Windows 10: Disable Desktop Wallpaper JPEG Quality Reduction in Windows 10

How to: Disable Desktop Wallpaper JPEG Quality Reduction in Windows 10

How to Enable or Disable JPEG Desktop Wallpaper Import Quality Reduction in Windows 10


When you set an image as your desktop background wallpaper or slideshow, Windows will import a copy of this image and store it as the TranscodedWallpaper file in the %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes folder. Your desktop background wallpaper is loaded from this TranscodedWallpaper file cache.

If you select a JPEG image as your desktop background wallpaper, then Windows will automatically compress and reduce the quality of the imported copy to only 85% of the original JPEG image quality. This is done to help save disk space, RAM, and improve the performance of Windows while showing the desktop wallpaper image or when cycling wallpaper images during a desktop slideshow. Of course, the JPEG desktop wallpaper will not look as good as the original.

If you have a decent performing system, then you may wish to disable this automatic quality reduction of JPEG desktop wallpapers to have the imported image show with the full quality as the original JPEG image.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the automatic import quality reduction of a JPEG desktop wallpaper for your account in Windows 10.

*note If you use a PNG image as your desktop background wallpaper or slideshow, then you are not affected by this automatic quality reduction since it only happens to JPEG images.



Here's How:

*note The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

JPEGImportQuality DWORD

(delete) = Enable JPEG import quality reduction
64 (hex) or 100 (decimal) = Disable JPEG import quality reduction



1. Do step 2 (disable) or step 3 (enable) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Disable JPEG Desktop Wallpaper Import Quality Reduction
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_JPEG_Desktop_wallpaper_import_quality.reg

Download

3. To Enable JPEG Desktop Wallpaper Import Quality Reduction
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_JPEG_Desktop_wallpaper_import_quality.reg

Download
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. Restart the computer to apply.

8. Change your desktop background wallpaper to the JPEG file you want to import a new copy for your applied changes.

9. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Change your Desktop Background in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Desktop Background Image in Windows 10
• How to Reset Desktop Background Choose Your Picture History in Windows 10

:)

 

Windows 10 still does not support ICC profiles in wallpaper.

A: This is by design. The image import path needs to be maximally performant, and as such profiles are ignored as you have noticed.

B: See #A. JPEGs can be piggy and slow, so the system imports at 85% quality by default. You can use PNG to avoid this. Or if you really really want to, you can use the new-to-Windows-10 registry override: create a REG_DWORD value named "JPEGImportQuality"
under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop. That value is capped at a low of 60, default of 85, and a max of 100. Set it to the import setting you want - bearing in mind that high values will slightly slow you down on slideshow updates, for example - and
then restart your system. At that point, the next time you select a JPEG wallpaper source it'll be imported at that higher quality level.

Mind you, if you use the override and it's causing you to lag on wallpaper transitions -- delete the value and go back to the default. But -- that's the override if you need it.

Not ignored, just prioritized. Slowing down JPEG import during real-time display of wallpaper is generally a bad plan, but as noted you can take at least the import quality level into your own hands if you think your system needs it and can handle it.

 

Windows 10: Dual Monitor Lock Screen Slide show not working

Yes, +1 this like no tomorrow. I shouldn't be finding functions that worked better in Windows 8.1. This is an upgrade, not a reduction.

Also, I can no longer change my background desktop wallpapers every 30 seconds or 10 seconds, nor can I select Shuffle. Bring back these simple, yet amazing features.

 

question :

I saw above the word "import"

so , this tweak matter only on new future installed wallpapers
or is in fact applied also on the existing wallpaper
maybe after a restart or not ?

[ I suppose the actual wallpaper is already imported somewhere in user folder cache]

c

 

Hello C, *Smile

It gets applied to the next new wallpaper you change to after a restart.