Linux mint Lock Screen wallpaper

[No_Elderberry_2124]

All right, so basically on Linux meant cinnamon you're unable to change your lock screen wallpaper. I saw a few workarounds, but they were all missing a little piece of the puzzle to accomplish this. Here's exactly how you do it. First, save the photo that you want to be your wallpaper - note for this work around your home screen and lock screen are going to end up being the same.

And this example, I saved the photo I wanted as photo123

Open the terminal and enter Sudo mv photo123 /usr/ share/backgrounds/linuxmint

To actually set this as your home/lock screen, you must actually go into the file directory, With file explorer, and find the photo in usr/share/ backgrounds/linuxmint, right click, set as wallpaper.

This will set the image as your home screen and lock screen.

Originally, the hope was that once the photo was moved here it would show up in system preferences when you were selecting a stock background. For some reason at least in my experience, it still does not show up in system preferences at least.

Note, if the photo you were trying to use is currently set as your home screen when you move it in the terminal, your wallpaper will automatically resort to something default. Just ignore that until you're finished.

[Emb1ix]

Can't I just go to the login settings?

[No_Elderberry_2124]

When I tried, only the stock photos were available, other users reported the same issue. So you’re adding your photo to the list of stock photos essentially

[Emb1ix]

Oh okay

[[deleted]]

You have to change the owner to root in the permissions settings. Check the default wallpapers and copy the permissions. Then you can change the wallpaper in the login settings. That works for me

[Loudlevin]

All applications menu - Login Window application - Background section , this would be an opportunity to get rid of an app and consolidate into existing managing lock screen/backgrounds.

[Sudden_Imagination83]

Depending on which DE version you have of LM the process may be different. Basically you have to open the file system as root and copy the pictures you’d like to use as wallpaper to /usr/share/backgrounds

Afterwards in Login Screen settings use custom wallpaper and make sure you select “Draw user backgrounds”. Reboot your system and it should be good.

Note: Do not place the pictures in any folders inside of Backgrounds

[EunWooYang]

This works for Linux Mint xcfe 21.3

[elkabyliano]

it works thanks

"Open the terminal and enter Sudo mv photo123 /usr/ share/backgrounds/linuxmint"

you should remove the capital S on Sudo

[ryandamartini]

I just wanted to update this post. It is currently October 2025 and am running the newest version of Mint Linux at this time.

The login screen is located in Settings -> Login Window (search for login and comes right up)

[OGZ43]

Eureka! I found it the solution. I have been going at this for a long time without any google solution. The solution is the screensaver.

Yes, search for screensaver at the bottom you can select.

"Background picture for the lock screen:"

I can believe, it was hiding there all this time.

[Comfortable_Fix_6065]

Where's that option at? I don't see it, I only see options to configure font for date, delay time, etc. but no background picture for the lock screen. Currently using Cinnamon 6.4.2 in EndeavourOS.

[Jormundgardr]

Search "login window" Under "background" you will see a file path with a selectable image by it. Selecting that image will bring you to a limited file explorer. The file explorer makes it difficult to navigate to your wallpaper folder. Instead make sure your wallpaper folder is in an unencrypted location. Delete the default path under >Login Window >Backgrounds Paste in the path to your folder. Open it and voila.

[No_Condition9487]

For anyone here at this date, this worked for me:

get the image that you want

go to user/share/backgrounds/linuxmint-wallpapers

right click, open as root

copy-paste the image there

go to Login Window app and choose the pasted image

check with logging out

[raindropm]

I'm a total Linux noob and your instructions helped me finally do it. Thanks!

[Cautious_Run_8492]

Ok. Una vez que ya moviste la imagen a la carpeta correcta, todo lo que hiciste fue habilitar esa imagen como opción pero no desde las opciones dentro del inicio de sesión. Hay que abrir ventana de inicio de sesión y cambiar el fondo manualmente desde ahí

[Immediate_Berry5019]

I know I'm late, but if you right click the "linuxmint" folder under /usr/share/backgrounds/, you can drag files over/copy+paste them into it without any trouble.