OSDeploy Boot: Add Custom Wallpaper to WinPE

Add a custom JPG background to an OSDeploy WinPE boot image.

Store one or more JPG images in the shared OSDeploy Boot-Assets wallpaper folder, then select the image during Build-OSDeployBoot. OSDeploy replaces Windows\System32\winpe.jpg in the mounted WinPE image with the selected file.

Requirements

Prepare the OSDeploy workstation and source content before starting:

• Run PowerShell 7.6 or later as an administrator.
• Install the current OSDeploy module.
• Use a .jpg file. The wallpaper selector does not discover other image formats.
• Keep the JPG directly in the shared wallpaper folder. Subdirectories are not searched.

Test the image at the display resolutions used by the target devices. OSDeploy copies the JPG without resizing or converting it.

Add the Wallpaper

Set the source image and create the shared wallpaper directory:

$Source = 'C:\Branding\Contoso-WinPE.jpg'
$WallpaperDirectory = Join-Path $env:ProgramData `
    'OSDeployCore\boot-assets\boot-wallpaper'

if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Source -PathType Leaf)) {
    throw "Wallpaper not found: $Source"
}

New-Item -Path $WallpaperDirectory -ItemType Directory -Force | Out-Null
Copy-Item -LiteralPath $Source -Destination $WallpaperDirectory -Force

List the available wallpapers:

Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $WallpaperDirectory -Filter '*.jpg' -File |
    Sort-Object Name |
    Select-Object Name, Length, FullName

Build the Boot Image

Start an interactive build:

Build-OSDeployBoot

Wallpaper selection depends on the number of JPG files in the shared folder:

JPG files	Build behavior
None	Use the default wallpaper bundled with the OSDeploy module.
One	Select the JPG automatically.
More than one	Display an Out-GridView picker for one JPG.

When multiple images are available, select the required image and choose OK. Cancelling the picker causes the build to use the bundled default wallpaper.

During image servicing, OSDeploy takes ownership of the existing Windows\System32\winpe.jpg, grants the local Administrators group access, removes the existing file, and copies the selected JPG into its place.

Verify the Result

Complete the build and boot the generated ISO in a test virtual machine or test device. Confirm that the custom image appears as the WinPE desktop background.

If the default image appears instead:

1. Confirm that the source file uses the .jpg extension.
2. Confirm that the file is directly below C:\ProgramData\OSDeployCore\boot-assets\boot-wallpaper.
3. Run Build-OSDeployBoot again and select the intended image when more than one JPG exists.
4. Review the build output for the Copying WinPE wallpaper message or a missing-wallpaper warning.

See OSDeployCore Boot-Assets for the complete shared-content directory layout and wallpaper precedence.