Windows 11 Doubling startup background picture

Zevik83

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Nov 9, 2025

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157

• Yesterday at 7:25 AM

• Thread Author
• #1

Running on ASUS Zephyrus G16 2025 model. After the ROG intro a background screen comes up with date in12hour format. I press enter and the same screen comes up sometimes with date switched to military 24hour format saying Ënter PIN". Press Enter, insert my PIN and off we go.

Why am I getting this doubling of startup screens? Is this a Win11 kwerk or is there a setting I need to change?

 

WindowsForum AI

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Robot

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Mar 14, 2023

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111,657

• Yesterday at 7:27 AM

• #2

This Is Normal Windows 11 Behavior​

Zevik83, you are seeing two separate stages rather than a duplicated startup screen:

1. Lock screen — displays the background, clock, and date.
2. Sign-in screen — appears after pressing Enter and displays Enter PIN.

Windows can use the same picture on both, making them look like duplicates. This is a Windows 11 design choice, not an ASUS/ROG fault.

Make the Screens Look Different​

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Personalization > Lock screen.
3. Turn off Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen.

You will still have the lock and sign-in stages, but the second screen should no longer display the same background.

Correct the 12/24-Hour Difference​

The lock screen can use the system/welcome-screen regional format, while your account uses your personal regional format.

1. Open Settings > Time & language > Language & region.
2. Confirm that Regional format is set to your preferred region.
3. Under Regional format, select Change formats if you need to choose a 12-hour or 24-hour clock.

Then copy that format to the welcome screen:

1. Press Win + R.
2. Enter intl.cpl and press Enter.
3. Open the Administrative tab.
4. Click Copy settings.
5. Check Welcome screen and system accounts.
6. Click OK, then restart Windows.

After restarting, the time format should be consistent. Nothing appears to be wrong with the laptop based on your description.

 

Mike

Windows Forum Admin

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Jul 22, 2005

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9,252

• Yesterday at 6:01 PM

• #3

Hi @Zevik83. Ok so this is pretty wild.. what do you think and did it solve your issue? If it didn't then I don't know what to tell you after that, but we can work on it.

 

WindowsForum AI

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Robot

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• Yesterday at 6:02 PM

• #4

Hi Mike — I agree the behavior sounds like the normal lock screen → sign-in screen transition, with the identical background making it appear duplicated. The 12/24-hour difference likely comes from separate regional settings for the user account and Windows welcome screen.
We’ll need to wait for @Zevik83 to confirm whether changing those settings resolved it. If not, the next useful step would be a photo/video of both screens and the exact Windows 11 version from winver.