SystemParametersInfoA SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER does not always work?

Question

SystemParametersInfoA SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER does not always work?

Nick Pendragon 0

I don’t know if I’m posting this in the right place…

When using (C++) SystemParametersInfoA SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER, for some reason does not always work.

Viorel 122.6K Reputation points

2024-08-07T19:23:23.86+00:00

Did you check if the function returned TRUE? Maybe the parameters were invalid.
Nick Pendragon 0 Reputation points

2024-08-07T19:30:15.39+00:00

For some reason it will return true but just is (solid Color) black.
David Lowndes 2,640 Reputation points MVP

2024-08-07T20:48:53.7766667+00:00

How often out of 10 attempts does it not work correctly?
Is there any pattern?
Does this behaviour reproduce on different systems?
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-07T22:43:42.5+00:00

On my Win10 22H2 SystemParametersInfo with SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER unexpectedly returns TRUE and the desktop background becomes black when the function is handed the path to a text file instead of an image file. I expected the function to fail, return FALSE and do nothing but that was not the case. The same behavior is exhibited if it is passed an empty string.
David Lowndes 2,640 Reputation points MVP

2024-08-07T22:51:01.22+00:00

Certainly not in keeping with what the documentation says:

When the SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER flag is used, SystemParametersInfo returns TRUE unless there is an error (like when the specified file doesn't exist).

If I had any confidence in the Windows feedback reporting I'd say report it. Maybe comment on the documentation being wrong may result in word getting to someone who can address it properly?
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-07T23:07:42.27+00:00

Can anybody else reproduce what I observed?
David Lowndes 2,640 Reputation points MVP

2024-08-07T23:43:00.5366667+00:00

@RLWA32 It reproduces for me too with an invalid file name parameter. I'm also on Win 10 22H2.
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-08T00:15:27.58+00:00

@David Lowndes, Thanks -- I'll comment in the documentation. I gave up on Feedback Hub a long time ago when it denied access because I use a local account to sign-on to Windows.
David Lowndes 2,640 Reputation points MVP

2024-08-08T13:07:07.8733333+00:00

@RLWA32 I submitted a report through FB - it now seems to have options to allow you to submit without using an MSA, or just an MSA for that app. Here's my report.
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-08T13:57:00.2833333+00:00

@David Lowndes, Thanks for your follow-up. The posted link isn't to the feedback hub. Its back to this question.
David Lowndes 2,640 Reputation points MVP

2024-08-08T14:00:06.6766667+00:00

@RLWA32 Oops, try this: https://aka.ms/AArptdk
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-08T14:05:27.0833333+00:00

@David Lowndes, This is what I get when I try to access the FB Hub with the corrected link --
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-08T14:16:55.1433333+00:00

And that's the kind of stuff that makes me ignore the feedback hub.
David Lowndes 2,640 Reputation points MVP

2024-08-08T14:34:36.5133333+00:00

Brilliant!
Along with the slow updating of this site, these are the silly things that make you lose the will. :)
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-08T14:43:46.9966667+00:00

Waxing philosophical for a moment I'm surprised that MS hasn't neutered the SystemParametersInfo function for any number of options since the usual thought process is that Users, not applications, should control desktops and related settings/preferences.
David Lowndes 2,640 Reputation points MVP

2024-08-08T14:55:30.6233333+00:00

I guess that's a possibility - in which case the documentation needs to say so.
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-08T15:03:20.38+00:00

Realistically, if they were going to do that they should have done it a very long time ago. From a compatibility standpoint it's too late to do it now.
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Tong Xu - MSFT 2,546 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-08-21T07:30:55.9266667+00:00

@Nick Pendragon Hi, have you checked my answer? Have you sent feedback to Microsoft?

