Where Are the Desktop and Lock Screen Wallpapers Stored in Windows 10?

If you're looking to find the images used for your desktop wallpaper and lock screen in Windows 10, they are stored in specific system folders. In this guide, we’ll show you where to locate these files and how to access them easily.

Desktop Wallpapers

The default desktop wallpapers for Windows 10 can typically be found in the following folder:

C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper

This folder contains several subdirectories with different images provided by Windows:

  • Wallpaper — standard system wallpapers;
  • 4K — high-resolution wallpapers for 4K displays;
  • Screen — images used for the lock screen.

If you downloaded custom wallpapers through the Personalization app, they might be stored in your Pictures folder or another user directory:

C:\Users\YourUsername\Pictures

Lock Screen Wallpapers

The lock screen images in Windows 10 are stored in a hidden folder at the following path:

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets

In the Assets folder, you will find images without file extensions or recognizable names. You can open these files by renaming them and adding the .jpg extension.

How to Access Hidden Folders

The AppData folder is hidden by default. To make it visible, follow these steps:

  1. Open File Explorer (Win + E).
  2. Go to the View tab and check the box for Hidden items.

You will now be able to see the AppData folder and access the lock screen image files.