How to Change the Lock Screen in Windows 10

Edited 4 days ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Windows 10Lock ScreenPersonalizationSettingsConfigurationSystemAppearanceInterfaceCustomizationUsability

Windows 10 is a highly customizable operating system that allows users to personalize their computer experience. One of the features you can customize is the lock screen. The lock screen is the first thing you see when you turn on your computer, wake it from sleep, or lock it using the Windows + L key combination. It presents information or visuals that may be important to you, such as your upcoming calendar appointments, weather updates, or just a pretty picture to make the start of your computing session more pleasant.

Changing the lock screen on Windows 10 involves several steps, and this document will walk you through each of them in detail. Whether you want to change the background image, customize apps that show status information, or change other settings, you'll find this guide comprehensive and easy to follow.

Understanding the lock screen

Before learning how to change the lock screen, it is important to understand what it involves for a better customization process. In Windows 10, the lock screen serves both aesthetic and functional purposes. It shows a decorative background and can display important status information from your apps. It is what you see when your computer is locked or idle for a certain period of time.

The lock screen may display the following:

• A background image that you can personalize.
• Notifications or instant statuses from your apps.
• Time and date.

Personalizing these aspects will make your computer not only look attractive, but also more functionally useful.

Accessing the lock screen settings

To customize your lock screen, you'll first need to access the lock screen settings. These settings are found in the main Settings app in Windows 10.

Here's how to reach them:

1. Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of your screen. Or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
2. From the Start menu, select the Settings gear icon to open the Settings window, or press Windows+I to open Settings directly.
3. In the Settings window, find Personalization and click on it. This opens a new set of options related to the way your system looks.
4. Once in the Personalization section, find Lock screen among the options on the left sidebar and click on it.

Personalizing your lock screen image

Windows 10 offers several ways to personalize your lock screen image. You can choose from your own pictures, use the Windows Spotlight feature, or a set of default images provided by Microsoft. Here's how to adjust each of these options:

1. Using Windows Spotlight

Windows Spotlight is a feature that provides a rotating set of images supplied by Microsoft. These images are mostly sourced from Bing and are known for being stunning and diverse.

To enable Windows Spotlight:

1. In the Lock Screen settings, you’ll see a dropdown menu under Background.
2. In that dropdown menu, select Windows Spotlight.

Once enabled, your lock screen will display different images every day, ensuring it stays vibrant and fresh.

2. Selecting a custom image

If you prefer to see your own images, you can easily set your lock screen to display a custom picture:

1. In the Background dropdown menu, select Picture.
2. Selecting Picture will show you some of Microsoft's default images. But to use your own image, click the Browse button.
3. Navigate to your computer to find the image you want to use. Click the image, and then select Choose Picture.

3. Using a slideshow

For those who can't settle for a single image, Slideshow can add variety to your lock screen through multiple images:

1. In the Background dropdown menu, select Slideshow.
2. You'll see the option to choose an album for your slideshow. Click Add Folder.
3. Go to the folder where the images you want are saved and select it.
4. If necessary, you can adjust advanced slide show settings by clicking Advanced slide show settings.

Configuring lock screen apps

The lock screen can also show information from individual apps. By configuring which apps can share a quick status or description on the lock screen, you not only extend its functionality but also keep the information you need to yourself.

Following these steps will guide you through the app configuration:

1. Quick status apps

Quick status apps can display brief updates, like message counts or appointment reminders, directly on the lock screen:

1. Under Lock screen settings, scroll down to find the section called Choose which apps show quick status on the lock screen.
2. You can display information from up to seven apps. Click the square with the plus (+) icon, and a menu will pop up with selectable apps. Choose the app you want information from.

Some popular choices for quick status apps include Mail (for new email alerts), Calendar (for upcoming meetings), and Alarms & Clock.

2. Detailed status app

For more detailed updates from a particular app, you can specify an app to show detailed status information:

1. Locate the section called Select an app to show detailed status.
2. There will be a large icon with a plus (+) inside. Select it to open a menu of available apps.
3. Select the app you want to show more detailed information about on your lock screen.

Common options for detailed conditions include a calendar for detailed schedule information or weather for a clear view of the forecast.

Additional lock screen settings

Under Lock screen settings, there are many more options you can use to further customize the lock screen to your liking. For example:

• Screen timeout setting: Allows you to adjust the screen timeout period when the device is on battery power or plugged into a power source. This is helpful in saving energy and extending the life of your device.
• Show lock screen background picture on sign-in screen: If enabled, the same lock screen image will be used for the sign-in screen where you enter your password or PIN.

Save and exit

Any changes made to the lock screen settings should be applied immediately. There's no save button, but you can press the back button or close the settings window once you're satisfied with your customizations.

Troubleshooting common problems

If your lock screen doesn't change as expected, you may need to check a few areas;

• Not enough space: If you are using a slideshow, make sure there is enough storage space and the selected folder path is correct.
• Spotlight issues: If images do not refresh, reset Windows Spotlight. This is done by navigating to %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets and deleting its contents and resetting Spotlight.
• Policy restrictions: Make sure there are no organizational policies that prevent changes to the lock screen.

If none of these steps resolve your issue, consider contacting Microsoft Support for further assistance.

Conclusion

Customizing the lock screen in Windows 10 is a powerful way to make your device unique and personalized, while ensuring it provides quick, useful information at a glance. Whether you choose a personal photo, a slideshow of fond memories, or a rolling series of stunning photos from Windows Spotlight, the options are extensive. Along with the choice of imagery, integrating app statuses can help you stay informed and prepared for your day at a glance.

Remember, these adjustments aren't just about aesthetics; they're also about functionality. Customizing your lock screen reduces the need to go into your device more for updates or quick information, which can improve your productivity. Make full use of lock screen settings to improve the Windows experience.

With this guide, making these changes should be straightforward and beneficial. As technology becomes more integrated into everyday life, it’s important to make the experience as fun and efficient as possible, and personalizing your lock screen is a great start towards that journey.

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