Can't change lock screen on windows 8.1

Anonymous
2013-12-10T22:49:57+00:00

I tried to change my lock screen in the photos app. First of all it took forever and finally I got a message that said can't change lock screen/make sure the file isn't damaged and try again. I tried this with five other pictures and I got the same thing each time. I then tried to change it in settings and the preview for the picture would not load at all.

HELP!!!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-04-30T19:14:42+00:00

    Hi Charles,

    Thank you for sharing the resolution with us which will help others facing the same problems to fix it.

    No problem.  Hopefully it will continue to work.  I'll be posting another thread on my custom icons not working issue in a day or so.  I still have not figured out how to restore that functionality.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-05-01T19:22:12+00:00

    I did exactly everything you said to do in the exact order but it is in worse condition than before. A new SystemData folder showed up along with the SystemDataOld folder. However, now my lock screen just shows up with the default background and I don't have the option to change it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-05-02T06:10:34+00:00

    I am getting the exact behavior.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-05-04T02:46:38+00:00

    I did exactly everything you said to do in the exact order but it is in worse condition than before. A new SystemData folder showed up along with the SystemDataOld folder. However, now my lock screen just shows up with the default background and I don't have the option to change it.

    I noticed the browse button.  Did you make use of it?

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-05-04T02:49:00+00:00

    I am getting the exact behavior.

    Did you follow through with the process? Did you click the Browse button and start choosing pictures you never have chosen before? That is important because when the folder gets recreated there is nothing inside, not even previous pictures you chose in the past.

    You need to repopulate the pictures to see them again.  You must click the Browse button and begin choosing a picture you never used as a lock screen picture before.  If you try to choose one you have used before you will see nothing.

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