Force a specific Start background: registry value ForceStartBackgroundComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization
- Policy ID
- CPL_Personalization_StartBackground
- Scope
- Computer Configuration
- Supported on
- At least Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1
- Source
- Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
- Category
- Control Panel › Personalization
Registry
ForceStartBackground
REG_DWORDComputer- Enabled value
- Depends on the option value
- Element
- Background ID:
- Value type
- REG_DWORD
- Maximum value
- 20
- Store as text
- false
Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization] ; Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data "ForceStartBackground"=dword:<enter value>
CMD
:: Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization" /v "ForceStartBackground" /t REG_DWORD /d "<enter value>" /f
PowerShell
# Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization' -Force | Out-Null New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization' -Name 'ForceStartBackground' -PropertyType DWord -Value '<enter value>' -Force | Out-Null