How do I select my on background for Login page?

Question

Level 1

42 points

How do I select my on background for Login page?

How do I SPECIFY the login background for a MacBook Air running Sequoia?

I used to be able to put a SPECIFIC picture in a system folder.

THE "LIST OF USERS" option DOES'T WORK - it picked a completely random picture from my screen group, and it won't change.

I can use a single image desktop, and yes, it will work for 1 boot, until I go back to my desired desktop pictures. Then it goes back to the unwanted picture.

So, it has to be stored somewhere. Why this is in a protected folder is beyond me - why would this have ANYTHING to do with security.

MacBook Air 15″, macOS 15.7

Posted on Apr 21, 2026 1:12 PM

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Answer 1

Pavkoto

Level 1

8 points

Aug 2, 2026 1:36 PM in response to Ellyenne

The login screen background is stored in

/private/var/db/Wallpapers/<uuid>/Wallpaper.png

You can change the image to whatever you want and you'll see it on the login screen. Not sure what all the nonsense about "encrypted pre-boot drives" and so on is all about.

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Answer 2

Apr 22, 2026 8:18 AM in response to Ellyenne

Things change. That's the cost of evolution, I guess.

And macOS is not Windows, thankfully.

You may find these past threads informative:

• How do I make it so my lock screen and desktop backgrounds are two different things in macOS...? - Apple Community

• Change macOS... Login Screen Wallpaper... - Apple Community

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Answer 3

Apr 21, 2026 1:36 PM in response to Ellyenne

If I'm not mistaken, the lock screen wallpaper is the same as the wallpaper assigned to your desktop.

I don't know what image is selected if the desktop wallpaper is something from a folder of shared pics that occasionally changes.

You can try changing your desktop wallpaper. Otherwise I don't know a way to specify a particular pic for the lock screen.

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Answer 4

Ellyenne Author

Level 1

42 points

Apr 21, 2026 9:37 PM in response to D.I. Johnson

There has been a way to select the login background since MacOS X.

It used to be a system preferences choice.

Later, you could add a picture to a folder and it would use that. I just got a MBAir with Sequoia, and that location didn't work. So, I'm looking for where that location is now. I do not want some random picture from my Desktop pics. I can do this in Windows. But no longer on my Mac?

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