Restriction on changing desktop wallpaper using Group Policy

Asked By admin_angela 200 points N/A Posted on - 04/22/2011

I am an administrator and would like to understand why after I already enabled the option "Prevent Changing Wallpaper" under the group policy, the users can still change their wallpapers on their own.

Can someone enlighten me?

 

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Answered By elli_curtis 0 points N/A #87245

Restriction on changing desktop wallpaper using Group Policy

The Prevent changing wallpaper Group Policy prevents users from changing the desktop wallpaper by using Display Properties. However, there are ways of changing the wallpaper setting, such as through Image Preview, which does not involve Display Properties. By these other methods, users do not experience the limitations that apply to Display Properties. You must specify Active Desktop Wallpaper in Group Policy to prevent users from changing the desktop wallpaper without using Display Properties. 

If users right-click a picture and then click Set as Desktop Background, they can change their desktop wallpaper even though you (the administrator) have enabled the Prevent changing wallpaper property in Group Policy. To resolve this issue, specify an Active Desktop wallpaper setting in Group Policy. To do this, follow these steps:

 

1. Click Start, click Run, and then type gpedit.msc.

2. Under Local Computer Policy, expand User Configuration, expand Administrative Templates, expand Desktop, and then click Active Desktop.

3. Double-click Active Desktop Wallpaper.

4. On the Setting tab, click Enabled, type the path to the desktop wallpaper that you want to use, and then click OK.

 

Below view is for Active Directory 2008

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Answered By admin_angela 200 points N/A #87247

Restriction on changing desktop wallpaper using Group Policy

This solution should work for me. What do you think could be causing this? Why do I need to activate the active desktop just so I can restrict changing the wallpaper?

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Answered By elli_curtis 0 points N/A #87248

Restriction on changing desktop wallpaper using Group Policy

This is a known concern and it is working by design. Unfortunately, that is the only way to make it work.

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Answered By admin_angela 200 points N/A #87249

Restriction on changing desktop wallpaper using Group Policy

Fair enough. Thanks for your help.

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