cannot make desktop without photo

Question

Personalization does not allow me wo choose no picture for desktop background

Answer 1

Hi DLMJST,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

I understand that you're trying to set up a simple desktop environment with no background image, and you'd like to keep it solid color. To better help you, I’d need to re confirm whether this is a bug or simply a setting that hasn’t been configured. Let's try:

1. On your PC, open Settings > Personalization > Background
2. Click the dropdown next to Personalize your background
3. Do you see the other options, including Solid color?
4. If yes, you can simply click it and select a color you like.
5. If it's not available, please let me know and consider providing:
   1. Screenshot of the window (hide personal information, like my image)
   2. Your Windows version (press Win + R keys > type msinfo32 > press Enter).

I hope to hear back from you! Based on the results and more info, we can continue for further troubleshooting if needed!

---

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Answer 2

I would be happy with a plain background. how do I change a policy?

Answer 3

I would be happy with a solid color. I am the only user/administrator on this computer. How do I change a policy?

Answer 4

Windows does not support having “no picture” at all on the desktop; it always uses either a solid color or an image as the background. To avoid a photo and effectively have a plain desktop, configure a solid-color background instead of a picture.

If this is being blocked (for example, in a managed or corporate environment), Group Policy or MDM policies may be enforcing a wallpaper image:

• The Desktop Wallpaper / Wallpaper policy can force a specific image and prevent changing it.
• The Prevent changing desktop background / Prevent changing wallpaper policy can disable the background UI so that Personalization no longer lets changing or removing the picture.

In that case, only an administrator who manages those policies can allow changing the background back to a solid color.

---

References:

• Policy CSP - ADMX_ControlPanelDisplay
• Policy CSP - ADMX_Desktop
• Change the desktop background in Windows