Path to current desktop backgrounds in Windows 10?

There is another question on here that allows users to find the path to their current background image through a cmd command.

How could I find out the path to the current desktop image?

In Windows 10 this no longer works. It only returns the first image in the folder, it does not change with the backgrounds as they transition. I need a similar command that returns the path(s) to the current image on the desktop background(s) that actually works in Windows 10 if one exists.

Answer

A copy of the current wallpaper can be found by typing the below path in Windows File Explorer address bar.

Path 1 -
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\CachedFiles

If you don’t find a copy of your current desktop background image here, try below path instead.

Path 2 -
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\TranscodedWallpaper

Note: The file TranscodedWallpaper in Path 2 does not have a file extension. Use "Open With" or "How do you want to open this file?" dialogue box and select any image viewer, such as, "Windows Photo Viewer", "Honeyview" or the "Photos" app.

Note for Windows 10: The above locations have limitations. For example, if the wallpaper you’re looking for is no longer visible in the ‘Background’ tab in the Settings app, you can’t recover it. It will work for your last five wallpapers but nothing older. (Source)

Default Windows wallpapers can be found in

%SystemRoot%\Web

You will see 3 folders

• "4K" for 4K wallpapers,


• "Screen" for lock screen backgrounds, &


• "Wallpapers" for Default Windows wallpapers

Installed themes (Aero, etc):

%SystemRoot%\Resources\Themes

Per-user installed themes (including pre-installed from OEM):

%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes  

If you are looking for the location of Lock Screen images - visit this SuperUser question.

Personally, I use John's Background Switcher to manage my desktop background.

John's Background Switcher has an option to view the current/previous desktop background (set by the app itself). Follow below steps -

1. Right click on the tray icon and select View Current Picture and the current desktop background opens in Windows Photo Viewer (or your default image viewer).


2. In Windows Photo Viewer, you can right click on the image & select Open File Location to view the original location of current desktop background in windows File Explorer.

To activate Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10 visit this article on HowToGeek