Windows - Enterprise Branding - Set Desktop Background for All Users

What the Desktop Background Configurator does

This Automox Worklet™ configures desktop wallpaper for all user profiles on Windows endpoints. The Worklet downloads an image from a specified URL, caches it locally in the Windows wallpaper directory, and configures registry settings to set it as the background for all users who log into the endpoint.

The Worklet supports multiple image formats including BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, and TIFF. It automatically detects the image format from the downloaded content and saves it with the appropriate extension. The image is stored at %SYSTEMROOT%\Web\Wallpaper\AXBackground with the detected extension.

Wallpaper style options include Center (0), Tile (1), Stretch (2), Fit (3), Fill (4), and Span (5). These correspond to the standard Windows wallpaper positioning options. The default setting uses Stretch (2) to fill the entire screen.

Communication gaps without standardized backgrounds

Users cannot find help desk contact information when they encounter technical issues. Without visible support details, ticket response times increase as users search intranets for phone numbers or email addresses. Important security awareness messages never reach users who ignore email communications.

Shared workstations and kiosk systems lack visual indicators of corporate management. Users cannot distinguish organization-controlled endpoints from personal endpoints, creating confusion about acceptable use policies and data handling requirements. Compliance reminders remain invisible until users proactively seek policy documentation.

How desktop background deployment works

1. Evaluation phase: The Worklet checks if the cached wallpaper file exists at %SYSTEMROOT%\Web\Wallpaper\AXBackground.* and verifies that each user profile has the correct Wallpaper and WallpaperStyle registry values under HKEY_USERS\{SID}\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System. If any user profile is non-compliant or the cached file is missing, remediation is triggered.

2. Remediation phase: The Worklet downloads the image from the specified URL using System.Net.WebClient, detects the image format using System.Drawing, and saves it to the local wallpaper cache. It then enumerates all user SIDs in HKEY_USERS, creates the necessary registry paths if missing, and sets the Wallpaper path and WallpaperStyle values for each user profile.

Desktop background deployment requirements

• Windows 8.1 or later

• Network access to the image URL from the endpoint

• Image must be BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, or TIFF format

• Administrative privileges to modify HKEY_USERS registry and write to %SYSTEMROOT%\Web\Wallpaper

• Configure the ImageURL and WallpaperStyle variables or pass them as environment variables

Outcomes after deploying enterprise backgrounds

All users see consistent corporate branding with help desk contact information visible on every desktop. Support requests resolve faster when users access phone numbers and email addresses without searching documentation. Security awareness messages reach employees through passive communication that displays whenever applications are minimized.

The wallpaper persists across logoff and logon cycles from the cached image at %SYSTEMROOT%\Web\Wallpaper\AXBackground.*. New users automatically receive the configured background without manual setup. You update enterprise messaging by changing the ImageURL parameter and rerunning the Worklet across your fleet.

How to validate set desktop background for all users changes

1. Run this Worklet on a pilot Windows endpoint and review evaluation output for set desktop background for all users.

2. Confirm Automox activity logs show successful completion and exit code 0.

3. Verify endpoint state using checks aligned to evaluation script logic, such as Write-Verbose, Test-Path, Write-Output.

4. Validate remediation effects from script operations such as Add-Type, Write-Verbose, Where-Object, then rerun evaluation for compliance.

Expected state after set desktop background for all users changes

After remediation, endpoints reflect the target set desktop background for all users configuration and report compliant status in Automox.

You can confirm results by correlating activity logs with evaluation checks (Write-Verbose, Test-Path, Write-Output) and remediation actions (Add-Type, Write-Verbose, Where-Object).