1 answer

Your answer

Viorel 122.6K Reputation points

2024-08-07T19:23:23.86+00:00

Did you check if the function returned TRUE? Maybe the parameters were invalid.
Nick Pendragon 0 Reputation points

2024-08-07T19:30:15.39+00:00

For some reason it will return true but just is (solid Color) black.
David Lowndes 2,640 Reputation points MVP

2024-08-07T20:48:53.7766667+00:00

How often out of 10 attempts does it not work correctly?
Is there any pattern?
Does this behaviour reproduce on different systems?
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-07T22:43:42.5+00:00

On my Win10 22H2 SystemParametersInfo with SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER unexpectedly returns TRUE and the desktop background becomes black when the function is handed the path to a text file instead of an image file. I expected the function to fail, return FALSE and do nothing but that was not the case. The same behavior is exhibited if it is passed an empty string.
David Lowndes 2,640 Reputation points MVP

2024-08-07T22:51:01.22+00:00

Certainly not in keeping with what the documentation says:

When the SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER flag is used, SystemParametersInfo returns TRUE unless there is an error (like when the specified file doesn't exist).

If I had any confidence in the Windows feedback reporting I'd say report it. Maybe comment on the documentation being wrong may result in word getting to someone who can address it properly?
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-07T23:07:42.27+00:00

Can anybody else reproduce what I observed?
David Lowndes 2,640 Reputation points MVP

2024-08-07T23:43:00.5366667+00:00

@RLWA32 It reproduces for me too with an invalid file name parameter. I'm also on Win 10 22H2.
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-08T00:15:27.58+00:00

@David Lowndes, Thanks -- I'll comment in the documentation. I gave up on Feedback Hub a long time ago when it denied access because I use a local account to sign-on to Windows.
David Lowndes 2,640 Reputation points MVP

2024-08-08T13:07:07.8733333+00:00

@RLWA32 I submitted a report through FB - it now seems to have options to allow you to submit without using an MSA, or just an MSA for that app. Here's my report.
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-08T13:57:00.2833333+00:00

@David Lowndes, Thanks for your follow-up. The posted link isn't to the feedback hub. Its back to this question.
David Lowndes 2,640 Reputation points MVP

2024-08-08T14:00:06.6766667+00:00

@RLWA32 Oops, try this: https://aka.ms/AArptdk
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-08T14:05:27.0833333+00:00

@David Lowndes, This is what I get when I try to access the FB Hub with the corrected link --
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-08T14:16:55.1433333+00:00

And that's the kind of stuff that makes me ignore the feedback hub.
David Lowndes 2,640 Reputation points MVP

2024-08-08T14:34:36.5133333+00:00

Brilliant!
Along with the slow updating of this site, these are the silly things that make you lose the will. :)
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-08T14:43:46.9966667+00:00

Waxing philosophical for a moment I'm surprised that MS hasn't neutered the SystemParametersInfo function for any number of options since the usual thought process is that Users, not applications, should control desktops and related settings/preferences.
David Lowndes 2,640 Reputation points MVP

2024-08-08T14:55:30.6233333+00:00

I guess that's a possibility - in which case the documentation needs to say so.
RLWA32 49,636 Reputation points

2024-08-08T15:03:20.38+00:00

Realistically, if they were going to do that they should have done it a very long time ago. From a compatibility standpoint it's too late to do it now.
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Tong Xu - MSFT 2,546 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-08-21T07:30:55.9266667+00:00

@Nick Pendragon Hi, have you checked my answer? Have you sent feedback to Microsoft?

Answer 1

Hi, @Nick Pendragon
Firstly, thank @RLWA32 and @David Lowndes for testing.

I also can reproduce it in win11 22H2. We can confirm it is an exceptional behavior.
I'll report it internally.

But we need you to send feedback to Microsoft to attract developers' attention.
And please provide a link after submission.

Thank you about it.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/send-feedback-to-microsoft-with-the-feedback-hub-app-f59187f8-8739-22d6-ba93-f66612949332

Thank you again!

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SystemParametersInfoA SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER does not always work?

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