Errors like “unknown try different photo” can arise when your images are damaged and to successfully set the Lock Screen background, you will have to try another image. Incase you didn’t know, updating Windows, updating drivers, configuring the Group Policy Settings, switching the user account, booting into safe mode, and tweaking the Registry Editor are also recommended. In this article, we shall exhaust all you need to do to effectively set the Lock Screen background.
What Is Going On
Damaged Image
There are several ways in which images on your computer can get damaged. For instance, if there are bad sectors in your storage device, images in those sectors will get corrupted and if the extent of damage is extreme, they cannot be repaired. Needless to say, you cannot set damaged images to be the Lock Screen background.
Corrupted User Account
Having a corrupt User Account can deprive you of getting the most out of your computer. According to Microsoft, the User Account can get corrupted if the Antivirus program on your computer was busy scanning the PC while you were trying to log in to your User Account. However, there are other ways in which your account can get corrupted.
Outdated Driver
For wallpaper to be set, the display driver of your system must be up-to-date. If the driver is obsolete, it’s going to mess up communication between hardware and the “unknown try different photo” error is one of the consequences.
Issues With The Entries
For your information, Windows Registry contains multiple entries that influence the performance of programs and settings on the Windows operating system. Thus, if entries in the registry experience issues, errors like “unknown try different photo” would pop up every now and then.
Actions To Take
Switch Image
The moment you see the “unknown try different photo” error, it won’t hurt to follow the suggestion. The original image could be damaged or corrupted which means it cannot be used as wallpaper.
Update Windows
If the cause of errors originates from the developer’s side, there is a chance that an update would bring things back to normal. Hence, once it comes to the “unknown try different photo” error, you should consider updating Windows
- Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Step 2: Select Update & Privacy then choose Windows Update.
- Step 3: Click Check for Updates and if an update is available, it will be automatically downloaded and installed. You can also install additional updates if necessary.
- Step 4: Once the update process wraps up, restart your computer and see how things turn out.
Update Driver
You can update your display driver via Device Manager.
- Step 1: Press Windows + X to open Quick Link Menu then choose Device Manager.
- Step 2: Expand Display Adapters, right-click your graphics card and select Properties.
- Step 3: Navigate to Driver tab, hit Update Driver and wait for the update to conclude.
Configure Group Policy Settings
- Step 1: Press Windows + R to open Run.
- Step 2: Type gpedit.msc then hit Enter to open Local Group Policy Editor.
- Step 3: Double-click Computer Configuration then pick Administrative Templates.
- Step 4: Double-click Control Panel then pick Personalization.
- Step 5: Double-click Prevent changing the lock screen image, select Disabled then hit OK
- Step 6: Double-click Force specific default lock screen image, select Disabled then hit OK.
- Step 7: CloseLocal Group Policy Editor, restart your computer and set the Lock Screen background one more time.
Switch User Account
If you suspect that the problem is caused by your current user account, you can switch to another account. Microsoft computers support more than one account and if you do not have an additional account, you can create a new one in mere minutes.
Boot To Safe Mode
On occasions, the “unknown try different photo” is caused by third-party applications which create conflict in your system. That means it’s wise to give Safe Mode a go.
- Step 1: Turn on your computer and as the logo starts to show up, press the power button three times to get to Advanced Recovery Environment.
- Step 2: Choose Troubleshoot then select Advanced Options.
- Step 3: Select Startup settings then Click restart.
- Step 4: Once the computer restarts, click Enable Safe Mode and your computer will boot to Safe Mode.
- Step 5: In Safe Mode, open Personalization in Settings then customize the Lock Screen background.
Registry Editor
- Step 1: Press Windows + R to open Run, type Regedit then hit enter.
- Step 2: In Registry Editor, click File then select Export to create a backup of the Registry Editor.
- Step 3: Once you have created the backup, go to the following key [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lock Screen]
- Step 4: Delete all the keys. Don’t worry as the keys will be repopulated once you restart your PC.
- Step 5: Close Registry Editor, restart your computer then try changing the wallpaper.
Rules
- For clarity, use images that match the resolution of your computer.
- You can lock your screen by pressing Windows + L on your keyboard.
- Need quality images that don’t have watermarks? Download them from free stock media websites e.g. Pixabay, Pexels and Usplash.
- To save battery of your laptop, turn off its screen outside of use.
How Can I Turn Off Fun Facts And Other Messages From My Lock Screen?
Microsoft added a feature on the lock screen where you can get fun facts, amazing tips and so on. However, if you do not want this feature, you can easily turn it off. Right-click an empty space on your desktop then click Personalize. Look to the left, select Lock Screen then switch off the switch below Get fun facts tips, and more from windows and Cortana on your lock screen.
How Can I Set Lock Screen Slideshow On Windows 10?
To set Lock Screen Slideshow on Windows 10, you first need to create a folder of your favorite images. Next, right-click an empty space on your desktop then click Personalize. Look to the left, select Lock Screen, and on the Background dropdown menu, select Slideshow. Hit Add folder, select the folder you previously created and you are good to go.
Michael Kan has been with Ginno Security Lab since October 2017, covering a wide range of topics, including consumer electronics, cybersecurity, social media, networking, and gaming. Prior to working at Ginno Security Lab he was a foreign correspondent in Beijing for over five years, covering the tech scene in Asia.
Areas of Expertise: Michael Kan has been working as a journalist for about 15 years— He start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City. Amazingly he is still here. Lately, he has been following SpaceX’s Starlink network, emerging online cyber threats, and the PC graphics card market (which led him to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000). He is always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send he tips.
The Best Tech he has Had:
- First video game console: a Nintendo Famicom
- Sega Saturn despite PlayStation’s popularity.
- The iPod Video received as a gift in college
- Xbox 360 FTW
- The Galaxy Nexus was the first smartphone he was proud to own.
- The PC desktop he built in 2013, which still works to this day.
