Last Updated on June 7, 2026
Anyone who has been using a Windows based computer for some time knows that its possible to change the desktop wallpaper background that is displayed behind your icons on your computer. You might even know that you can set your Windows background to be a slide show with pictures you have on your computer.
What you might not know is that you can do the same thing for your Windows lock screen. The lock screen is what you see when you first turn on your computer and are at the login screen where you would type in your password. This screen is also shown when you lock your computer when you are away from your desk.
Accessing the Lock Screen Options
1. Understand the Default Lock Screen
By default, Windows will use its own pictures and these will vary depending on which version of the operating system you are using such as Windows 10 or Windows 11 and will also be randomly changed to give you a variety of images to look at. As you can see from the image below taken from a Windows 11 PC, it is using one of the default photos built into Windows.
2. Navigate to Personalization Settings
If you would like to use your own pictures for the lock screen then this is fairly easy to setup and only takes a few steps. To configure the slideshow, you will need to go to your Windows settings and then click on the Personalization area. From there, click on the Lock screen section to access your background preferences. You can also get here quickly by right clicking on your desktop and choosing Personalize.
Configuring the Photo Slideshow
1. Select the Slideshow Option
Next you will change the lock screen setting from the default Windows spotlight to Slideshow. You simply click the dropdown menu on the right side of the screen. The operating system interface instantly updates to reveal new folder configuration options right below that menu.
2. Browse for Your Image Folder
Now you will need to click the Browse button to navigate to the folder where your pictures are located. This step is required unless you have them in the default Pictures folder which is already configured in the settings. Select the exact local directory containing your downloaded wallpapers or family photos.
3. Remove Unwanted Photo Directories
If you do have your photos in the Pictures folder then Windows will use all of these pictures for your slideshow. You might want to create a specific folder just for the photos you want to use and then configure the lock screen to use that folder exclusively. You can then click on the Remove button next to the Pictures folder to have it removed from the configuration without losing any actual files. We created a folder called Biking and then configured it to be used for the Lock screen.
Viewing Your Custom Slideshow
1. Lock Your Computer to Test
Once you have the proper folder configured, the next time you lock your computer or turn it on without logging in, you will see your photos displayed in a slideshow style where they move about the screen. Press the Windows Key and the L key at the same time to force a system lock immediately. The slideshow will also randomly show multiple photos in a collage style format as seen in the image below.
2. Sync with Your Desktop Background
If you already use the Windows background slideshow feature, then you can even use the same folder that has the images you use for your background for the lock screen. Point both settings menus to your favorite picture directory. This creates a seamless visual transition from your login prompt straight to your active desktop workspace.
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