How to Stop Others From Changing Your Windows Desktop Background

Do your siblings, friends, or colleagues change your desktop background all the time? Here's how you can stop them for good.

Sharing your Windows device is often a great idea. However, it’s frustrating when someone suddenly changes your desktop background and other settings.

So, how do you ensure that other users don’t get access to the desktop background settings?

You can resolve this issue in two ways. Firstly, you can configure settings that’d restrict access to the desktop background settings. Alternatively, you could disable the desktop wallpaper setting. We’ll show you how to apply both methods using the Local Group Policy Editor and the Registry Editor.

How to Prevent Others From Changing the Desktop Background

Here's how you can restrict access to the desktop background settings using the Local Group Policy Editor and the Registry Editor.

Using the Local Group Policy Editor

The Local Group Policy Editor (LGPE) is a brilliant tool that you can use to configure various system settings. However, this feature only works on the Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

If you’re using the Home edition, you can try some tricks to open the LGPE on Windows Home. Once you have access to the LGPE, you can proceed.

Here’s how you can restrict access to the desktop background settings using the LGPE:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press OK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization.
4. Double-click the Prevent changing desktop background option.

In the next window, select the Enabled option. From there, press Apply and then press OK. Restart your computer when you complete these steps.

From there, here’s how you can verify that the settings were effective:

1. Press Win + I to open the system settings.
2. Click Personalization from the options.
3. Next, select the Background option on the left-hand side pane. If you applied the settings correctly, the Background settings on the right-hand side would be grayed out. Also, you might see a pop-up message that reads, “Your system administrator has disabled these settings”.

If you want to re-enable the desktop background settings, here’s what you can do:

1. Apply to the previous steps and navigate to the Personalization option on the LGPE. Next, double-click the Prevent changing desktop background option.
2. Select either the Disabled or the Not Configured option.
3. Press Apply, press OK and then restart your device.

Using the Registry Editor

The Registry Editor is an incredible Windows tool that helps you easily configure your system settings.

However, you should be very careful when using this tool. If you delete or tweak incorrect keys, you might cause damage to your device. So, it’s always best to back up your Registry first before you tweak its settings.

Now, here’s how you can use the Registry Editor to restrict access to the desktop background settings:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box.
2. Type Regedit and press OK to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Policies.
4. Right-click on the Policies key (folder) and select New > Key.
5. Name this key as ActiveDesktop and then press Enter.
6. Click on the ActiveDesktop key. From there, right-click on a blank space on the right-hand side and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
7. Name the value as NoChangingWallPaper and then press Enter.

Double-click the NoChangingWallPaper value and set its Value data to 1. Click OK and then close the Registry Editor. Finally, restart your PC to save these changes.

If you want to re-enable the desktop background settings, here’s what you can do:

1. Apply the previous steps and navigate to the ActiveDesktop key. Next, double-click on the NoChangingWallPaper value and set the Value data to 0.
2. Click OK, close the Registry Editor, and then restart your device.

How to Disable the Desktop Wallpaper Settings

Want to try a different method that'll restrict access to the desktop background settings? You can simply disable the desktop wallpaper settings!

So, let’s check out the two different methods for disabling the desktop wallpaper settings.

Using the Local Group Policy Editor

The LGPE makes it easy for you to disable the desktop wallpaper settings. Here’s how this tool can help you:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press OK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop > Desktop.
4. Double-click the Desktop Wallpaper option.
5. In the next window, select the Enabled option. From there, press Apply and then press OK. Finally, close the Registry Editor and restart your device to apply these changes.

If you want to re-enable the desktop wallpaper settings, here’s what you can do:

1. Apply the previous steps and navigate to the Desktop option. From there, double-click the Desktop Wallpaper option.
2. Select either the Disabled or the Not Configured option.
3. Press Apply, press OK and then restart your device.

Using the Registry Editor

Alternatively, you can use the Registry Editor to restrict access to the desktop wallpaper settings. But don’t forget to back up your device first just in case something goes wrong.

Now, here’s how you can disable the desktop wallpaper settings using the Registry Editor:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box.
2. Type Regedit and press OK to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Policies.
4. Right-click on the Policies key (folder) and select New > Key.
5. Name this key as System and then press Enter.
6. Click the System key. From there, right-click on a blank space on the right-hand side and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
7. Name the value as NoWallpaper and then press Enter.

Double-click the NoWallpaper value and set its Value data to 1. Click OK and then close the Registry Editor. Finally, restart your PC to save these changes.

In case you decide to re-enable the desktop wallpaper settings, follow these steps:

1. Apply the previous steps and navigate to the System key. Next, double-click on the NoWallpaper value and set the Value data to 0.
2. Click OK, close the Registry Editor, and then restart your device.

Restrict Access to the Desktop Background Settings: Done!

Does someone keep changing your Windows desktop background without your permission?

No problem! Just apply the tips we’ve covered, and no one will have access to the desktop background settings.