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Make a custom logon screen in Windows 7

In previous versions of Windows, you could use third-party hacking applications to customize the logon background. In Windows 7 there is a manual, no hacking progam necessary, way to do it.

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Step 1Edit the registry

Open the registry editor (search/run regedit). Go to the directory: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\
LoginUI\Background . Open the DWORD value OEMBackground. Change its value to 1.

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13 comments

Oct 15, 2011. 4:57 PMnpanganiban says:

rename it " backgroundDefault" nothing else ^_^ thanks gamerguy!

Oct 20, 2011. 5:59 AMYandle says:

Just going to throw it out there... but... are your extensions hidden? If so then you're absolutely right. Adding the ".JPG" to the name on a system where extensions are hidden (which are set to be hidden by default in my experience) will name the file "backgroundDefault.jpg.jpg" on the system, even though you will see it as "backgroundDefault.jpg"

Aug 6, 2011. 3:00 AMjoseph11 says:

not working

May 30, 2011. 6:23 AMtinker234 says:

wow lovely

Jan 25, 2011. 12:38 AMGhost Coding says:

Hmm.. cool and all but how do I change the loading screen image? Surely there is a way to do that...

Jan 24, 2011. 10:47 AM

EVM says:

Works like a charm, thanks

Aug 26, 2010. 3:09 PMchocogrape says:

I can't find background under logonUI. sigh.

Jul 27, 2010. 9:22 PMmclain114 says:

I performed everything that you stated and did not have any effect. Is there no step to change the pathway that the OS uses for the background from the original BMP to the new JPG?

Jul 28, 2010. 6:56 AMgamerguy13 (author) says:

Sorry you cannot change the pathway that the computer uses. Make sure that the folder titles are exactly the same as what I said and that the picture you are trying to use is a jpeg under 256KB.

Jul 28, 2010. 7:18 AMmclain114 says:

Well, the jpeg is barely under that. I'll try lowering it and see where that gets me.

Jul 27, 2010. 4:16 PMmclain114 says:

I am having trouble finding the registry editor... =[

Jul 27, 2010. 6:26 PMgamerguy13 (author) says:

Open the start menu and use the search to find "regedit" The program should be first on the list. If not, you may not be using an administrative account since you need authorization to use it.

Jul 27, 2010. 8:47 PMmclain114 says:

Oh, well, that's what i tried last time. But, it worked this time. Thank you!