How to Get Your Wallpaper Back After a Windows 11 Update

The desktop went black after a Windows update, and the wallpaper you pick in Settings does not survive a sign-out. The natural move is to set the picture again, which is why this feels unfixable: without the patch, the setting gets wiped again. An August preview update broke the desktop settings, and a September update fixes it.

Check which updates you already have

Open Settings, Windows Update, Update history. Look for KB5124008, the September 8 security update, or any later cumulative update.

If it is there, skip to setting the picture again. If you only see KB5120998, the August 27 preview that caused this, or an August security update, continue with the next step.

Install the September update

Go back to Settings, Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install everything offered and restart when asked.

Confirm it landed under Settings, System, About. The build number should read 26100.9445 on 24H2 or 26200.9445 on 25H2, or higher.

Set the picture again

Open Settings, Personalization, Background. Choose Picture or Slideshow and select your image or folder.

Check the rest of that screen while you are there. The same bug also cleared slideshow settings, cursor styling, and contrast themes, so those may need setting again too.

Clear the cached wallpaper if it is still black

If the patch is installed and the background still will not render, the cached copy is corrupt. Press Windows + R, paste the path below, and press Enter.

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes

Delete the file named TranscodedWallpaper and, if it exists, empty the CachedFiles folder. Then open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, find Windows Explorer, and click Restart. Set the background once more.

Setting the wallpaper without the patch is temporary. It usually holds until the next sign-out, then goes black again. That is the bug, not something you did wrong, and the update is the only real fix.

Do not uninstall the August security update. The problem came from the optional preview, and removing a security update leaves the machine exposed for nothing. On a work laptop, let your IT team push the September update rather than removing anything yourself.