Remove a Background from the Desktop Background List (Windows)

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Delete a picture from the background list on Windows

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: May 28, 2025 Fact Checked

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Deleting a Background Image

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Deleting a Lock Screen Image

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Deleting a Theme

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Using the Registry Editor

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Video

Desktop backgrounds are a great way to personalize your Windows environment. If you want to remove a background from your desktop background list, you'll just need to open your desktop personalization settings and browse for the background you want to delete. This wikiHow teaches you how to remove a background from the desktop background list in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Quick Steps for Deleting Backgrounds

Right-click your Windows desktop.
Click Personalize.
Click Background in the left panel.
Click the Browse button below "Choose your picture".
Right-click the image and click Delete.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Deleting a Background Image

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Right-click anywhere on your desktop where there are no icons. This displays a pop-up menu.
It's near the bottom of the menu that appears when you right-click the desktop background. This opens the Background settings menu.^{[1]
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It's in the panel on the left (Windows 10) or center (Windows 11) of the settings menu. This displays the Windows background settings.
4
Ensure "Picture" is selected below "Background". Use the drop-down menu below "Background" to select "Picture." This allows you to select a single image to use as a background.^{[2]
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- Depending on your version of Windows, you might see this menu next to the “Personalize your background” header instead.
- Selecting "Slideshow" allows you to select an entire folder of images to use as rotating background images.
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Click Browse. It's below the list of recently used background images. This opens a file browser that allows you to select an image to use as a background.^{[3]
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- This option may say Browse photos instead, depending on your version of Windows.
6
Navigate to the folder containing the image you want to delete. You can use any image on your computer as a background image. Navigate to the one you want to delete.
- To navigate to the location of Windows' default background images, click "C:\ (This PC)" in the panel to the left (or This PC > Windows (C:) in Windows 11). Then open the Windows folder followed by the Web folder. Here you will find a variety of folders containing the default background images for Windows.
This displays a pop-up menu next to the image.
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Click Delete. It's in the menu that pops up when you right-click a file. This deletes the file and sends it to the Recycling Bin.
- To permanently delete the images files from the Recycling Bin, right-click the Recycling Bin on your desktop and click Empty Recycling Bin.
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Remove the picture from your recents (optional). If deleting the picture from the source doesn't remove it from the suggestions underneath the menu, you can easily delete it by selecting 5 new background pictures. This will force the old picture out of the recents. Do the following:
- Click Browse underneath the suggested pictures.
- Select a new photo.
- Click Choose picture.
- Repeat four more times or until the old background is cycled out.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Deleting a Lock Screen Image

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Right-click anywhere on your desktop where there are no icons. This displays a pop-up menu.
It's near the bottom of the menu that appears when you right-click the desktop background. This opens the Background settings menu.
It's in the panel on the left (Windows 10) or center (Windows 11) of the settings menu. This displays the Lock screen settings menu.
4
Select "Picture" below "Lock screen". This opens up the file browser that allows you to select an image to use as a lock screen background image.
- In Windows 11, select Picture next to the Personalize your lock screen header, then click Browse photos.
5
Navigate to the image you want to delete. You can select any image on your PC as a lock screen image. Navigate to the folder containing the image you want to delete.
- To navigate to the location of Windows' default background images, click "C: (This PC)" (or This PC > Windows (C:) in Windows 11) in the panel to the left. Then open the Windows folder followed by the Web folder. Here you will find a variety of folders containing the default background images for Windows.
This displays a pop-up menu next to the image.
7
Click Delete. It's in the menu that pops up when you right-click a file. This deletes the file and sends it to the Recycling Bin.
- To permanently delete the images files from the Recycling Bin, right-click the Recycling Bin on your desktop and click Empty Recycling Bin.
8
Remove the picture from your recents (optional). If deleting the picture from the source doesn't remove it from the suggestions underneath the menu, you can easily delete it by selecting 5 new background pictures. This will force the old picture out of the recents. Do the following:
- Click Browse (or Browse photos) underneath the suggested pictures.
- Select a new photo.
- Click Choose picture.
- Repeat four more times or until the old background is cycled out.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Deleting a Theme

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Right-click anywhere on your desktop where there are no icons. This displays a pop-up menu.
It's near the bottom of the menu that appears when you right-click the desktop background. This opens the Background settings menu.
3
Click Themes. It's in the panel on the left (Windows 10) or center (Windows 11) of the settings menu. This opens the Themes settings menu. In addition to a background image, themes also contain a color scheme, custom cursors, and custom sounds for Windows.
- The default themes that came pre-installed on Windows can't be deleted.
Themes are listed below the header that says "Change Theme" in the Themes settings menu. In some versions of Windows, this may say “Current theme” instead. Right-clicking a theme in this list displays a pop-up.
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Click Delete. It's in the pop-up that appears when you right-click a theme. This deletes the theme.
- If the text that says "Delete" is greyed out, you can't delete the theme.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using the Registry Editor

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1
Open the Registry Editor. Press Win + R to open the Run menu. Type "regedit" and press Enter. If asked for permission, click Yes.
- Make sure to backup your registry if you haven't used the registry before. You can do so by clicking File > Export > select a save location and name > Save.
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Navigate to the wallpaper location. The wallpaper folder is typically found at the following file path:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Wallpapers
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Select an item. The images should be labeled as BackgroundHistoryPath0, BackgroundHistoryPath1, and so on.
- To select more than one item, hold down CTRL and click each item.
This will delete the wallpapers from the registry.
The backgrounds should be deleted.

Common Questions: Deleting Wallpaper History on Windows

Will this delete the background from my computer?

If you delete the wallpaper using the File Explorer, it will be deleted from your computer. If you delete something accidentally, you can always find it in your Recycle Bin before it's emptied.

Why can't I change my background? If you can't change your background, check your settings. Click the Start menu and select Settings. Click Ease of Access > Display > check the box for Show desktop background. In Windows 11, open the Control Panel and select Ease of Access > Ease of Access Center > Make the computer easier to see and check the box next to Remove background images (where available).

Is my wallpaper history visible to everyone?

If multiple people are using one user account, they will be able to see your wallpaper history. However, if you're logged into your own user account, this will be hidden from other users.