By default, Windows shows the modern Windows logo on the boot screen. Generally, the new logo sits on top of a pure black background and looks pretty neat all the while being minimal and not burning our eyes in dark environments. But, if you got bored with the default Windows logo on the boot screen, you can add your own custom logo to the boot screen.
To do that, all you have to do is point Windows to the image of your choice, and you are done. So, without further ado, let me show you the steps to change the boot logo in Windows 10 & 11.
Before Adding Custom Boot Logo
Before making any changes to the boot logo, make sure you know and follow the below requirements:
- Important: Create a full backup or a rescue disk before making any changes to the Windows boot logo. The backup or rescue disc helps you restore Windows if something goes wrong and you are unable to boot.
- You need administrative privileges to change the Windows boot logo.
- Windows should be running in UEFI mode, not Legacy BIOS. If you don’t know, here’s how to check if Windows is running on UEFI or Legacy BIOS.
- You cannot set GIFs or transparent images as the new boot logo.
- Keep the image you want to set as the boot logo ready and available. The image should not be bigger than 300 by 300 pixels. While the size is not a strict requirement, it ensures that you will not face problems while setting the new boot logo.
- (Optional) If possible, making the logo background black will make the custom logo look a lot nicer on the boot screen.
- This guide is only applicable to Windows 10 & 11. It might not work in Windows 8 or 7 (I have not tested it).
Once you are sure of everything in the above list, proceed to the next section.
Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Boot Logo in Windows 10 & 11
To change the boot logo, we will use an open-source application called HackBGRT. Here’s how to use it.
First, download HackBGRT from GitHub.
After downloading, open the ZIP file, and drag & drop the folder in it onto your desktop.
Now, open the extracted folder, right-click on the setup.exe file, and select the Run as administrator option.
The above action will launch the application’s command-line tool. Here, press the i key on your keyboard.
As soon as you press the key, the HackBGRT will open the Paint app. In it, do the following to add the image:
- On Windows 10:
- In Paint, click on the Paste drop-down button and select the Paste from option. Now, find the image you want to set as the new Windows boot logo, select it, and click on the Open button.
- On Windows 11:
- In Paint, click on the File > Import from Canvas > From file option. Now, find the image you want to set as the new Windows boot logo, select it, and click on the Open button.
This action will add the image to the Paint application. If needed, resize the image by clicking on the “Resize” button.
A quick tip: Since the boot logo doesn’t support transparent images, change the background color of your transparent image to black before adding it to the Paint application. That way, the new logo doesn’t look out of place on the black background of the boot screen.
Once you are done, click File > Save to save the file. After saving, close the Paint application.
As soon as you close the application, the HackBGRT program changes the boot logo your the selected image. Place the cursor inside the command line and press any key to exit the window.
That is it. You’ve changed the boot logo to a custom image. From now on, whenever you boot into Windows, you will see your new custom boot logo instead of the default Windows logo.
How to Restore the Original Boot Logo
To restore the original boot logo on the Windows boot screen, follow the below steps.
First, open the HackBGRT folder, right-click on the setup.exe file, and select the Run as administrator option.
In the command line window, type r and press Enter. This will disable HackBGRT, deletes all files and images, and then restore the original boot logo.
As soon as you press the key, HackBGRT will restore the original boot logo. Reboot your PC and you will see the original Windows boot logo on the boot screen.
That is all. It is that simple to change the Windows boot logo to add your favorite image on the Windows boot screen. If you are stuck or need help, comment below and I will try to help as much as possible.