Solution for changing Big Sur login wallpaper to custom.

Hi G1821mp,

I think why it doesn't work for you is that you have multiple accounts. If you had a single account like I do it works as intended.

I agree, Apple could easily put a toggle under Users & Groups to change the login background or at least sync it with your desktop background.

Hi Safnaj,

I assume you mean it changed back to the colorful rainbow once you enabled FileFault.

If you want to keep the synced login screen background, you'll have to leave FileVault off untill Apple can come out with a fix whenever that will be.

Hope this helps.

I have the same problem with my MacBook Pro o (15-inch, 2017 Touch Bar), I submitted the suggestion to Apple to restore the function on Monday. (In my earlier post in this community, and on the Apple submission), I also noted my attempt to correct this by activating root, which also failed. I never had File Vault active, so that did not figure into the failure. I do have three separate user accounts, and each login can be configured using this process, but the boot/initial login background remains the "colorful Big Sur impressionistic" background we are trying to update.

FWIW, I had the login screen changed successfully to my choice of wallpaper. Then I switched from beta to the the public version. Still trying to get my preferred screen back. Files and folders are where they should be.

Hi arizonanorse,

I was in the same boat as you when I upgraded to the general public release from the beta. Did you try changing your desktop background to something else and then change it back to the Big Sur landscape? When I did this on my machine the file, lockscreen.png was created automatically. I rebooted and the login screen then matched my desktop background.

Hope this helps.

Thanks a lot! This sounds promising. 

I have not tried it yet because it appears that with this solution the login screen will be the same as the desktop wallpaper. This is not what I would like to have.

I’d rather like to have one picture as my login screen and another picture as my dektop.

Is there any solution for that?

Thanks Appelwarm. Your solution was very welcome. By the way: I found that you can also put any png picture in this folder and name it lockscreen.png and it will display as login screen everytime you start up your mac. So the background on the login screen does not have to be the same as your current wallpaper.

I never turned off File Vault - never touched it at all.... just rid myself of extra account on the iMac and then I can have whatever pictures I choose and never see that awful rainbow coloured monstrosity again.

Welcome, EdFladung3, to Apple Support Communities!

The instructions are given only for those that have trouble under the normal conditions expressed by glenidol.

Note: There is one additional condition that needs to be satisfied, under both the normal conditions as well as the conditions where one may need the given instructions: System Preferences -> Users & Groups -> Login Options -> Display login window as: List of Users.

(Display login window as: Name and password will always show «that awful rainbow coloured monstrosity», as glenidol put it.)

I am right up to date with latest Big Sur update to iMac Pro. This is what I see when I start up the Mac as a single user - shows my image and log in -- background photo is one of my own - 6am fog down one of our front paddocks :-) I log in with that picture and it goes to that picture again as my desktop. Just happens to be my favourite of the moment.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bjujh2tpftcuh9r/IMG_1977.jpg?dl=0

glenidol wrote:

I am right up to date with latest Big Sur update to iMac Pro. This is what I see when I start up the Mac as a single user - shows my image and log in -- background photo is one of my own - 6am fog down one of our front paddocks :-) I log in with that picture and it goes to that picture again as my desktop. …

This sounds like you are using the “Display login window as: List of Users” setting. Not the “Display login window as: Name and password” setting.

Am I correct?

This is exactly as expected.

Yes -- I have it ticked to List of users -- so only my portrait and log in is showing - then I get to see what I want to see not that ghastly Apple stuff. I dislike American stuff shoved at us anyway - we don't all live there - I think most people would like to see images representing their own area or country or something they dreamed up themselves as desktops and log in pix.

Ok will try this thanks , why the bloody **** don’t Apple just put it as an option in the preferences ? 🙄🙄

I finally got it to work 😅 Omg thank you!!!!