Can I change login screen with OS Monterey

The pre-login boot wallpaper now loads from a sealed snapshot. It is not editable.

macOS today operates by separating the system files and the data files into two totally separate volumes. The system files are "sealed". It is, essentially, a read-only volume which Apple distributes. Since the hard disk is encrypted before you login, the computer does not have access to anything other than a little metadata associated with the accounts (username and a small icon and that's about it). Once you enter a password, the data volume can be decrypted. The computer then essentially "merges" the system files and data files together in real time like a zipper through a series of firmlinks.

macOS now boots in a state that is always fresh and identical. Only once you login do all the changes you've made (including wallpaper) become visible to the system.

The login background will be the same as your desktop background only if 1) FileVault is turned off, 2) you are the only user and guest user is turned off AND 3) in the users & groups preference pane you have "Display login window as List of users" checked. If you have "name and password" checked it WILL NOT work. Furthermore, it is absolutely impossible to replace the actual default image file Monterey uses: (/System/Library/Desktop Pictures/Monterey Graphic.heic) It's on the encrypted system volume and is completely inaccessible to the user.

It is the start screen and you cannot change it. Unfortunately. It is the picture called "Monterey Graphic.heic" in HD>System>Library>Desktop Pictures ...and even if your are admin you cannot transform the content of it.

I tried to make a new start screen, changed the deathvalley from jpg to heic and ... Those are preferences settings by Apple.

This man's accent is pretty thick, but there are captions at the bottom. It worked (sorta) for me. I have two users on my account (one admin, one guest) and initial login is the default, but once you select the admin account, my custom background displays and asks me for my password. This might be what you're looking for: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fFNVlpM-Tw

lanstrad1 wrote:

After all, and complain about it myself since Big Sur (same ugly screen, less complained, just different colors….), I admit I concur to what you are raising here. True, it’s minor compared to fact I always need to wait about 9 months so many programs I use finally comply….

Nevertheless, even though “art” is a very subjective matter, if security is involved in that decision to “remove” capability to change that screen, it is the second year Apple is providing such an ugly design. Never wondered about modifying Catalina or previous default screens…

Fair enough. I think because Monterey is fairly new and there are thus still a number of high priority bugs or anomalies that affect actual functionality, or security, something like this that is more of a cosmetic opinion type of issue will probably be very low priority for the Apple engineering groups. However if there is a groundswell of strongly (but politely) worded opinions made known, Apple may take notice. The place to convey that and requests for changes to the current version of the MacOS is:

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

I think the Monterey background for the login screen is actually a view of an underwater canyon at Monterey, California. I actually sort of like the colors myself because they are off the beaten track. However some clearly don't like it. Unless you are willing to make your machine a single user, non-File vault machine, I think the workaround is to set the screen saver or screen sleep to be quick, or to log in as a user quickly.

I hate it also. Try going to System Preference, look for desktop/screen saver icon. I was unable to change from the hideous purple, but today I just picked a different picture and up it popped on my screen!

This worked for me - was getting the geometrics in startup screen and just wanted to get to my

desktop picture automatically.

Apple menu>Users and groups>Login Options>unlock at the bottom>set Automatic Login to Current User(admin) from

the left

This sent me straight to my desktop picture on starting up

Spoke with Apple Support. Confirmed that the functionality is specific not the OS but the MACHINE.

On some Mac models, the default desktop picture and login window background are based on the color or finish of the Mac. For example, the default desktop picture on a Space Gray MacBook Pro (2021) is "Chroma Red", and the default desktop picture on a Blue iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) is "Hello Blue".

It actually has been for quite a while. The last version of OS X where you could change this easily was Mojave, I believe. In Catalina the pre-login screen is just grey by default (which is how I think they all should be, honestly), although I think you could technically change it somehow—I don't recall. Catalina was sort of the last OS at the edge of this transition that still functioned like the Mac OS you might have known before it became fully iOS-ified. Catalina split the system volume from the data volume IIRC, but Big Sur was the first time Apple started signing and sealing the system volume. Howard Oakley has a great website (https://eclecticlight.co/) that details how macOS has changed in the last few iterations, and just how different it operates today from how it used to.

I actually think it's wild how much the operating system has changed at a fundamental level, and yet it still looks and feels somewhat familiar.

It changed to my custom desktop photo, however I only got it to change by turning off the "Guest login" option (And my user admin profile is the only sign-on option).

Turn off the File Vault off in Settings in Security&Privacy. You will be able to see the Desktop wallpaper in Login and Memoji action back

Hi

Stop the presses. Final resolution of this may need to wait for 12.0.2. I had already followed all the steps of Angelika241. Thank you Angelika241!!

Restarting gave me the regular Monterey desktop some of would like to change.

Next step was to change my desktop photo to the Eiffel Tower. Restart. Same Monterey image.

Restart and TURN OFF THE FILEVAULT. Restart.

The sign in image is my smiling face with a backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. Restart. Still the Eiffel Tower. Restart.

Turn ON FileVault. Restart.

The same multi blue and purple Monterey log in screen.

Would someone else out there try to duplicate this for a second opinion.

I'd also like the moderator to run this issue up to folks in a higher pay-grade for the next OS update.

Time for some Geritol and sleep, lolol

Thanks! I have a MacBook M1 (2020) and got rid of the vile purple starter screen by turning off FileVault (I already had 'List of users' and disabled guest user). It automatically turned to my wallpaper, which is the same as the file called 'lockscreen.png' in the folder with the long name (found under '/Library/Caches/Desktop Pictures').

There is this open source app that can change :

1. Boot screen
2. Boot options
3. Login screen

https://www.macenhance.com/bootbuddy

However, one user changed boot screen but computer was then laggy.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253445353?page=1

No. You can't change it.

We're stuck with that same ugly screen since Big Sur - except it was orange rather than pink. No idea who's so-called ''art'' is, everybody dream about changing this, but you can't unless you have a single profile. But as most have at least an admin and a standard account, forget it.

Been searching this for over a year and you have to live with it. God decided for us. We follow.