Script to change wallpaper in windows 10?

Question

I am trying to get a script to work that will change the default wallpaper for windows 10 because I will be deploying Win10 to all clients. When I run the batch code below, it is not changing the default wall paper. I see that the img0 file is in the correct directory C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Windows but it is not changing the background. The code below is what I am using. I do get some access denied errors when trying to del C:\Windows\Web\4K\Wallpaper\Windows\img0_1366x768.jpg Access is denied.

takeown /f c:\windows\WEB\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg
takeown /f C:\Windows\Web\4K\Wallpaper\Windows\*.*
icacls c:\windows\WEB\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg /Grant System:(F)
icacls C:\Windows\Web\4K\Wallpaper\Windows\*.* /Grant System:(F)
del c:\windows\WEB\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg
del /q C:\Windows\Web\4K\Wallpaper\Windows\*.*
copy %~dp0img0.jpg c:\windows\WEB\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg
copy %~dp04k\*.* C:\Windows\Web\4K\Wallpaper\Windows

Any ideas what I am doing wrong? TIA

How are you deploying Windows 10? If you are doing this with an unattended answer file wouldn't it be easier to change that way? If you are on a domain, just push down a group policy. Last option would be to change the registry settings with a batch file. That would be a lot easier then running on the commands you are using. — Squashman, Nov 05 '15 at 18:32
We have tried with xml as well still no luck. So I just want to run a batch file in the task sequence if possible — user1342164, Nov 05 '15 at 18:53

score 16 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 08 '19 at 08:39

16

Use Powershell to change the wallpaper. First, create a function like this:

Function Set-WallPaper($Value)
 {
    Set-ItemProperty -path 'HKCU:\Control Panel\Desktop\' -name wallpaper -value $value
    rundll32.exe user32.dll, UpdatePerUserSystemParameters
 }

Now call the function:

Set-WallPaper -value "path to wallpaper"

edited Sep 08 '19 at 08:39

TeWu

5,928
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answered Nov 05 '15 at 21:33

Michael Palermo

296
2
9

@user1342164 like I said in my first comment. You could have done the same registry tweak with a batch file. – Squashman Nov 06 '15 at 00:49
Is there a way to make this change for any user that logs into the computer for the first time? – user1342164 Nov 06 '15 at 13:03
5

Does not update on my Windows 10 (10.0.17134.0 - 1803 (Redstone 4) "April 2018 Update"). – TNT Sep 14 '18 at 15:00
@TNT, my wallpaper did not change until I logged out and back in. – MM. May 19 '19 at 15:33

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 16 '16 at 13:18

4

I know this has already been answered, but if someone wants to do this in a batch file the icacls lines need to use /reset instead of the /grant... something like:

takeown /f c:\windows\WEB\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg
icacls c:\windows\WEB\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg /reset
copy %~dp0img0.jpg c:\windows\WEB\wallpaper\Windows\img0.jpg
copy %~dp04k\*.* C:\Windows\Web\4K\Wallpaper\Windows

should work (as long as it is being run by an Administrative account).

answered Sep 16 '16 at 13:18

Stephen Lee Parker

1,215
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I have seen the takeown command on other websites as a solution, but that icacls is critical and this is the only answer which worked for me! – shelbypereira Dec 13 '22 at 09:37

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 20 '19 at 05:22

set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
    WshShell.SendKeys("^ ")
    WshShell.SendKeys("+{F10}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("N")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{DOWN}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{ENTER}")

Well, it's just an automation, could be faulty or sometimes dangerous. — Til, Jan 20 '19 at 05:40

Script to change wallpaper in windows 10?

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