Windows 11 keeps changing the background setting slideshow to picture.

Question

I set the background to slideshow, for over a year everything was fine, since the last update it keeps changing at random time to picture. I can change it back without any problem. How can I keep it from resetting?

Answer 1

Hi John Mickelsen,

Thanks for reaching out. I completely understand how frustrating it is to have something as simple as your desktop background keep resetting, especially when it’s been working fine for a long time and only started happening after a recent update.

Along with the Q&A Assist guidance above, there are a few additional things worth checking. Please make sure the slideshow images are stored in a local folder on the device (for example, under your Pictures folder), rather than a cloud‑only, network, or external location. After setting the background to Slideshow, saving it as a custom theme under Settings > Personalization > Themes can also help Windows re‑apply the correct setting. If you’re signed in with a Microsoft account, turning off Personalization sync under Settings > Accounts > Windows backup may prevent the background from being overwritten.

If you use multiple virtual desktops, it’s also worth noting that recent Windows 11 builds don’t always preserve slideshow settings when switching between desktops, which can trigger the fallback to a single picture.

If the issue continues even after trying the steps above, it’s likely related to the current Windows build rather than a configuration issue on your system. Keeping your device up to date and submitting feedback through the Feedback Hub (Windows + F) can help bring additional visibility to this so it can be addressed in a future update.

Thanks again for your patience, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or notice any changes. I’m happy to help further.

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Answer 2

Windows 11 supports slideshow as a desktop background mode, but some configurations and limitations can cause it to revert to a single picture.

First, confirm that slideshow is correctly configured:

1. Open Settings > Personalization > Background (or use this shortcut: Personalization).
2. Under Personalize your background, select Slideshow.
3. Choose the folder with your images and set the interval and shuffle options as desired.

If multiple desktops are in use, be aware of these limitations:

1. Slideshow as a background is not supported when using multiple desktops. In that scenario, Windows may fall back to a static picture.
2. Per-monitor background configuration is not supported; only per-desktop backgrounds are supported.

To reduce the chance of Windows reverting to a picture background:

1. Use a single desktop if slideshow is required consistently.
2. Avoid trying to configure different backgrounds per monitor, as this is not supported and can cause fallback behavior.
3. Verify that the selected slideshow folder remains available (for example, not on a disconnected drive or location), since loss of access can also cause Windows to revert to a static image.

If the issue started after an update and the above conditions are already met (single desktop, local folder always available), the behavior is likely due to a change or bug in the current build. In that case, keep slideshow selected as above and monitor future updates, as the slideshow mode itself is still a supported background type.

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References:

• Change the desktop background in Windows
• Reference for Windows 11 and Windows 10 settings