How to set a default User Logon Picture for all Users in Windows 8 & Windows 8.1

This tutorial comes handy for those users who want to know how to set a default User Logon Picture for all users in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8. It could be the case of an office computer, where you may want to display the default company logo on a small number of computers. This can easily be achieved by making small changes in the Windows Registry or the Group Policy.

Set a default User Logon Picture for all Users

To complete this task in one go, get a picture that you want to display as the default logon picture. The image can be in .JPEG, .BMP, .DIB, .RLE, or .PNG format.

The image size should be 125x125px, in order to display properly. If the image used is bigger than this size, then it will be automatically cropped to fit the logon frame – or the image could be cut off.

Now, enable Show hidden files via Folder Options in order to change the default logon image, as Program Data stores default account pictures – and it is hidden by default.

Next, navigate to the following folder:

In Windows 8 :  C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\User Account Pictures

In Windows 8.1 : C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Default Account Pictures

Here rename guest.bmp and user.bmp as guest.bmp.bak and user.bmp.bak respectively.

Once you have done this, copy paste the image that you want to show as default logon picture, here.

Close the Account Picture folder.

Now let us see how to set a default User Logon Picture for all users!

Using Windows Registry

Open the Registry Editor. To do do, press Win+R to open Run dialog box, type regedit and press Enter.

Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

In the right panel, right click and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Give it name UseDefaultTile.

Click on Modify. Enter Value data as 1 for this DWORD (32-bit) and hit OK. A new registry enter will be added.

Once done close the Registry Editor and restart the computer to apply the changes.

After system restart, this new default user logon picture will appear for all users.

In case you don’t want to keep default logon image then simply go to registry editor and navigate to this same key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

and delete UserDefaultTile.

Using Group Policy

If you have a basic understanding of how to work on group policy in a domain environment then these kind of changes can be done in just few clicks . The changes will affect all the computers connected to that domain controller in real time. The Group Policy can be easily applied or removed without going deep into registry.

If your version of Windows includes Group Policy, then Run gpedit.msc and navigate to the following setting:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > User Accounts.

Double-click Apply the default user logon picture to all users, and enable this setting. Click OK/Apply and Exit.