How to Hide Windows Edition and Build Watermark in Windows 11

In Windows 11, you can enable a setting that displays the desktop build information watermark showing the system edition and build version of the operating system. It is displayed  in the lower-right corner of your desktop. This information typically shows up see this in Insider Preview builds, evaluation copies, or when secure boot or TPM requirements aren’t being met.

In some cases, you can remove the Windows Edition and build watermark after addressing the underlying cause of its appearance, such as leaving the Insider Program or resolving system requirement warnings. However, for managing the edition/build text shown on the desktop, you can toggle its visibility through the Windows Registry or Windows PowerShell.

In this guide, we will walk you through how to configure the Windows edition and build watermark using these methods.

⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTE: This guide focuses on managing the technical build information (Edition and Build number) often seen on the desktop of Windows Insider or Enterprise systems. This process does not bypass Windows Activation, remove “Activate Windows” watermarks, or alter the licensing status of your operating system.

How to remove a Windows build watermark in Windows 11

You can remove the Windows edition and build watermark by making edits to the Windows Registry. If you’re managing multiple devices, you can also deploy a script through a remote PowerShell tool to further streamline your workflow.

Things to consider before getting started

• This guide will apply to all editions of Windows 11.
• Administrator privileges are required. To check if you have the necessary permissions, open the Start Menu, click Settings, and select Accounts. The word “Administrator” should be printed under your username.
• There are situations where the watermark cannot be removed, such as when Windows is not activated, if the device is receiving updates from the Insider Program, or if the system is in evaluation mode.

Method 1: Add or remove the Windows edition and build watermark via Registry Editor

This method is applicable to all versions of Windows 11. It’s useful for enterprise environments. However, please remember to make a backup before making edits to the Windows Registry to prevent unintended consequences.

To disable the watermark for one specific user, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start Menu and search for Registry Editor to open the program.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
3. Find PaintDesktopVersion. If you can’t locate it, follow these steps:
   • Right-click the Desktop key.
   • Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
   • Name it PaintDesktopVersion.
4. Double-click PaintDesktopVersion.
5. If you want to show the build/version watermark, change the value to 1. If you want to hide it, set the value to 0.
6. Click OK.
7. Restart Windows Explorer to apply the changes. To do that:
   • Right-click the taskbar > Task Manager.
   • Go to the Processes tab, find Windows Explorer, and select Restart task.

To manage the watermark for all users on the same device, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start Menu and search for Registry Editor to open the program.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
3. Find DisplayVersion. If you can’t locate it, follow these steps:
   • Right-click the Windows key.
   • Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
   • Name it DisplayVersion.
4. Double-click DisplayVersion.
5. If you want to show the build/version watermark, change the value to 1. If you want to hide it, set the value to 0.
6. Click OK.
7. Restart Windows Explorer to apply the changes. To do that, right-click the taskbar > Task Manager. Go to the Processes tab, find Windows Explorer, and select Restart task.

Method 2: Use PowerShell for automation

This is useful for scripting in enterprise environments where you have multiple devices to manage.

1. Open the Start Menu and search for Windows PowerShell to open the program.
2. To disable the build/version watermark, use this script and press Enter:
   
   Set-ItemProperty -Path “HKCU:\Control Panel\Desktop” -Name “PaintDesktopVersion” -Value 0
   Stop-Process -Name explorer -Force
   Start-Process explorer
3. To enable the build/version watermark, use this script and press Enter:
   
   Set-ItemProperty -Path “HKCU:\Control Panel\Desktop” -Name “PaintDesktopVersion” -Value 1
   Stop-Process -Name explorer -Force
   Start-Process explorer

Additional Considerations when adding or removing the Windows edition build watermark

• The watermark visibility may be affected by the background color or your wallpaper’s opacity.
• This guide does not apply to the “Activate Now” watermark. The only way to remove that is by activating Windows.
• If the device receives updates from the Windows Insider Program, the watermark may reappear after certain updates.
• If the system is missing Secure Boot or TPM, you may see the “System requirements not met” watermark. This guide won’t apply to that scenario.

Why manage the build watermark?

There are numerous reasons why you might want to mange the edition and build watermark in Windows 11. Some people might find it distracting or annoying to look at. It also displays unnecessary technical information on the desktop, which an organization might not want, especially for devices that may be used by customers or non-technical staff. Overall, you will have a cleaner UI without the watermark.

And there are also multiple reasons why an IT administrator might want to show the watermark. It allows you to quickly view build information, which you may need to manage the device. At the end of the day, how you choose to manage the watermark will all depend on your organization’s needs and requirements.

Minimize visual clutter by removing the Windows edition and build watermark on the desktop

The Windows build and edition watermark can be a useful tool for IT administrators when they’re tracking tests or are working in evaluation environments. However, some users might find them unnecessary, distracting, or adding visual clutter to their desktops.

Administrators can manage this setting through the Windows Registry. If they’re managing multiple devices at the same time, they can also make these registry edits through a PowerShell script. Once you’ve made the changes, restart the computer so they can take effect.

However, it’s important to note that these edits may not remove the watermark if the watermark is about Windows activation, the Insider Preview program, or if the system doesn’t meet Secure Boot or TPM requirements.