NWC Computers - Changing Windows Vista User Account Picture

Top Tip

Microsoft Windows Vista expects your account picture to be square. If it's not square the image will be stretched or squeezed to make it fit and will not look correct, we would recommend you use your favourite picture editor to crop you picture in a square format before you use it as an account picture.

Windows Vista is pretty good at scaling your picture, but if it's vastly different from the size that Windows uses natively (128 x 128 pixels) then the picture may be unrecognisable, we would therefore suggest you also use a picture that is close to that size to start with.

Many people who have tried this tweak have reported that 'cartoon' type pictures tend to work better than photographs, so if you're having problems with your picture not displaying correctly then try to change the style of the picture you are using.

Changing Your Account Picture

When you first set up your account you are asked to select a picture that will appear alongside your name & most people just choose one of the standard pictures without realising they can use any picture they like, but before we change the picture lets look at why you might want to.

The account picture isn't only used at the Microsoft Windows login screen, it's also used on your virtual business card, in your contacts file and on Windows Meeting Space amongst other things so it makes sense to use a personalised picture that represents you more accurately.

Click the Windows Vista Orb to reveal the Start Menu and then click your account picture in the top right of the menu.
The User Accounts screen will then be displayed, select the option 'Change Your Picture'

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You will now be presented with the standard Windows Vista set of pictures, choose one if there's one you like, but the chances are there isn't, so click the Browse button and use the Windows File Selector dialog to locate the picture you want and click Open.

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Now click the button marked 'Change Picture' and finally click the Windows Orb to check your picture has changed.