Customize the Lock Screen in Windows
The lock screen in Windows serves as the initial interface you encounter when you start your device or wake it from sleep. It provides a layer of security by requiring a biometric gesture, PIN, or password to access your desktop. Beyond its security function, the lock screen is highly customizable, allowing you to personalize it with different background images, such as a single picture, a slideshow, or dynamic content from Windows spotlight. You can also add useful information, making the lock screen both visually appealing and informative.
To learn how to configure the lock screen background image and add status information, expand the following sections:
To customize the background image:
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In the Settings app on your Windows device, select Personalization > Lock screen or use the following shortcut:
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Under Personalize your lock screen, select one of the following options:
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Windows spotlight: displays a rotating set of images from Microsoft, along with tips, tricks, and notifications
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Picture: select a single image as your lock screen background. You can choose from the default images or browse your device for a custom picture
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Slideshow: use a slideshow of images from a folder on your device. You can add multiple folders and customize the slideshow settings
Tip: enable the option Get Fun Facts, Tips, Tricks, and More on Your Lock Screen to receive additional content from Microsoft directly on your lock screen.
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Toggle On or Off the option Make the lock screen image react when I move my PC to enable or disable the background motion feature. When enabled, the image will slightly pan or move in response to your device's physical movement, creating a dynamic effect
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Toggle On or Off the option Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen to use the same background image for both the lock screen and the sign-in screen, ensuring a consistent visual experience
You can personalize your lock screen by displaying detailed status information from a specific app. This feature allows you to choose an app to show relevant updates directly on the lock screen.
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In the Settings app on your Windows device, select Personalization > Lock screen or use the following shortcut:
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Under Lock screen status, select an app that can show detailed status on the lock screen, for example Weather and more. You can also select None if you don't want to see detailed status on the lock screen
Support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025
After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.
The lock screen in Windows serves as the initial interface you encounter when you start your device or wake it from sleep. It provides a layer of security by requiring a biometric gesture, PIN, or password to access your desktop. Beyond its security function, the lock screen is highly customizable, allowing you to personalize it with different background images, such as a single picture, a slideshow, or dynamic content from Windows spotlight. Additionally, you can add useful information like detailed and quick status updates from your favorite apps, making the lock screen both visually appealing and informative.
To learn how to configure the lock screen background image and add status information, expand the following sections:
To customize the background image:
-
In the Settings app on your Windows device, select Personalization > Lock screen or use the following shortcut:
-
Under Background, select one of the following options:
-
Windows spotlight: displays a rotating set of images from Microsoft, along with tips, tricks, and notifications
-
Picture: select a single image as your lock screen background. You can choose from the default images or browse your device for a custom picture
-
Slideshow: use a slideshow of images from a folder on your device. You can add multiple folders and customize the slideshow settings
Tip: enable the option Get Fun Facts, Tips, Tricks, and More on Your Lock Screen to receive additional content from Microsoft directly on your lock screen.
-
-
Toggle On or Off the option Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen to use the same background image for both the lock screen and the sign-in screen, ensuring a consistent visual experience
You can personalize your lock screen by displaying detailed status information from a specific app and quick status information from different apps. This feature allows you to choose your favorite apps to show relevant updates directly on the lock screen.
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In the Settings app on your Windows device, selectPersonalization > Lock screen or use the following shortcut:
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Under Choose one app to show detailed status on the lock screen, select an app from the list, for example Weather and more. You can also select None if you don't want to see detailed status on the lock screen
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Under Choose which apps show quick status on the lock screen, pick your favorite apps by selecting the plus icons
Weather and more app
The Weather and more app for the Windows lock screen enhances the lock screen experience by providing dynamic, real-time updates. It displays current weather conditions, dynamic updates related to finance, sports, traffic, and more through small widgets.
This app allows you to stay informed at a glance without unlocking your device, making it a convenient tool for quick updates. To read more about the information displayed on a widget, select it on the lock screen, sign in, and view the full details in Microsoft Edge.
Note: Currently, you can't customize the widgets list in the Weather and more app.
The Weather and more app leverages the Widgets app for its configuration. You can customize location, language, region, and temperature units by configuring Widgets. For more information, see Configure Widgets settings.
Note: the Weather and more app on the lock screen might tailor content based on your location estimation to provide you with the most contextually relevant experience. Location estimation can come from the Windows Location service, if enabled, otherwise it might fall back on using the IP address of your internet connection.
Send us feedback
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Let us know what you like, share your ideas, and offer suggestions on how to make the experience better through Feedback Hub. In the Feedback Hub app on your Windows device, select Desktop Environment > Lock screen. |