In this post, we will discuss how to deploy Desktop Wallpaper on Windows devices via Intune Configuration Profile templates. Organizations often deploy custom desktop backgrounds or wallpapers for several reasons.
Custom desktop backgrounds allow organizations to showcase their logos, slogans, or other branding elements. This helps in reinforcing corporate identity and creating a consistent visual representation across all devices used within the organization.
Standardizing desktop backgrounds helps maintain a professional and uniform appearance across all devices in the organization. This can be particularly important in customer-facing environments or in scenarios where a cohesive and polished image is desired.
In some industries, regulatory requirements or Security Policies may necessitate controlling the visual elements on employee desktops. Deploying custom wallpapers can be part of a broader strategy to ensure compliance with security standards and regulations.
During special events, campaigns, or awareness weeks, organizations may deploy custom wallpapers to promote the event or convey specific messages. This helps create awareness and ensure that employees are informed about ongoing initiatives.
Centralized management through tools like Microsoft Intune allows IT administrators to easily deploy and update desktop backgrounds across a large number of devices. This simplifies the task of maintaining a consistent visual identity and responding to changes in branding or messaging.
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What is Device Restriction for Desktop Wallpaper Policy
Intune includes device restriction policies that help administrators control Windows devices. These restrictions let you control a wide range of settings and features to protect your organization’s resources. For example, administrators can set a minimum password length and block simple passwords.
Did you know? Consider going to Endpoint Security to create an endpoint security profile or security baseline profile to configure your common endpoint protection security features.
Endpoint security profiles provide a concise, curated set of security templates, including Firewall, BitLocker, Antivirus and more. Security baseline profiles are templates with pre-configured settings values recommended by security experts.
How to use Desktop Wallpaper from a Publicly Accessible Location
I am showing this example in a Lab environment using the below-mentioned public URL of my Image.
In production scenarios, we can store the desired image in the Microsoft Azure Storage by creating “Containers“
Create Configuration Profiles for Desktop Wallpaper on Windows with Intune
Now we are good to create a Configuration Profile in Intune. For that, follow the below steps to create the new policy.
- Sign In to the Intune admin center https://intune.microsoft.com/
- Navigate to Devices > Windows > Configuration Profiles
- Click on +Create > +New Policy
We can create a profile using an existing Windows template. To do that, select the following options under the Create a profile option.
- Platform: Windows 10 and later
- Profile type: Templates
- Template name: Device Restrictions
In the Basics option, we can give a Device Restriction policy name and click on Next
Under Configuration Settings, we need to set our Desktop background picture URL (Desktop only) in the personalization category.
- Here provide the Desktop background picture URL (Desktop only) as https://howtomanagedevices.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/HTMD-Community-2.webp
Note! Set a desktop background image that users cannot change. Applicable on devices running Windows 10/11 Enterprise and Windows 10/11 Education. The image file type must be PNG, JPG, WEBP or JPEG.
Now, we can assign the policy to one of the Windows device groups. To do so, click on Include group and select the required group.
Click Next to set Applicability Rules for this deployment. This is an optional detail. In this particular example, set the rules as follows to limit only if it satisfies the following conditions.
| Rule | Property | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Assign profile if | OS edition | Windows 10/11 Enterprise |
| Assign profile if | OS edition | 19045.3930 to 22631.3007 |
On the Review+Create page, verify all the provided details again and hit the Create button to implement our policy.
Monitor the Deployment Status of the Desktop Wallpaper Policy
The policy will be effective as soon as possible since our deployment type is in the required mode. To check the deployment status of our Desktop Background (Wallpaper) Policy.
- Navigate to Devices > Windows > Configuration Profiles > Search for the policy Desktop Background (Wallpaper) Policy
Under Device and user check-in status, we can see Success, Error, Conflict, and Not applicable statuses. There is also a View Report option available for the detailed report. This helps you Export the status report for the bulk deployments.
End-User Experience of Desktop Wallpaper Deployment
The HTMD Desktop Wallpaper policy deployment will succeed on the targeted device. You can also initiate a manual sync from the device or in the Intune portal if the policy is not executed.
The user end experience will be as follows after the successful policy deployment.
