Microsoft imposes some restrictions on non-activated Windows operating systems, which you can see in Windows 11. One of the restrictions is that you can not change the wallpaper in Windows 11 without activation. When you go through the settings app to change the wallpaper, you will find the option is greyed out. However, some workarounds allow you to set your favorite picture as wallpaper without activating the copy of Windows 11.
There are at least three built-in methods that work regardless of the activation status of Windows 11. That means you can apply your favorite image as a desktop background, let the Windows is active or not. In this gearupwindows article, we will review all the possible ways to change the wallpaper in Windows 11.
How to Change Wallpaper in Non-Activated Windows 11 using File Explorer?
Windows 11 File Explorer allows you to apply a new wallpaper in Windows 11 without activation. Here is how to do it.
Step 1. First, open File Explorer.
Step 2. Then, navigate to the folder that contains your favorite wallpapers.
Step 3. After that, right-click the image or picture you want to set as your desktop background and select the
Using File Explorer, you can also set a desktop slideshow. For that, select multiple images at once, then right-click them and select
How to Set a New Wallpaper in Non-Activated Windows 11 through the Photos app?
The Photos app of Windows 11 also allows you to change or set a new desktop background without activating the OS. The Photos app comes preinstalled in Windows 11, so you just need to do a few steps:-
Step 1. Open the Photos app.
To launch the Photos app, click the
Step 2. Browse for an image you want to use as the Desktop background.
Alternatively, right-click on the image and select
Step 3. In the Photos app, click the three-dot button on the toolbar and select
Quick Tips: Clicking the three-dot button on the Photos app toolbar, select
Once done, the Photos app will immediately set the image as desktop wallpaper.
How to Change the Desktop Background in Windows 11 without Activation with Paint?
Here are the steps to change the desktop background in Windows 11 without activation with the Paint app:-
Step 1. Open the File Explorer.
Step 2. Then, navigate to the folder where you have kept the image and you want to set it as a desktop background.
Step 3. Right-click on the image or picture and select
Step 4. Click the
That’s it. The paint app will set your image as a desktop background.