Q: How can I change the Start screen background in Windows 8 to a picture of my choice?

A: You can't put your own photo in a Windows 8 Start screen background because the built-in customization limits the pictures to the Microsoft-provided ones. However, StarDock has released a program called Decor8 that allows any picture to be used and is available from the StarDock website. This allows your Start Screen to change from this:

decor8beforesml
Windows 8 Start Screen before StarDock

to this:

decor8aftersml
Windows 8 Start Screen after StarDock

Note that you need to click the Select folder button at the bottom of the Decor8 configuration screen to add additional folders to use as images as shown.

decor8configsml
Decor8 Configuration Screen

You might also be interested in the answer to this FAQ "Q: How can I add Shutdown and Restart tiles directly to the Windows 8 Start screen?"

Discuss this Article 1

ebraiter
on Jan 15, 2013
Unfortunately it's not free [$5]. If interested in a replacement Start menu in Windows 8, their Start8 application closely resembles the Start menu most of us loved. [If not, try the free Classic Shell.]

Please or Register to post comments.

IT/Dev Connections

Las Vegas
September 30th - October 4th

Paul ThurottYou'll have the opportunity to experience:
• The Microsoft
Technology Roadmap
• Office 365 Implementation
• Hyper-V Optimizing
• Windows 8 Deployment
and much more!

Come See Paul Thurrott & Rod Trent in Person!

Early Registration Now Open

Upcoming Training

Mastering System Center 2012

During over 6 hours of training you can join John Savill from your computer as he will walk you through the key components and capabilities of System Center 2012, what’s involved in using the components, and the benefit they can bring to your environment.

Register Now

Current Issue

May 2013 - The NameTranslate object is useful when you need to translate Active Directory object names between different formats, but it's awkward to use from PowerShell. Here's a PowerShell script that eliminates the awkwardness.

CURRENT ISSUE / ARCHIVE / SUBSCRIBE

Windows Forums

Get answers to questions, share tips, and engage with the Windows Community in our Forums.