Windows 11 Wallpaper Location and Personalising an Unactivated PC

Windows 11 wallpaper files are stored in C:\Windows\Web, with the default images in the Wallpaper and 4K\Wallpaper\Windows subfolders and lock screen images in Screen. On an unactivated PC the Personalisation page in Settings is locked, but you can still set any picture as your background from File Explorer or the Photos app.

Where are Windows 11 wallpapers stored?

Windows 11 keeps its built-in wallpapers in C:\Windows\Web. Theme images sit in C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper, one subfolder per theme, while the default “bloom” images in several resolutions are in C:\Windows\Web\4K\Wallpaper\Windows. Lock screen pictures are in C:\Windows\Web\Screen.

The quickest way to open any of these is to press Win + R, paste the path and press Enter. You can copy the files out freely, but avoid deleting or renaming anything inside C:\Windows, because Windows Update may expect those files to be there.

How to find the image you are currently using

If you set a photo as your background and later deleted the original, Windows still holds a copy. Open %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes, copy the file called TranscodedWallpaper to your Pictures folder and add .jpg to the end of its name.

A common support question we see is “my background went black and won’t change”. A corrupted TranscodedWallpaper file is one known cause; deleting it (Windows recreates it) and setting the picture again often fixes it.

Where are Windows Spotlight images saved?

Windows Spotlight images are cached in %LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets. The files have random names and no extension, so you need to copy them elsewhere and rename them to .jpg to view them. On some recent builds, desktop Spotlight images are cached in a different package folder instead.

1. Create a folder such as Pictures\Spotlight.
2. Press Win + R, paste the Assets path above and press Enter.
3. Switch to Details view and sort by Size. Wallpaper-quality images are the larger files, typically a few hundred KB or more; the small ones are icons and other assets.
4. Copy the large files to your new folder (copy, do not move).
5. Rename each copy with a .jpg extension and open it in Photos. Files that will not open are not images and can be deleted.

If the folder is empty, check %LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalCache, where some versions of Windows 11 store desktop Spotlight pictures. Images rotate out of the cache over time, so save the ones you like promptly.

Spotlight images are supplied for personal use as backgrounds. Do not reuse them on a website or in commercial work without checking the rights.

How to change your Windows 11 wallpaper in Settings

On an activated PC, go to Settings > Personalization > Background (or right-click the desktop and choose Personalize). Under “Personalize your background” pick Picture, Solid color, Slideshow or Windows spotlight, then choose how the image fits the screen. The change applies straight away.

1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop and select Personalize, or open ms-settings:personalization from the Run box.
2. Select Background.
3. Choose Picture and click Browse photos to use your own image, or pick a recent one.
4. For a rotating set, choose Slideshow, select a folder and set the change interval.
5. Choose Windows spotlight for a new photograph each day, sourced by Microsoft.
6. Set Choose a fit for your desktop image to Fill, Fit, Stretch, Tile, Center or Span.

Microsoft’s own guide to changing the desktop background in Windows covers the same options. When Spotlight is on, a “Learn about this picture” icon appears on the desktop; right-click the desktop to skip to the next image.

Can you change the wallpaper without activating Windows 11?

Yes. Settings shows “You need to activate Windows before you can personalize your PC” and greys out the Background page, but the File Explorer and Photos shortcuts still apply a wallpaper. Right-click any image file and choose Set as desktop background. It is a normal Windows feature, not a workaround.

Method 1: File Explorer

1. Open File Explorer (Win + E) and browse to your image, or to one of the C:\Windows\Web folders.
2. Right-click the image and select Set as desktop background.
3. To make a slideshow, select several images, right-click and choose the same option. Windows rotates through them.

Method 2: Photos app

1. Open the image in Photos.
2. Select the three-dot menu (See more), then Set as > Background.

Method 3: Paint

1. Open the image in Paint.
2. Go to File > Set as desktop background and choose Fill, Tile or Center.

You will find guides online that change Group Policy or registry values to force personalisation open. We do not recommend them: results vary between builds, mistakes in the registry can cause other problems, and they do not change the fact that the copy of Windows is not licensed. Tools that claim to “activate” Windows without a key are unsafe and breach Microsoft’s licence terms.

What else is locked on an unactivated PC?

An unactivated Windows 11 PC works normally for everyday tasks, but most of Settings > Personalization is locked: background, colours and accent colour, dark mode, themes and fonts. You also see an “Activate Windows” watermark in the bottom-right corner and recurring reminders in Settings.

Exactly which pages stay available, such as lock screen or taskbar options, has varied between Windows 11 versions, so your PC may differ slightly. Security updates have generally continued to install on unactivated PCs, but Microsoft does not promise that, and running Windows long term without a licence is not permitted by its terms.

Not sure where you stand? Our guide on how to check if Windows 11 is activated shows the status in Settings and from the command line.

How to enable full personalisation

The only supported way to enable every personalisation option is to activate Windows 11 with a valid licence. Go to Settings > System > Activation, select Change product key, enter a genuine key for the edition you have installed and restart. Themes, colours, Spotlight and dark mode become available immediately.

1. Check your installed edition under Settings > System > About (Home or Pro). The key must match it.
2. Open Settings > System > Activation.
3. Select Change next to “Change product key” and enter the 25-character key.
4. Follow the prompts, then restart. Microsoft’s page on activating Windows explains each activation state.

If you previously had a licence on this PC, try finding your existing Windows 11 product key first. A digital licence linked to your hardware may reactivate automatically once you sign in with your Microsoft account.

Not sure which licence type suits you? Our explainer on OEM vs retail vs volume Windows keys sets out the differences, and the guide to removing the “Activate Windows” watermark covers what happens after activation.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the default Windows 11 wallpaper located?

The default Windows 11 wallpaper is in C:\Windows\Web\4K\Wallpaper\Windows, which holds light and dark versions in several screen resolutions. Theme wallpapers are in C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper, sorted into one subfolder per theme. Open either path from the Run box (Win + R) and copy the files you want.

How do I save the current Windows Spotlight picture?

Open %LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets, sort by size and copy the largest files to another folder. Rename each copy with a .jpg extension and open it in Photos. Some Windows 11 builds store desktop Spotlight images in the Client.CBS package’s LocalCache folder instead.

Why can’t I change my wallpaper in Windows 11?

The usual reason is that Windows is not activated, which locks the Background page in Settings. Other causes include a work or school policy set by an administrator, or a corrupted TranscodedWallpaper file in %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes. Right-clicking an image and choosing “Set as desktop background” works in most cases.

Is it legal to use Windows 11 without activation?

Microsoft lets you install Windows 11 and use it before activation, but its licence terms require a valid licence for ongoing use. Running it indefinitely unactivated is not licensed use, even though the operating system keeps working. Activating with a genuine product key or digital licence is the compliant route.

Does activating Windows 11 remove the watermark?

Yes. Once Windows 11 activates with a valid key or digital licence, the “Activate Windows” watermark disappears, usually straight away or after a restart. Personalisation options in Settings become available at the same time. If the watermark remains, check Settings > System > Activation for an error code.

Can I use dark mode on unactivated Windows 11?

Not through Settings. Dark mode, accent colours and themes sit on the locked Personalisation pages, so Windows keeps its default appearance until activation. Individual apps that have their own theme setting, such as some browsers and Office, can still be switched to dark independently of Windows.

The bottom line

Every Windows 11 wallpaper you might want is somewhere under C:\Windows\Web, your AppData Themes folder or the Spotlight cache. You can set a background on an unactivated PC from File Explorer, but full personalisation needs a genuine licence. If you are still deciding which edition to activate, compare Windows 11 Home vs Pro first.

Useful links