How to disable Sign-in screen acrylic (blur) background on Windows 10 May 2019 Update

By Mauro Huculak
published

If you don't like the translucent texture in the background of the Sign-in screen, use this guide to disable it.

Starting with the Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903), as part of the Fluent Design System gradual rollout, the Sign-in screen adds an acrylic effect that blurs the background, removing surrounding clutter and helping you to focus the attention in the login task.

While this is a welcome addition, it's not a feature for everyone. If you prefer the traditional experience with a clear background, you can disable the acrylic material effect from the Sign-in screen in at least three ways using the Settings app, Group Policy Editor, and the Registry.

In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through the different methods to disable the Sign-in screen acrylic material effect available with the May 2019 Update.

More on the May Update

 (opens in new tab)
Windows 10 May 2019 Update


Windows 10 May 2019 Update full reviewHow to get the May 2019 Update ASAPMay 2019 Update common problems and how to fix themFull list of changes in the May 2019 UpdateAll of our May 2019 Update resources in one place

How to disable Sign-in screen blur background using Settings

The easiest and safest process to disable the acrylic material effect in the Sign-in screen background is to use the Settings app, with these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Personalization.
  3. Click on Colors.
  4. Turn off the Transparency effects toggle switch.

Once you complete these steps, the Sign-in screen will show a clear background like in previous versions. The only caveat to using this option is that you'll also lose the transparency effects across the desktop and apps.

How to disable Sign-in screen blur background using Group Policy

If you're running Windows 10 Pro (or Enterprise), you can disable the acrylic material effect from the Sign-in screen using the Local Group Policy Editor.

  1. Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
  2. Type gpedit.msc and click OK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
  3. Browse the following path:Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon
  4. On the right side, double-click the Show clear logon background policy.

  1. Select the Enabled option.

  1. Click the Apply button. 
  2. Click the OK button.

After completing the steps, the Sign-in background will show a clear background without disabling the transparency effects across the desktop and apps.

If you change your mind, you can rollback the previous settings using the same instructions, but on step No. 5, select the Not Configured option for the policy.

How to disable Sign-in screen blur background using Registry

If you're running Windows 10 Home, you won't have access to the Local Group Policy Editor, but you can still disable the translucent effect on the Sign-in screen using the Registry.

Warning: This is a friendly reminder that editing the Registry is risky, and it can cause irreversible damage to your installation if you don't do it correctly. We recommend making a full backup of your PC before proceeding.

  1. Open Start.
  2. Search for regedit, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option to open the Registry.
  3. Browse the following path:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsQuick Tip: On Windows 10, you can now copy and paste the path in the Registry's address bar to quickly jump to the key destination.
  4. Right-click the Windows (folder) key, select New, and click on Key.

  1. Name the key System and press Enter.
  2. Right-click the newly created key, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.

  1. Name the key DisableAcrylicBackgroundOnLogon and press Enter.
  2. Double-click the newly created DWORD and set the value from 0 to 1.

  1. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, you should be able to lock your device, and when trying to sign-in you should now see a clear background.

You can always revert the changes using the same instructions outlined above, but on step No. 8, make sure to change the value for the DisableAcrylicBackgroundOnLogon DWORD from 1 to 0.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

Mauro recommends all these affordable accessories

Hi, I'm Mauro Huculak, Windows Central's help and how-to guru. I wrote the post you're reading now, and I know the Windows OS inside and out. But I'm also a bit of a hardware geek. These are some of the affordable gadgets on my desk today.

Logitech MX Master Wireless Mouse (opens in new tab) ($72 at Amazon)

I know mice, and this is the one I use every day. The MX Master is a wireless high-precision mouse that's very comfortable to use and has many great features, including the ability to connect with multiple devices, an infinite scroll wheel, back and forward buttons, all of which you can customize.

Ktrio Extended Gaming Mouse Pad (opens in new tab) ($12 at Amazon)

If you spend a lot of time typing, your palms and mouse will leave tracks on your desk. My solution was to start using gaming mouse pads, which are big enough for you to use the keyboard and the mouse comfortably. This is the one I use and recommend.

Supernight LED light strip (opens in new tab) ($20 at Amazon)

You could just use a regular light bulb in your office, but if you want to add some ambient lighting with different colors, an RGB LED strip is the way to go. This one is Mauro-approved.

Mauro Huculak
Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community.

12 Comments
  • You don't need to choose "Run as Administrator".
    Windows knows you need admin privileges to modify the registry and will get a UAC prompt to elevate the command. Also, running the command in PowerShell WILL create the System key if it's not already present.
  • Thanks for this, I prefer the non blurred background.
  • That's crazy talk! ;-)
  • I like focused too. It also make transition from sign-in to desktop faster...
  • Majority of times my PC will login automatically as I have password switched off. But on some occasions it asked me to login with my email password for some reason, a bug maybe?
  • What practical difference it make?
  • great, all this blurry nonesence is just annoying and pointless
  • One of the first things I did was turn off all the transparency.
  • "The only caveat to using this option is that you'll also lose the transparency effects across the desktop and apps." And that is a bad from Microsoft...They should have separate toggle switch here versus going through lengthy Group Policy method!
  • Yep sounds good to me
  • This is one of things that's hard to read how Microsoft thinks. There's a mountain of feedback on personalization wishes and a common sense to do this on both a holistic and more refined options to personalize. But not having this as part of the customization options out of the box to just turn off blur in the sign in and leave the rest of the blurring on in windows is mindboggling to me. We can't even choose natively to to personalize the live tiles, while we could do this on windows phone. Another one of those mindboggling things.
  • Thank you for this. It is VERY helpful. I went with the gpedit since I didn't want to get rid of ALL the transparency effects. Hopefully Microsoft will give us more easily accessible options soon. The average home user would be afraid to try some of the advanced methods.