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Customization

Set Up a Slideshow Lock Screen From a Folder

A lock screen that rotates through your own photos is two toggles and one folder. The interesting part is stopping Windows from overriding it.

by@guidox updated:10/31/26 time:15 min level:Beginner tested on:Windows 11 24H2 works on:Windows 11 tools:Image folder
TL;DR

Point the **lock screen** background at **Slideshow**, choose the folder, then confirm that **Windows Spotlight** and the vendor's wallpaper tool are not fighting it. Battery saver stops the rotation.

Before you start

Requirements

  • Windows 11
  • A folder of images
  • Ten minutes
Step by step

Instructions

01

Collect the images in one folder

The slideshow reads a single folder tree, so subfolders are included and a mixed folder of screenshots and photos shows both. Keep the folder out of OneDrive if you do not want it synced.

02

Switch the lock screen to Slideshow

The lock screen background has its own selector, separate from the desktop wallpaper. Choosing Slideshow there adds the folder picker and the advanced slideshow settings link.

Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Personalize your lock screen: Slideshow
03

Turn off Spotlight, or it wins

Windows Spotlight replaces the image with a daily Microsoft photo and ignores your folder. If the slideshow disappears after a day, Spotlight is the reason.

⚠ warningA group or domain policy can force Spotlight back on. Check with gpresult if the setting refuses to stick.
04

Set the change interval and shuffle

Advanced slideshow settings hold the interval, the shuffle option and the fit mode. A short interval and a large folder is fine; a short interval and five photos is a flicker.

tipFit mode matters on a mixed aspect ratio folder. Fill crops, fit adds bars, and the lock screen is more forgiving than the desktop.
05

Keep the lock screen free of app details

The lock screen can show app status and detailed notification text. With a photo behind it, the text is often unreadable; the same notification page controls both.

Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Lock screen status
06

Expect the slideshow to pause on battery

Battery saver suspends the rotation to save power. Test the lock screen while plugged in before you decide the folder is wrong.

Troubleshooting

Common issues

The same image appears every time

Spotlight is still active, or the folder holds one readable image. Check the format of the rest.

Images look stretched

The fit mode. Choose fill or fit rather than stretch in the advanced settings.

The setting reverts after a reboot

A policy or a vendor wallpaper service. Disable the vendor tool first, then the policy.

The slideshow shows images you deleted

The lock screen caches thumbnails. Re-select the folder to rebuild the list.

FAQ

Frequently asked

Can I use a different folder for lock screen and desktop?

Yes. They are independent settings with independent folders.

Do the images need a specific size?

No, but anything under the screen resolution looks soft. 2560 pixels wide is a safe minimum.

How to undo this

Set the lock screen background back to **Picture** or **Windows Spotlight** in the same settings page. The folder and its images are untouched.

Changelog · 1 entry
  1. 2026-10-31
    First version
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