Windows 11 when I select "slideshow" desktop background it reverts to "picture"

Question

I am in Personalization > Background. I go to the dropdown "Personalize your background" that indicates "Picture" and I select "Slideshow". The area below showing "Recent Images" changes to show a folder and other choices for a SECOND and then reverts to "Recent Images" and the dropdown goes back to "Picture". I can select "Solid color" or "Windows spotlight" from the dropdown but not "Slideshow".

I have a folder "Background Pics" but I cannot get to the Slideshow screen to select it.

Answer 1

Windows 11 supports Slideshow as a desktop background mode, but it is not available in all scenarios. In particular, when using multiple desktops, Slideshow is explicitly not supported and the system will revert to another mode such as Picture.

From the documented behavior:

• When using multiple desktops, Slideshow as a background is not supported. In this case, attempts to select Slideshow can fail or revert to Picture.
• Slideshow works when set as the background for a standard desktop session where multiple-desktop restrictions do not apply.

To use Slideshow successfully:

1. Ensure the scenario is not constrained by multiple desktops. If multiple desktops are in use, only per-desktop Picture backgrounds are supported, and Slideshow will not be available.
2. When supported, go to Settings → Personalization → Background.
3. Under Personalize your background, select Slideshow.
4. Choose the folder of images (for example, the existing "Background Pics" folder) and configure the interval and shuffle options.

If multiple desktops must remain enabled with different backgrounds per desktop, Slideshow cannot be used due to this platform limitation.

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References:

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