Solution for changing Big Sur login wallpaper to custom.

Thanks, Halliday.

Single-user system, Guest user Off.

Login screen shows just my login name and pwd entry field.

In the 90s, I worked at Apple fellow traveling w/ HIG--Human Interface Group. The old timers must be plutzing at the sight of the butt ugly Big Sur screen. (Yosemite, High Sierra, Catalina were so pretty...how could this happen?)

Thanks again, Halliday.

I didn't see anything in System Preferences/Users & Groups that said "List of Users"

I turned on Guest User, but no relief from garish login screen.

I think it's supposed to be a view down to the ocean & surf line from the cliffs of Big Sur

where I have camped many times

but those cliffs aren't pink & orange. Ugh!

Thanks, Soren.

I'm still seeing the red cliffs of Dover...er...Point Sur.

Given the security policies of my IT dept at a--ahem--well known private University, I guess I'll have to wait til Apple provides a nature photo.

I didn't literally travel with HIG. (I worked in the Fitness Ctr.) Was a close coworker, esp as my background is in design, my husband was under the same ATG (Advanced Technology Group) umbrella. I also did some ergonomic design consulting. Later I had the great good fortune to work with Tog and several others from HIG on web design at WebMD. What a gift!

Yea my lokscreen.png just matches what I changed and not that ugly Big Sur. I can't see how this is supposed to work as I have nothing to change. The image is correct in that dir but the login screen is that hideous bright image. Am I supposed to create another folder in that folder?

hi johnfromchetek that is exactly what i've been asking and telling everyone since big sure was born... it seems that s simple shift in nomenclature has everyone wrapped around the axle on this topic and for those of us, such as your self, that appreciates and treasures the 'mostly' stunning apple aesthetics (both hardware and ?software?) it is (#(@ irritating.

yet, appewarm you have taught me really cool things thus far in this post, and I am grateful. i even watched my system generate the lockscreen.png file in real-time with my own eyes. but the statement above is 'just not so'. i have tested and followed your insights to the letter.

so it's either:

the change is not permanent (but logic disagrees as the system generated lockscreen.png hasn't moved since I watched it be generated, nor have the permissions changed)

the "screen you see after you power up" (whatever we are calling it now0) is unchangeable (difficult to fathom)

collectively, we simply haven't figured it out yet

I have many macs currently in my studio and I've been a faithful mac hack since 1986 so I know these statements will change.

i'd LOVE to modify this set up as would johnfromchetek.

let's keep hope alive.

i tried following it but I did not need to change that image in that dir as it was already changed. My iMac has 2 users so it does not work from what you’re saying if you have multiple users. I will try it on my Mac book which is a single user over the weekend.

Thanks, Halliday. I submitted an RFE (request for enhancement) at the link you gave above. (Link/MacOS Apps/MacOS) Who knows if it will do anything, but it made me feel better, like that famous experiment with college students and the panic button to nowhere.

Agree! I complained to Apple weeks ago.

After trying the option to turn off File Vault, I rec'd an immediate, strongly-worded, auto-sent rebuke from my Major West Coast University IT Dept.

Now every morning I'm left to cringe and choke on my tea at the sight of that atrocious startup screen.

Who wants to see shocking red and orange first thing?!

I want to ease into my day with a nice nature photo, reminders of my lovely camping trips at Big Sur.

Hello all,

Just wanted to chime in and say that I am experiencing this same... annoyance(?) and to join in this discussion.

Yesterday, before I discovered this popular thread, I created this one:

Big Sur Graphic Flash on Log Out

I have read through this current thread but have not seen any mention of the "Big Sur Graphic Flash" on log out and was wondering if anyone (or maybe everyone) is seeing that? As I mentioned in that thread, I'm guessing it's happening because the Mac logs out to the log in screen then quickly checks and sees that I have a single user account and goes back to my selected desktop background?

As suggested by many others in this thread, I'm going now to leave Apple some feedback about this nonsense!

Cheers!

You know, I was worried my original post would be considered off topic and I thought about it for a bit before I ultimately decided it was very ON topic - I think your post is too and I appreciate the reply enormously. Always good to know you’re not the only one experiencing an issue.

Purple monstrosity indeed! Ugh! Argh! With optional animated emoji's. Yep, just what was missing from my life. (That and customizing my cursor. Right?)

The atrocious orange Big Sewer (I like that!) screen is arguably an impressionistic representation of the Point Sur coastline. The hideous purple mountains majesty (not!) doesn't even begin to suggest the geography of Monterrey (where I have spent much time). You'd think the UI team could at least do fish for the famous Monterrey Aquarium.

LeadMare,

Let's hope that we have the ability to change the login background in Monterey like we can in Big Sur. The purple background isn't as bad as the current background in Big Sur but that's my opinion. I wish Apple would do a custom background like the did in Big Sur for the desktop but its only in developer beta so let's see how it progresses.

But of course - it's all a matter of personal taste (or some might say: the lack thereof). I'm sure there are folks who love the default BS screen. That's fine - to each his own. I won't complain too loudly as long as there's at least a workaround like the one kindly shared above.

I didn't mean any disrespect for BS - I actually heard someone pronounce it that way and got a chuckle from it. I like the OS for the most part, just not fond of some of the supplied eye candy. But hey, they finally gave us dark mode... maybe someday themes? Yeah, probably not.

LeadMare,

Interesting, I work at a university and they don't require me to have FIleVault on but I guess different universities are different on their security policies. I assume if you turn it off the university IT department will know?

I wish Apple had a way to change it but it's what it is.