Sometimes, you may come across a wallpaper that you really like and want to use it somewhere else or customize it further. While the location of the wallpaper may be obvious if you’ve manually saved it in a specific location, it may not be immediately clear if the wallpaper is part of a slideshow or selected randomly by Windows. In such cases, it can be frustrating to search through multiple folders and directories to find where the current wallpaper is stored in Windows 11.
Fortunately, there are several methods available in Windows 11 that allow you to quickly find the location and name of your current wallpaper. In this article, we’ll explore three methods you can use to locate the current wallpaper in Windows 11.
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Where is the current wallpaper stored in Windows 11?
There are several methods to find the location of the current wallpaper in Windows 11, including using a PowerShell command, adding a “find wallpaper” option to the context menu, checking the Desktop Background settings, and using the Registry Editor. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, and you can choose the method that works best for you.
Method 1: Use PowerShell command
Using a PowerShell command is probably the easiest method, as it takes only one line of command to quickly find out the file location of the current wallpaper in Windows 11. This method is particularly useful for users who prefer using command-line tools, or for those who want to automate the process of finding their wallpaper’s location.
Also see: Windows 11/10 lock screen image location (where in the world)
To find the location of your current wallpaper using PowerShell, follow the steps below:
- Open PowerShell by pressing Win + X and selecting “Windows PowerShell (Admin)“. This will open PowerShell with administrator privileges, which is necessary to perform certain tasks.
- Enter the following command:
$TIC=(Get-ItemProperty 'HKCU:\Control Panel\Desktop' TranscodedImageCache -ErrorAction Stop).TranscodedImageCache [System.Text.Encoding]::Unicode.GetString($TIC) -replace '(.+)([A-Z]:[0-9a-zA-Z\\])+','$2'
This command retrieves the folder path of the current wallpaper from the Windows Registry and displays it in the PowerShell window. If it returns error when entering the command line, try entering one line at a time.
- Press Enter, and the location of your current wallpaper will be displayed in the PowerShell window.
Using this method, you can easily find the location of your current wallpaper without having to search through multiple folders. However, this method requires some familiarity with PowerShell commands and may not be suitable for users who are not comfortable using command-line tools.
Useful tip: How to Set Animated Wallpaper in Windows 11
Method 2: Add a “Find Wallpaper Location” option to the context menu
To make things even easier, you can add a “Find Wallpaper Location” option to the right-click context menu in Windows 11. This option will use the PowerShell command we used earlier, but without the need to open a PowerShell window. By simply right-clicking on the desktop and selecting the “Find Wallpaper Location” option, the script will automatically run and display the file location of your current wallpaper.
To add the “Find Wallpaper Location” option to the right-click context menu, follow the steps below:
- Download our “find-wallpaper-location-Windows-11.zip” file, which contains a PowerShell script and a registry file.
- Extract the zip file and move the “find-wallpaper.ps1” PowerShell script to “C:\Windows“.
- Next, run the “find-wallpaper-location.reg” file to register the “Find Wallpaper Location” option to the right-click context menu in Windows 11.
- After running the .reg file, right-click anywhere on the desktop and select “Show more options” and then “Find Wallpaper Location“.
- The script will automatically run and display the location of your current wallpaper in a PowerShell window.
This method is a convenient and time-saving way to find the location of your current wallpaper without having to open a PowerShell window or use the Registry Editor.
Related issue: Windows 11 Different Wallpaper on Each Monitor Not Working
Remove the “Find Wallpaper Location” option from the context menu
If you no longer need the “Find Wallpaper Location” option in the context menu, you can easily remove it via Registry Editor. Alternatively, you can refer to our article “How to remove items from right-click menu in Windows 11” for more information on how to remove any options from the context menu in Windows 11.
Note: Editing the Windows Registry can be risky and can cause serious issues with your system if done incorrectly. It is important to exercise caution when working with the Registry Editor and to always create a system restore point before making any changes.
To remove the previously added “Find Wallpaper Location” option from the right-click menu, follow these steps:
- Open the Registry Editor by pressing Win + R to open the Run dialog box, then type “regedit” and click OK.
- In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry branch:
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell
- Locate the “DesktopBackgroundFileLocation” registry key.
- Right-click on the key and select “Delete” from the context menu.
- Confirm the deletion by clicking “Yes” in the confirmation dialog box.
After completing these steps, the “Find Wallpaper Location” option will no longer be available in the context menu. If you change your mind later and want to restore the option, you can re-register it by running the “find-wallpaper-location.reg” file again.
Method 2: Use the Desktop Background settings
Another way to find the location of your current wallpaper in Windows 11 is to use the Desktop Background settings. This method is straightforward and does not require any knowledge of PowerShell commands or the Registry Editor.
To access the Desktop Background settings, follow these steps:
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Enter the following command:
shell:::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921} -Microsoft.Personalization\pageWallpaper - Press Enter.
- The Desktop Background settings window will open. Hover your mouse over the current wallpaper, and its file location will be displayed in the tooltip.
This method is useful for users who prefer using the graphical interface of Windows 11 instead of command-line tools. However, it requires a few more steps than the PowerShell command method and may not be as quick.
Method 3: Find the current wallpaper location via Registry Editor
The Windows Registry is a hierarchical database that stores configuration settings and options for Windows 11. You can use the Registry Editor to find the location of your current wallpaper in Windows 11.
It’s important to note that editing the Windows Registry can be risky and can cause serious issues with your system if done incorrectly. It is important to exercise caution when working with the Registry Editor and to always create a system restore point before making any changes. This will allow you to restore your system to a previous state in case something goes wrong during the editing process.
To find the wallpaper location using the Registry Editor, follow these steps:
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Enter “regedit” and click OK to open the Registry Editor.
- Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
- Look for the “Wallpaper” value in the right-hand pane. This value will display the location of the current wallpaper in Windows 11.
Additionally, if you want to view the locations of wallpapers you have previously used, you can check the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Wallpapers registry key. This key stores the desktop background history and can be useful for locating previous wallpapers.
This method is more advanced than the others and should only be used if you are comfortable working with the Registry Editor. If you prefer a simpler method, we recommend using Method 1 or Method 2 instead.
Summary
Finding the location of your current wallpaper in Windows 11 can be useful for a variety of reasons. Whether you want to use the wallpaper for another project or simply want to know where it is stored on your computer, there are several methods to accomplish this task. While some methods are more straightforward and user-friendly, the regedit method may be more suitable for advanced users who are comfortable working with the Registry Editor.
If you frequently need to check the location of your current wallpaper, adding the “Find Wallpaper Location” option to the right-click menu provides a quick and efficient way to access this information. This option can save you time and effort, eliminating the need to navigate through various settings or use command-line tools to find the location of your current wallpaper.
