How to change wallpaper in RDP session - separatelly for each user.

Question

How to change a wallpaper in RDP session - separately for each user.

Answer 1

Hello Jiri,

Thank you for posting question on Microsoft Windows Forum.

Based on your query of changing a wallpaper in RDP session - separately for each user. You can refer to the following steps.

1.Enable Desktop Background on the RDP Host:

• On the server or PC you are connecting to via RDP, you need to ensure that the policy "Enforce Removal of Remote Desktop Wallpaper" is Disabled or Not Configured.
• Open gpedit.msc (Local Group Policy Editor) on the host machine.
• Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Remote Session Environment.
• Double-click "Enforce Removal of Remote Desktop Wallpaper" and set it to Disabled or Not Configured. Apply and OK.
• Run gpupdate /force in an elevated Command Prompt on the host.

2.Enable Desktop Background in the RDP Client:

• When connecting to the RDP session, open your RDP client (mstsc.exe).
• Click on Show Options.
• Go to the Experience tab.
• Make sure "Desktop background" is checked.

3.Wallpaper Location:

• For domain environments, store your wallpaper images on a network share that all users can read (e.g., a shared folder on a domain controller or a file server, often within SYSVOL or a dedicated share like \YourDomain\Wallpapers).

4.Set User-Specific Wallpapers by Using Group Policy (for Domain-Joined Machines).

1. Create a Shared Folder for Wallpapers:
   • On a file server or domain controller, create a shared folder (e.g., \YourDomain\Wallpapers).
   • Copy your desired wallpaper images into this folder.
   • Ensure "Authenticated Users" have Read permissions to this shared folder and the wallpaper files within it.
2. Create a New Group Policy Object (GPO):
   • Open Group Policy Management (gpmc.msc) on a domain controller.
   • Navigate to your domain or a specific Organizational Unit (OU) where your user accounts reside.
   • Right-click the domain/OU and select "Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here...". Give it a descriptive name (e.g., "User Specific Wallpapers").
3. Edit the GPO:
   • Right-click the newly created GPO and select Edit.
   • Navigate to: User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Desktop > Desktop.
   • Double-click on Desktop Wallpaper.
   • Select Enabled.
   • In the "Wallpaper Name" field, enter the UNC path to your wallpaper file (e.g., \YourDomain\Wallpapers\UserA_wallpaper.jpg).
   • Select the desired "Wallpaper Style" (e.g., Fill, Fit, Stretch, Center, Tile). "Fill" or "Fit" generally work best for varying screen resolutions.
   • Click Apply and OK.
4. Apply to Specific Users using Security Filtering:
   • Back in Group Policy Management Console, select your "User Specific Wallpapers" GPO.
   • In the "Security Filtering" section (on the "Scope" tab), remove "Authenticated Users".
   • Click Add... and add the specific user accounts or security groups that should receive this wallpaper.
   • Repeat steps 2-5 for each user or group with a different wallpaper. You will create a separate GPO for each unique wallpaper requirement.
5. Enforce Group Policy Update:
   • Users will need to log off and log back into their RDP sessions for the changes to take effect. You can also force a Group Policy update on the host machine by running gpupdate /force in an elevated Command Prompt

Please note: Implementing the above steps in the testing environment first.

Hope the above information is helpful!