My windows 11 background wallpaper is automatically changing to default one no mater how many times I change it to what I want

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My windows 11 background wallpaper is automatically changing to default one no mater how many times I change it to what I want

Michal Botha 45

My windows 11 background wallpaper is automatically changing to default one no mater how many times I change it to what I want.

All of my syncing is off, the windows backup remember my preferences is off - its as dumb as i can make it, yet, everytime I add or move to a new desktop, all curently active destops wallpapers revert back to the default microsoft one.
So now, on the desktop I've moved to - I change the wallpaper to what I want, flick back to the previous dektop, and EVERY desktop reverts back to default.

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Frank Inserra 0 Reputation points

2026-03-10T17:41:49.9133333+00:00

Microsoft and Microsoft User Community suggestions to fix this problem have not been effective. I will say this, that if your background continuously reverts to one or more pictures on your cell phone, the problem is Link to Windows (aka Phone Link), and all of the recommended fixes don't work, except one. Remove the device from Phone Link, and just add it back when you need it. You will find that Slideshow and Dynamic Themes will work again (i.e. will not revert to "picture") while the device is removed, if you have otherwise set the background.
Tanguy Nodet 0 Reputation points

2026-04-07T18:23:50.0633333+00:00

See this thread for a solution that works with Slideshows :)

Answer accepted by question author

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This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Frank Inserra 0 Reputation points

2026-03-10T17:41:49.9133333+00:00

Microsoft and Microsoft User Community suggestions to fix this problem have not been effective. I will say this, that if your background continuously reverts to one or more pictures on your cell phone, the problem is Link to Windows (aka Phone Link), and all of the recommended fixes don't work, except one. Remove the device from Phone Link, and just add it back when you need it. You will find that Slideshow and Dynamic Themes will work again (i.e. will not revert to "picture") while the device is removed, if you have otherwise set the background.
Tanguy Nodet 0 Reputation points

2026-04-07T18:23:50.0633333+00:00

See this thread for a solution that works with Slideshows :)

Answer 1

Randy Baroja 20,610 Independent Advisor

Hey there!

Nice to meet you! I'm Randy, an Independent Advisor.

That’s really frustrating. If your wallpaper keeps going back to the default, even after you turn off syncing and backup, here are a few things to check.

First, go to Settings > Personalization > Themes. Sometimes Windows auto-applies a theme that resets your wallpaper. Try setting your wallpaper again and then save it as a new theme.

If you’re using Windows 11 Pro or a work computer, Group Policy might be forcing the default wallpaper. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop > Desktop. Make sure “Desktop Wallpaper” is set to Not Configured.

Next, check your background settings. Go to Settings > Personalization > Background and make sure it’s set to Picture, not Slideshow.

Also, virtual desktops can be tricky. Windows 11 doesn’t fully support different wallpapers for each one. Changing the wallpaper on one desktop might reset it on all. Try using the same wallpaper across all desktops.

Best regards,

Michal Botha 45 Reputation points

2025-07-15T13:44:39.4+00:00

Thanks - I should have stated above that I wish for the background to be a slideshow, all my desktops with the same folder of images.... but even bringing up the "tray" with other desktops on it, makes them all revert back to the same windows defaultstatic image...

New theme created and saved, and selected - doesn't work.
Group policies checked out good.
Power profiles checked and also set correctly.
I've also done a "Repair-WindowsImage -Online -RestoreHealth" and that all came back good.

This is woring 100% on my windows 10 laptop...
David Lovett 10 Reputation points

2025-10-15T08:29:52.16+00:00

My laptop has the same problem. I've tried changing all the settings, more than once, but it keeps changing back. If Microsoft can't fix this glitch, at least they could let me set the backdrop to black screen. My computer is a 4 week old HP Radeon5, 16Gb, 512Gb SSD, Win 11. This problem doesn't affect my 12 month old HP i7, 8Gb, 512Gb SSD, Win 11. Both machines are fully patched.
Nate Greensides 0 Reputation points

2025-10-19T23:18:49.6866667+00:00

The last bit about virtual desktops being "tricky" because "Windows 11 doesn't fully support different wallpapers for each one" is really upsetting. How is it that Linux desktop environments have been able to do this for decades with no issues, but Microsoft (which is well resourced) cannot? I created a folder of desktop backgrounds to utilize as a slideshow of desktop backgrounds. Then immediately thereafter whenever I switch from the virtual desktop in which I configured the custom desktops into a different virtual desktop, Windows 11 will reset the desktop background to the default background of the selected theme or whatever was most recently used successfully (such as a solid blank color or weirdly enough - Windows Spotlight desktop backgrounds).

I guess I will just stop using virtual desktops on Windows 11 since it breaks the custom desktop backgrounds feature - and since Windows hasn't supported multiple virtual desktops natively in any Windows versions and still does not. Can't miss what you never had I guess...
T 0 Reputation points

2025-10-22T02:20:29.5933333+00:00

+1 Ah man, new Windows new problems
Pipsfc 5 Reputation points

2025-10-22T06:50:08.4066667+00:00

I also have this issue on my ASUS ROG tablet. I just tried the above fix of saving the theme. We’ll see if it works.
Pipsfc 5 Reputation points

2025-10-25T18:41:45.39+00:00

Still the same issue. I’m at a loss and getting irritated. I’ve tried everything mentioned above.
Joshua Hall 0 Reputation points

2025-12-05T14:50:48.8133333+00:00

This has been broken for like four years. It's a KNOWN issue and Microsoft is too lazy or stupid to fix it. This company has turned this product into a steaming pile of dog excrement.

I have to change mine back sometimes daily.
S Khavare 0 Reputation points

2026-02-19T13:14:15.7466667+00:00

NOTHING WORKS I THINKS I MUST SWITCH TO LINUX

Answer 2

Tanguy Nodet 0

See this thread for a solution that works with Slideshow :)

Open settings and set background to slideshow

Open registry editor and remove key "Wallpaper" in each subtree in \HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VirtualDesktops\Desktops\ (each subtree is one virtual desktop)

Reboot the computer again

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Answer 3

S Khavare 0

100% Working Method

Step 1: Create a new folder and place only one photo inside it. This will be your wallpaper.

Step 2: Go to Settings > Personalization > Background.

Step 3: Set the background option to Slideshow.

Step 4: Click Browse and select the folder you created.

Step 5: Set the “Change picture every” option to 1 day.

Step 6: Turn ON the “Shuffle the picture order” option.

Step 7: If you see a blank background, go back and browse to the folder again.

Let me know if this works for you.

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Answer 4

S Khavare 0

Noting works switch to Linux or apple

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My windows 11 background wallpaper is automatically changing to default one no mater how many times I change it to what I want

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