How To Change Your Login Screen Wallpaper in Ubuntu

In this article, we will guide you through the process of changing your login screen wallpaper in Ubuntu. This can be a great way to personalize your Ubuntu experience. There are several methods to achieve this, and we will cover them in detail.

Method 1: Using Terminal Commands

The Terminal is a powerful tool in Ubuntu that allows you to perform tasks quickly by entering commands. Here’s how to change your login screen wallpaper using the Terminal:

1. Open Terminal: You can do this by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for ‘Terminal’ in your applications.
2. Enter the following commands:

sudo -i
xhost +SI:localuser:lightdm
su lightdm -s /bin/bash
gsettings set com.canonical.unity-greeter draw-user-backgrounds 'true'
gsettings set com.canonical.unity-greeter background 'path-to-image'
exit

• sudo -i logs you in as a root user, giving you administrative permissions.
• xhost +SI:localuser:lightdm allows the LightDM display manager to access the server.
• su lightdm -s /bin/bash switches the user to LightDM and starts a bash shell.
• gsettings set com.canonical.unity-greeter draw-user-backgrounds 'true' enables the use of custom wallpapers.
• gsettings set com.canonical.unity-greeter background 'path-to-image' sets your chosen image as the wallpaper. Replace ‘path-to-image’ with the actual path of your image.

Method 2: Using Nautilus (File Manager)

Nautilus, the default file manager in Ubuntu, can also be used to change the login screen wallpaper. Here’s how:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Enter the command sudo nautilus to open Nautilus with root permissions.
3. Navigate to /usr/share/backgrounds/. This is where Ubuntu stores the default wallpapers.
4. Copy your preferred image to this location.
5. Rename the current wallpaper file to something like ‘backup-imagenameold.png’ to keep a backup.
6. Rename your image to the filename of the original background (e.g., ‘warty-final-ubuntu.png’).

Method 3: Using dconf-editor

dconf-editor is a configuration tool in Ubuntu that provides a simple way to change your login screen wallpaper. If you don’t have it installed, you can do so by entering sudo apt-get install dconf-editor in the Terminal.

1. Launch dconf-editor by entering sudo dconf-editor in the Terminal.
2. Navigate to com > canonical > unity-greeter.
3. Change the values of ‘draw-user-backgrounds’ and ‘background’ to ‘true’ and ‘path-to-image’ respectively.

Method 4: Modifying the default theme file

This method involves modifying the default theme file of Ubuntu. It requires a bit more technical knowledge, but it’s not too difficult.

1. Backup the default theme file by running sudo cp /usr/share/gnome-shell/theme/ubuntu.css /var/tmp/.
2. Open the file with a text editor. For example, you can use Vim by entering sudo vim /usr/share/gnome-shell/theme/ubuntu.css in the Terminal.
3. Find the section with #lockDialogGroup and modify the background property to point to your desired image.
4. Save the file and restart your computer to see the changes.

Remember, the methods mentioned above may vary depending on the Ubuntu version you are using. Always make a backup of any files before making changes, and ensure you have the correct permissions to modify system files.

By following the steps in this guide, you should be able to change your login screen wallpaper in Ubuntu and further personalize your Ubuntu experience. Happy customizing!