.now i can change my logon image daily.
53. Nope
Simple dow nload of a reg file? W hat, w as I born yesterday? No thanks.
54. Mohamed
Po sted Dece m ber 19, 2010 at 12:15 pm | Pe rm alink
It’s N’t Workin Win7 Ultimate .So Can U Help in Other!
55. HELP
W HERE the heck did u get the flow er background logon screen, can’t find it anyw here :\
56. SUMIT
OSAM BRO……….
57. Manav
thank you!! worked for me perfectly
58. NR
Thanks a lot .. it really w orks……………….
59. Jennifer
This w orked really well, Though i had to change the image to 800×600. It wouldn’t w ork
any other w ay and i have Windows 7 Home. Thank You so much for the post. Great
w ork.
60. Andrew
Can it be undone?
61. Info File

There’s already and info file, should i make another one or use the one existing?
62. Alex
This is one of the best things windows did to be able to customize more of w indow s
hope they will eventually make more changes to custumize it even further, people like
me are very into customizing and thanks to w indow s for making it easier w ithout any
use of software
63. Eric
Po sted Fe bruary 13, 2011 at 12:25 pm | Pe rm a link
Tweaking window s is fun !

Thanks, and can someone tip me more tips on how to tweak window s 7 ?
64. Nithya
Po sted Fe bruary 16, 2011 at 6:40 pm | P erm alink
Thanks a lot.. It’s working
65. Kawasaki
Po sted Fe bruary 27, 2011 at 4:15 pm | P erm alink
I have a problem… i don`t find this INFO, he doesn`t it .
66. karan
Po sted March 9, 2011 at 7:38 pm | P erm alink
dose this w ork on w indows 7 home premium???
67. admin
Po sted March 10, 2011 a t 10:11 am | P erm alink
@Karan
Yes, it w orks on Home Premium as w ell.
68. Devin
Po sted March 11, 2011 a t 7:23 a m | Pe rm a link
There is a another info file so should i delete it or w hat and i tryed placing the defalt
folder in it and it doesnt work. it wont let me expand or merge the file.
69. Tony
There is a much easier way to do this w ith no registry hacking. I’m using Windows 7
64bit so it may be different to 32bit.
Go to C:\Window s\SysWOW64\oobe
Replace the file background.bmp w ith an image that fits the requirements stated above.
Logout.
70. krishna
Yeah, it is w orking on my w indow s7 System. More over no malw are is detected..
Thank u for posting
71. Oskar
Po sted April 5, 2011 a t 4:57 pm | Pe rm alink
This w orked flawlessly on the first try. Thank you.
72. Nithin
Po sted April 9, 2011 a t 1:10 am | Pe rm alink
Thanks for this post. it really worked. thanks a lot

and a big thanks to Keith Hanly , your post really helped me to complete this. Thanks for
you toooooooooo
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4/23/2011 How To Change Windows 7 Logon Scre…

Into Windows Type here your search

Windows 7 SP1 Articles

Download Windows 7 Service Pack 1

Follow the procedure below to change the Windows 7 logon sc reen.

2. Now, head over to the following folder:

The following files (sorted by width-to-height ratio) are supported in

How to make bootable USB

27 Beautiful Vista logon screens

Remove W atermark from W indows 7 desktop

Free Windows 7 PDF Books

Window s 7 inside out free chapters

Window s 7 step by step free chapters

Window s 7 impact w orld wide

Using Window s XP mode in Window s 7

Power management in W indows 7

Or you could use this simple little proggy. Works

Does all this in one go:

* Enables/Disables the registry key

Tested on Win 7 build 7057 nd works on previous buils to.

http://ww w.neow in.net/forum/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=222340

Original thread here

W ill this trick w ork on W indows 7 RC1 also? (Build 7100)

This w orked perfect, it’s exactly what I wanted! Thanks!

does this w ork on w indows 7 starter… im planning on buying a netbook…

yeah, uhh… bandwidth issues. thanks anyway.

11. Keith Hanly

12. Keith Hanly

Thanks! Love to tweak!

15. Johnson Yip

16. Silvio Sagovac

Excelent post! Got me to this site.

17. Silvio Sagovac

you did say:

“w ithout using any hacks or third-party tools”

respectfully this post is a fail.

the topic and title should have been:

“Change your Window s 7 log-in screen w ith a simple reg edit”

So easy, so quick, so nice!

W hen i try to copy jpg files there it says:

Target Folder is not available.

Sorry to double post, please merge my posts.

anyone know s how I can allow copying files in this folder?

24. Scott Deagan

W orked for me. Ty so much.

28. Mohamed Zakzouk

great it’s very helpful thanks so much

It is not w orking on windows 7 ultimate. Can anyone hep me

it works fine! thank you

If you name your backgrounds in this format

did it work on windows 7 starter???

41. oblikovanje internet

W orks perfect, thank you for this guide!

I’m using w in 7 home premium 64 bit.

Thank you in advance!

Thanks! Very handy.

Your reg key really w as the answ er for me.

W orked great! Thanks a bunch!

A very big thanx. it w ork.now i can change my logon image daily.

Simple dow nload of a reg file? W hat, w as I born yesterday? No thanks.

It’s N’t Workin Win7 Ultimate .So Can U Help in Other!

thank you!! worked for me perfectly