Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Extremely easy to upload your own photo to the password login screen
- No need to go anywhere near critical systems files
- Does not require administrator rights to run
Cons
- If you choose an image folder with a lot of images in it, scrolling becomes difficult
Our Verdict
Not many people realize that you can customize the look of your Windows 7 password logon screen. You can do this without touching critical system files, thanks to Windows 7 Logon Background Changer.
Many people are surprised when they find out how much they can customize a Windows PC. That was my initial reaction when I first came across Windows 7 Logon Background Changer. I had absolutely no idea that the password logon screen could be changed and was even more pleasantly surprised when I discovered that Logon Background Changer was a two-minute process that didn’t involve going anywhere near the dreaded Windows Registry.
Customizing the PC is a process that fills me with fear and dread because I have nightmares of messing it up, then getting the gut-wrenching Blue Screen of Death. For years, my PC has remained uncustomized and unadorned, apart from the desktop wallpaper. But being someone who likes to nip and tuck at everything, I was always on the lookout for ways to change things without throwing a spanner in the works. If you are like me in this regard, then you are going to love Logon Background Changer because it is very difficult to mess up with this app.
Windows 7 Logon Background Changer is a portable application, which means that it doesn’t have to be installed. Simply download the Zip file from the website, unzip it with a program such as WinZip or 7Zip, and then place it anywhere you want…computer, Dropbox folder, USB stick, etc.. Double-click the USB file and it will immediately open up.
When Windows 7 Logon Background Changer opens, you will see your current logon background image, and underneath it a selection of Windows-optimized images that you can use if you don’t have a particular image of your own that you’d like to use. If you want to use one of these, double-click the one you want and it will appear above.
If you have an image of your own that you would prefer to use, click “choose a folder” and Windows 7 Logon Background Changer will prompt you to choose the PC folder containing your desired image. When you have chosen it, all the images in that folder will display at the bottom of the app. Simply scroll to the one you want and double-click. Again, it will show up above.
If everything looks OK to you, then click “apply” and after a few moments, the Windows 7 Logon Background Changer will apply the wallpaper. According to the developer’s webpage, the app makes copies of the image, then crops and resizes where appropriate. So you can remove the original image from your computer afterwards without affecting your logon screen image.
Now all that is required is for you to log off your Windows PC account and you will be taken back to the logon screen, where you will be treated to the sight of your new login wallpaper staring back at you.
Note: The “Try it for free” button on the Product Information page takes you to the vendor’s site, where you can download the latest version of the software.