I’m having an issue with my PC running Windows 10 that hasn’t been activated yet. The wallpaper keeps changing randomly, and I can’t modify the settings for wallpaper and album because of the lack of activation.
Although I removed the photos from the Pictures library, the issue persists. While searching the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Wallpapers, I found the string “Madagaskar.”
I tried changing the BackgroundType value in the registry from 2 to 1 or 0, but that didn’t work. Deleting the key only made it reappear after I logged off and back in.
Do you have any suggestions for stopping the wallpaper from changing randomly or changing it to a solid color?
3 Answers
Introduction
Windows 10 is a widely used operating system, known for its user-friendly interface and numerous features. However, users who have not activated their Windows 10 may face some issues, such as a random wallpaper changing issue. This problem can be annoying, especially when you cannot modify the settings for wallpaper and album due to the lack of activation. In this blog post, we will explore some solutions to deactivate Windows 10 random wallpaper on a non-activated OS.
Stop Slideshow Feature
One of the reasons for the random wallpaper changing issue is the Slideshow feature in Windows 10. This feature is designed to change your wallpaper after a certain period of time, which is why your wallpaper keeps changing randomly. To stop this feature, follow the steps below:
1. Right-click on the desktop and select Personalize.
2. Click on the Background option.
3. Under the Choose Your Picture section, select the Picture option instead of Slideshow.
4. If the Slideshow option is grayed out, click on the Browse button and select a single picture to set as your wallpaper.
5. Close the Personalization window.
By following these steps, you can deactivate the Slideshow feature and stop the random wallpaper changing issue.
Disable Windows Spotlight Feature
Windows Spotlight is another feature that can cause the random wallpaper changing issue. This feature downloads and displays new wallpapers automatically from the internet. To disable this feature, follow the steps below:
1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Click on Personalization and select the Lock Screen option.
3. Under the Background section, select Picture or Slideshow instead of Windows Spotlight.
4. Close the Settings app.
By disabling the Windows Spotlight feature, you can prevent your wallpaper from changing randomly.
Edit Registry Values
If the above solutions do not work, you can try editing the registry values to deactivate the random wallpaper changing issue. Follow the steps below:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktop.
4. Look for the “SlideShow” DWORD value and set its value to 0.
5. Close the Registry Editor.
By changing the value of the “SlideShow” DWORD value to 0, you can deactivate the Slideshow feature and stop your wallpaper from changing randomly.
Change Wallpaper to Solid Color
If you prefer a static wallpaper instead of a changing one, you can change your wallpaper to a solid color. Follow the steps below:
1. Right-click on the desktop and select Personalize.
2. Click on the Background option.
3. Under the Choose Your Picture section, select the Solid Color option.
4. Choose the color you want to set as your wallpaper.
5. Close the Personalization window.
By changing your wallpaper to a solid color, you can prevent your wallpaper from changing randomly.
Activate Windows 10
If none of the above solutions work, you may need to activate your Windows 10 to fix the random wallpaper changing issue. Activating your Windows 10 will unlock all the features and settings, including the ability to modify your wallpaper settings. Follow the steps below to activate your Windows 10:
1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Click on Update & Security and select Activation.
3. Click on the Activate button and follow the instructions to activate your Windows 10.
By activating your Windows 10, you can unlock all the features and settings, including the ability to modify your wallpaper settings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the random wallpaper changing issue can be annoying, especially when you cannot modify your wallpaper settings due to the lack of activation. However, there are several solutions to deactivate this issue, such as stopping the Slideshow feature, disabling the Windows Spotlight feature, editing registry values, changing your wallpaper to a solid color, or activating your Windows 10. By following these solutions, you can prevent your wallpaper from changing randomly and customize your desktop according to your preferences.
It’s not possible to change the wallpaper or disable the feature if your copy of Windows 10 is not activated. The wallpaper feature is tied to the activation status of Windows and is only available if the operating system is activated.
If you want to change the wallpaper or disable the feature, you’ll need to activate your copy of Windows 10. You can do this by purchasing a valid product key and entering it in the Activation section of the Settings app. Alternatively, you can try using a tool to bypass the activation requirement, but be aware that using such tools may be illegal and can also potentially damage your system.
In summary, if you want to change the wallpaper or disable the feature that randomly changes the wallpaper on your non-activated copy of Windows 10, you’ll need to activate the operating system first. Activation can be done by purchasing a valid product key and entering it in the Activation section of the Settings app. It’s not recommended to try to bypass the activation requirement or use any third-party tools to do so, as it may be illegal and can also potentially damage your system.
Although it may not be an elegant solution, I confess that I found a way to address the issue. I discovered that the current wallpaper is stored in a file called TranscodedWallpaper.
By replacing this file and restricting modifications to it, I can resolve the problem.
That’s all there is to it.