If your desktop wallpaper is not changing in Windows 11, the background image is stuck, or the theme can’t change, the issue is usually caused by Windows Explorer glitches, Ease of Access visual settings, Group Policy restrictions, corrupted theme cache files, or power plan limitations. Below are proven fixes written in a clean, numbered format with naturally merged actions for easy understanding and strong SEO performance.
Method 1: End Task (Restart Windows Explorer)
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Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and click End task.
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Click File, select Run new task, type explorer.exe, and press Enter to reload Explorer.
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Open Settings → Personalization and try changing the desktop wallpaper again.
Method 2: Control Panel – Ease of Access Visual Display
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Open Control Panel, click on Ease of Access, then open Ease of Access Center.
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Click Make the computer easier to see or Optimize visual display, scroll down, and locate Remove background images (where available).
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Make sure the option is unchecked, click Apply and OK, then restart your PC and change the wallpaper again.
Method 3: Group Policy – Prevent Changing Background (Windows 11 Pro)
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Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter to open Group Policy Editor.
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Go to User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Control Panel → Personalization and open Prevent changing desktop background.
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Select Not Configured or Disabled, click Apply and OK, then restart your system and set a new background.
Method 4: Delete Corrupted Theme Cache File
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Press Win + R, type %appdata%, and press Enter, then open Microsoft → Windows → Themes.
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Locate TranscodedWallpaper.old and delete it, and if TranscodedWallpaper without extension exists, delete that as well.
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Restart your PC and apply a new wallpaper from Settings → Personalization → Background.
Method 5: Edit Power Plan – Desktop Background Available
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Open Control Panel, click on Power Options, then click Change plan settings next to your active power plan.
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Click Change advanced power settings, expand Desktop background settings, then expand Slide show.
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Set On battery to Available and Plugged in to Available, click Apply and OK, and try changing the wallpaper again.
Final Tip
After completing all methods, restart your system once to ensure Windows reloads personalization services properly. These fixes resolve almost all cases where the desktop wallpaper is not changing, the background image is stuck, or the theme can’t change in Windows 11—without reinstalling Windows or using third-party software.