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Author
Vaishnav K has over 10+ years of experience in SCCM, Device Management, and Automation Solutions. He writes and imparts his knowledge about Microsoft Intune, Azure, PowerShell scripting, and automation. Check out his profile on LinkedIn.
If we want to set the desktop wallpaper also we want to change the wallpaper according to our needs. How can we do that?
Hi Shivani, In that case you can store the wallpapers in the Azure Storage Containers/shared drive.
After deploying this police user can not change the background image. But our requirement user need option to change background image is it possible. If yes please provide the solution.
If user have to change their Desktop wallpaper based on their needs, then this policy will be not be relevant.
Anyway to achieve the same but allow the user to change the background image later on ?
This policy will enforce the user desktop wallpaper based on the set image. Still user can change their wallpaper but it will back to same image after the next sync.
How to deploy desktop wallpaper for Window Pro/ Business clients?
Since Intune Only support for Enterprise OS this option won’t work. You can opt for GPO or batch/PS script to achieve the same.
I have status where some of the device at not pushed with the configuration and some were successful, upon check on the report status it says that it is ‘Not Applicable’, what could this mean?
Hi Vivi, It should work on all the supported Windows 10 and 11 endpoint devices. If you are still getting the same error, look at your Applicability Rules configuration to see whether it will satisfy the conditions you are configured.
If you look at the information bubble beside the text within the config profile, it gives this tiny little warning:
“Set a desktop background image that users cannot change. Applicable on devices running Windows 10/11 Enterprise and Windows 10/11 Education. Image file type must be PNG, JPG, or JPEG.”
I have been fighting this wallpaper scenario for almost 4 years now; I finally had a custom script that created scheduled tasks, and now that’s no longer working as intended (works about 40% of the time now) since Microsoft is starting to kill of VBscripts.
I never had to have insane licensing to restrict or set simple things on Apple devices!!! Microsoft wants us to suffer.
Hi Aaron, Got your point. But there is a catch. As per the notification, “Set a desktop background image that users cannot change. Applicable on devices running Windows 10/11 Enterprise and Windows 10/11 Education. Image file type must be PNG, JPG, or JPEG.” but if you recheck my post, I have added .webp image format as a background it was successful.
Feel free to open a case with Microsoft; they will help you in scenarios where you are really drawn to doing things.
I tried same way its not working for the user device is not applicable as below
PersonalizationDesktopImageStatus
Not applicable
Desktop background picture URL (Desktop only)
Not applicable
PersonalizationLockScreenImageStatus
Not applicable
Locked screen picture URL (Desktop only)
Not applicable
Hi Sabry, Please note the below points and check again.
The Intune setting “Desktop background picture URL (Desktop only)” allows you to set a desktop background image that users cannot change. This setting is applicable on devices running Windows 10/11 Enterprise and Windows 10/11 Education. The image file type must be PNG, JPG, or JPEG.
When the policy is applied, the desktop background image is set to the specified URL or path. The image is downloaded and cached locally on the device. The image is displayed in the background when the user signs in [1].
To configure devices with Microsoft Intune, create a Settings catalog policy and use the following settings:
Category: Personalization
Setting name: Desktop Image Url
Value: An http or https URL to a jpg, jpeg, or png image file.
Alternatively, you can configure devices using a custom policy with the Personalization CSP:
OMA-URI: ./Vendor/MSFT/Personalization/DesktopImageUrl
Data type: string
Value: An http or https URL to a jpg, jpeg, or png image file.
This setting ensures that the specified wallpaper is displayed on all users’ desktops and prevents users from changing the image or its presentation.
Can you use this same method for applying a windows theme file with multiple images instead of a single wallpaper image?
Hi Marty, Thanks for reading my article. The answer is No, Intune Configuration Policy templates (such as Settings Catalog, Templates, or Administrative Templates) do not support applying a full Windows theme file (.theme) that includes multiple images or a slideshow.
The Windows Theme Pack to be specific
Hi Marty, As a Workaround we can use Intune PowerShell Script or Win32 App to do the same.
To apply a .theme file with multiple images, use one of these methods.
1) PowerShell Script deployed via Intune: Copy files and apply theme programmatically.
2) Win32 App: Package the theme files and script, and deploy as a custom app.