Fix Windows 10 Slideshow Not Seeing Subfolders

If your Windows 10 background slideshow is not showing photos from subfolders, the fix is to add the parent folder (or each subfolder) explicitly to the slideshow’s album list, and ensure the subfolders are not hidden or excluded by the Pictures library settings. This article explains why Windows 10 only scans certain folders, how to force it to include subfolders, and how to troubleshoot when photos still don’t appear.

How the Windows 10 Slideshow Chooses Folders

Windows 10’s background slideshow relies on the Pictures library and the Settings > Personalization > Background page. When you select Slideshow as the background type, you can click Browse to pick a folder. However, the slideshow does not automatically recurse into every subfolder of the folder you choose. It only includes the images that are directly inside the selected folder, plus any subfolders that are explicitly added to the Choose albums for your slideshow list.

This behavior is by design, not a bug. The slideshow uses the same folder picker as the Photos app’s albums, and it treats each folder you add as a separate album. If you add a folder that contains subfolders, the subfolders are not automatically included unless you add them individually.

Step-by-Step: Add Subfolders to the Slideshow

1. Right-click on your desktop and select Personalize.
2. In the left sidebar, click Background.
3. Under Background, select Slideshow from the drop-down menu.
4. Under Choose albums for your slideshow, click Browse.
5. Navigate to the parent folder that contains your subfolders, select it, and click Choose this folder.
6. Repeat step 4 and 5 for each subfolder you want to include. You can add multiple folders; they will all appear in the album list.
7. Close the Settings window. The slideshow should now cycle through all images in all added folders.

If you have many subfolders, adding them one by one is tedious. A faster workaround is to create a new folder that contains shortcuts (or symbolic links) to all your image subfolders, then add that folder to the slideshow. However, Windows 10’s slideshow does not follow folder shortcuts, so this method may not work. The most reliable approach is to add each subfolder individually.

Why Some Subfolders Still Don’t Appear

Even after adding subfolders, you might notice that some images are missing. Here are common causes:

• Hidden or system folders: If a subfolder is marked as hidden, the slideshow will skip it. To unhide, right-click the folder, select Properties, uncheck Hidden, and click OK.
• File type not supported: The slideshow only supports common image formats like .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .bmp, .gif, and .tif. If your subfolder contains .raw or .heic files, they won’t show.
• File names with unusual characters: Very long file paths or names with special characters can cause the slideshow to skip files. Rename or move such files to a simpler path.
• Pictures library not including the folder: The slideshow may rely on the Pictures library. If your subfolders are outside the library, they might be ignored. To add a folder to the library, right-click the folder, select Include in library, and choose Pictures.
• Corrupted thumbnail cache: Sometimes the thumbnail cache prevents new images from appearing. Clear the cache by opening Disk Cleanup, selecting Thumbnails, and running it.

Using the Pictures Library Instead of Manual Browsing

If you prefer to have the slideshow automatically include all subfolders, you can reorganize your image folders so they are all inside the Pictures library. The slideshow’s Browse dialog shows the library folders, and if you add the Pictures folder itself, it should include all subfolders that are part of the library. However, the behavior can be inconsistent across Windows 10 versions.

To add a folder to the Pictures library:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Right-click the folder you want to include.
3. Select Include in library > Pictures.

Now when you browse for a slideshow folder, you can select the Pictures library and it should include all subfolders that are part of that library. If you have added many folders this way, the slideshow will pick up images from all of them.

Common Misconceptions About Slideshow Folders

A frequent misconception is that the slideshow automatically scans the entire drive or the whole Pictures folder. It does not. The slideshow only uses the folders you explicitly add to the album list. Another misconception is that the Shuffle option affects which folders are included—it only randomizes the order of images within the already-selected folders.

Some users also believe that changing the Change picture every dropdown to a shorter time will force the slideshow to refresh its folder list. It does not; the folder list is only read when you add or remove folders. If you add new images to an already-added folder, they will appear on the next cycle, but if you add a new subfolder, you must add it to the album list manually.

Alternatives to the Built-in Slideshow

If the built-in slideshow continues to be problematic, you can use a third-party wallpaper slideshow app. These apps often have a recurse subfolders option. Some popular ones include John’s Background Switcher, Wallpaper Engine, and DisplayFusion. These tools are not built into Windows, so you would need to download and install them from their official websites. They typically offer more control over folder recursion, sorting, and transition effects.

Another alternative is to create a slideshow theme in the Microsoft Store, but these are limited to the images provided in the theme. For your own photos, the built-in slideshow is the simplest, but the third-party tools are more flexible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my slideshow only show one folder even after I added multiple?

Make sure you are adding folders, not individual images. In the Choose albums for your slideshow section, click Browse and select a folder. If you accidentally selected an image file, it will not be added. Also, check that the folders you added are not empty or contain unsupported file types.

Can I make the slideshow include all subfolders automatically?

Not with the built-in slideshow. You must add each subfolder individually or use a third-party app that has a recursive option. Some users have reported that adding the parent folder works if the subfolders are also part of the Pictures library, but this is not guaranteed across all Windows 10 builds.

Why do some images in my subfolders appear blurry or not at all?

This can happen if the images are very large or if the slideshow is resizing them on the fly. Try resizing the images to a standard resolution (like 1920×1080) and see if that helps. Also, ensure the images are not corrupted by opening them in the Photos app.

Does the slideshow use the Pictures library by default?

Yes, when you first set up the slideshow, it defaults to the Pictures library. If you have added subfolders to the library, they should be included. But if you manually browsed to a different folder, the slideshow will only use that folder and any subfolders you add.

How do I reset the slideshow to fix issues?

Go to Settings > Personalization > Background, change the background to a solid color, then change it back to Slideshow. This resets the slideshow’s cache. You can also delete the TranscodedWallpaper file in %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes to force a refresh.

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