How to Set a Custom Lock Screen Slideshow With Local Folders

Quick fix: Open Settings → Personalization → Lock screen. Pick Slideshow from Personalize your lock screen dropdown. Click Browse → add specific folders. Photos in those folders rotate as lock screen wallpaper. For multiple folders: add separately. Adjust slideshow timing in Advanced slideshow settings.

Lock Screen Slideshow rotates through your photos from chosen folders. Set up once; enjoy variety. Alternative to Windows Spotlight (which uses Microsoft’s curated images).

What causes this need

Spotlight uses Microsoft’s curated images (changes daily). Your photos: personal, varied, locally controlled. Custom slideshow lets you pick from your own collection.

Method 1: Set up slideshow

The standard route.

1. Open Settings → Personalization → Lock screen.
2. Find Personalize your lock screen dropdown. Pick Slideshow.
3. Click Browse to add folder.
4. Default folder: Pictures. Add custom folder(s).
5. For multiple folders: click Browse again to add more.
6. To remove: click folder → Remove.
7. Save.
8. Lock PC (Win+L) to see slideshow.
9. Images rotate after time interval.

This is the standard setup.

Method 2: Customize slideshow behavior

For tuning.

1. Same Lock screen settings page. Click Advanced slideshow settings.
2. Options:
   • Include Camera Roll folders from this PC and OneDrive: includes synced photos.
   • Only use pictures that fit my screen: avoids stretched / cropped images.
   • Play a slideshow when using battery power: toggle for laptops.
   • When my PC is inactive, show lock screen instead of turning off the screen: keeps slideshow visible during idle.
   • Turn off the screen after this slideshow plays for: minutes. Default 30 min.
3. Apply.
4. For specific timing: not user-configurable. Microsoft sets typical 30-60 seconds.
5. For dynamic photo organization: Windows uses date taken, sometimes random.

This is the tuning.

Method 3: Use third-party tools for advanced slideshow

For granular control.

1. For per-image timing, transitions, music: third-party slideshow tools.
2. Free:
   • IrfanView: image viewer with slideshow mode. Set as screensaver.
   • XnView: similar with more features.
3. Paid:
   • ProShow Producer: full slideshow creation with transitions.
   • SmartShow 3D: slideshow with music.
4. For screensaver mode: Right-click desktop → Personalize → Lock screen → Screen saver settings → pick Photos. Custom folder + slow / medium / fast speed.
5. For dual-monitor: each monitor can show different slideshow.
6. For media playback as screensaver: VLC has screensaver mode.
7. For dynamic wallpaper (not slideshow): Wallpaper Engine on Steam.

This is the granular route.

How to verify the fix worked

• Lock screen (Win+L) shows your photos rotating.
• Settings → Lock screen → Slideshow indicates active.
• Configured folders appear in list.
• Photos cycle through.

If none of these work

If slideshow doesn’t work: Folder permissions: lock screen service can’t read folder. Use folders with default permissions. OneDrive Files On-Demand: cloud-only files not shown. Make Always keep on this device. For small photos: lock screen prefers landscape, larger photos. Add more. For specific format: JPEG, PNG, BMP supported. RAW not native; convert. For corporate-managed PCs: Group Policy may force specific lock screen. For chronic stuck on same image: clear Content Delivery Manager cache (similar to Spotlight). For low-end PCs: slideshow may use CPU. Disable if performance impacted.

Bottom line: Settings → Personalization → Lock screen → pick Slideshow → Browse to add folder. Configure via Advanced slideshow settings. For more control: third-party slideshow tools or screen saver.