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How to set wallpaper on Windows devices
Wallpaper customization is a powerful feature at the disposal of organizations to maintain consistency and coherence across devices, helping to build a brand identity. This feature is especially beneficial due to its remote deployment capabilities, which allow you to choose a customized image and then configure the look/feel of the wallpaper. With Hexnode UEM, you can easily customize home screen and lock screen wallpapers on Windows devices in your workplace to align with your organization’s preferences.
Setting wallpaper on Windows devices
- Log in to the Hexnode portal.
- Go to Policies > New Policy. Assign a name and description (optional) for the policy. You can also choose to continue with an existing policy.
- Go to Windows > Configurations > Wallpaper. Click on Configure.
- Configure the settings to set the wallpaper for the devices.
You can customize configurations for two kinds of wallpapers:
- Desktop wallpaper: By checking this option you can configure the desktop wallpaper settings for the device.
- Lock screen wallpaper: By checking this option you can configure the lock screen wallpaper settings for the device
The following settings are available for configuring the wallpaper settings on Windows devices,
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Desktop wallpaper | Check this option to configure the desktop wallpaper. |
| Lock screen wallpaper | Check this option to configure the lock-screen wallpaper. |
| Wallpaper type | Choose the wallpaper type. There are two options available—Image, and Solid colour. |
| Choose colour | For ‘Solid colour’ wallpaper type, select the colour for the wallpaper. |
| Image source | For ‘Image’ wallpaper type, choose the image source. There are three options available,
|
| Choose a fit for the image | Select a fit for the image. The options available are—Fill, Stretch, Tile, Centre, Span. |
| Prevent users from changing the wallpaper (Desktop Wallpaper) |
Check this option to prevent users from changing the wallpaper from the device-end. |
| Show device details on the wallpaper | Check this option to display the device details on the wallpaper. You can customize the details using the following options:
|
Associate the policy with target entities
If you haven’t saved the policy,
- Navigate to Policy Targets.
- Select the required Devices, Users, Device Groups, User Groups or Domains.
- Click on Save.
If you have already saved the policy,
- Navigate to Policies > My Policies and select the required policy.
- Click on Manage > Associate Targets.
- Select the required Devices, Users, Device Groups, User Groups or Domains.
- Click on Associate.
What happens at the device end?
After the policy is applied, the desktop image on the device updates according to the wallpaper settings defined in the policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does the Wallpaper policy take precedence over user-installed Windows themes?
Yes. When the admin associates a Wallpaper policy via Hexnode, the operating system gives priority to the UEM-delivered configuration over any local theme or personalization settings applied by the user.
2. What occurs if the image file is deleted from a provided Web URL after the Wallpaper policy is associated?
Windows typically caches the image locally once it is successfully downloaded. However, if the device attempts to re-synchronize the policy and the source URL is no longer valid, the device may revert to a default system background or a solid black screen.
3. Does the Wallpaper policy support the deployment of multiple images as a slideshow?
Currently, the Wallpaper policy for Windows supports only a single static image or a solid color. Organizations requiring rotating backgrounds may need to utilize a custom script to manage image folders and registry-based slideshow settings.
4. Will the wallpaper be restored to the user’s original image if the Wallpaper policy is removed?
Not necessarily. Many Windows personalization settings won’t revert the registry. If the admin disassociates the policy, the UEM-assigned wallpaper often persists until the user manually changes it, or a new policy is applied.
Troubleshooting
1. Error message: The Wallpaper policy status remains “In Progress” indefinitely in the Action History.
Probable Cause:
A synchronization gap exists between the device and the Hexnode server, or there is a conflict with a pre-existing personalization policy.
Solution:
The admin should perform a manual Sync from the Hexnode UEM app on the device. If the status does not update, the admin should modify the policy slightly (e.g., changing the Description) and save it again to force a re-application of the configuration.
Best Practices
- Ensure Windows Activation: The admin should verify that all target devices are properly licensed and activated before deploying wallpapers to avoid silent policy failures.
- Standardize Image Formats: It is recommended to use JPG or PNG formats with a resolution matching the standard monitor aspect ratio of the fleet (e.g., 1920×1080) to prevent distorted images or high memory consumption.
- Reboot for Personalization: For the most consistent results, it is suggested that the admin advises users to restart the device after the policy is applied. While some changes are immediate, a reboot ensures all system UI elements (like the Lock Screen) refresh with the new configuration.
