How to change path for TranscodedWallpaper

Question

_{Tuesday, April 11, 2017 5:28 PM}

Hello,

my desktop wallpaper is set as slideshow, when new picture is switched a TranscodedWallpaper (file without extension) is created in the folder "c:\Users\MYUSERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes".

How to force windows 10 to save TranscodedWallpaper to different folder eg. "C:\TEMP" or "D:\TEMP\Themes" (D: SD CARD)

I tried change key [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop] in registry

from "Wallpaper=C:\Users\Hefaistos\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\TranscodedWallpaper"

to "Wallpaper=C:\TEMP\TranscodedWallpaper"

but it didnt work. Next image was saved to "c:\Users\MYUSERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes"

All replies (4)

_{Wednesday, April 12, 2017 2:01 AM}

The situation you described is a normal phenomenon, which is by design, the path of TranscodedWallpaper.jpg file can’t be changed.

I wander to know why you need to change the path of TranscodedWallpaper, if your desktop background can’t change, we can use some methods to fix it.

Cannot change desktop background in Windows 7/8/10

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/cannot-change-desktop-background-windows

Please Note: Since the website is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Regards

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

_{Wednesday, April 12, 2017 7:25 AM}

I wander to know why you need to change the path of TranscodedWallpaper, if your desktop background can’t change, we can use some methods to fix it.

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

Hello, i forgot to metion C: is SSD HDD, i try to reduce number of writes and increase life of HDD, presentation time for picture switch is 1 min, i didnt know windows 10 always generate some picture (TranscodedWallpaper) before next switch, if i cant change path, is it possible disable or prevent from creating TranscodedWallpaper?

_{Wednesday, April 12, 2017 9:04 AM}

We can’t disable or prevent system from creating TranscodedWallpaper, this file is based on Wallpaper function, as long as we use wallpaper, this file would be created.

Under the path:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes

We can see two files and one folder:

CachedFiles folder stores wallpapers cache, don’t need to care it.

slideshow.ini, I think where the slideshow data is stored, which knows TranscodedWallpaper.jpg, current image being displayed on the background. Try open the slideshow.ini with Notepad, it should contain some gibberish characters e.g:

[Slideshow]

ImagesRootPIDL=oFAFA8BUg/E0gouOpBhoYjAArADMdmBAvQkOcB…...

If it's empty, then your slideshow maybe already disabled.

We can try to change slideshow.ini > read only (in properties menu) to lock slideshow configuration, this way should reduce the numbers of writes.

In my opinion, your idea is right, but wallpaper switch and create TranscodedWallpaper file only influence HDD a little, the disk writes come from them are really few(can ignore), copying, pasting, installing apps and reinstalling system are main cause that lead to disk life shorten.

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

_{Wednesday, April 12, 2017 10:28 AM}

Hello,

i changed slideshow.ini to ReadOnly mode, but it is same, pictures are generated indifinitely, if 1 picture is around 4 MB size after hour 240 MB, per day 5760 MB, per mount 168,75 GB of writes and this is only background, i don't understand why it simply did not create TranscodedWallpaper for every picture 1 time only (eg.. Transcoded_000 Transcoded_001 Transcoded_002, Transcoded_003... ) and then it will only read them, my slideshow has 5 pictures after 6th switch new picture has been generated with same CRC like TranscodedWallpaper_1 vs TranscodedWallpaper_1B.

TranscodedWallpaper_1B 6ABE1BCF
TranscodedWallpaper_5  0069CB46
TranscodedWallpaper_4  2AA4E2E9
TranscodedWallpaper_3  30B659E1
TranscodedWallpaper_2  34F90153
TranscodedWallpaper_1 6ABE1BCF