Can't change my lockscreen on Windows 11.

On a personal Windows 11 PC, disconnect any unintended work or school account, restart, and—only if no organization manages the device—remove the specific NoChangingLockScreen policy value.

1. Check for an attached organization account

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Access work or school.
2. If an old or unintended work/school account appears, expand it and select Disconnect → Yes.
3. Restart Windows.

Disconnecting removes that account’s sign-in and management connection from the device; it does not delete the account itself.^1^

After restarting, open Settings → Personalization → Lock screen and select Windows spotlight, Picture, or Slideshow.^2^

If this is an employer- or school-managed PC, stop here and contact its administrator. The restriction can be intentionally enforced by device policy.

2. Clear only the stale lock-screen restriction

If this is your own unmanaged PC and Access work or school contains no organization account, check for the exact policy that prevents lock-screen changes. Microsoft documents it as:

• Registry key: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization
• Value: NoChangingLockScreen^3^

Registry changes carry risk; create a restore point or registry backup first.

1. Open Start, type Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
2. Run these commands:

reg query "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization" /v NoChangingLockScreen

reg delete "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization" ^
 /v NoChangingLockScreen /f

shutdown /r /t 0

• If the query says the value was not found, the command makes no change; do not delete broad Windows policy branches.
• If it was found and deleted, Windows restarts. Return to Settings → Personalization → Lock screen and choose the desired background.
• If the value reappears after restarting, some management software or policy is applying it again. Check Access work or school once more and any third-party work-management or configuration utility installed on the PC. An actively managed device requires its administrator to remove the policy.

The broader registry-deletion scripts sometimes suggested for this message erase entire policy branches, including unrelated security and Windows configuration. They are unnecessary when the restriction is limited to this documented lock-screen value.

References

1. Manage User Accounts in Windows | Microsoft Support
2. Windows 11
3. Policy CSP - ADMX_ControlPanelDisplay