BGInfo automatically displays relevant information about a Windows computer on the desktop's background, such as the computer name, IP address, service pack version, and more. You can edit any field as well as the font and background colors, and can place it in your startup folder so that it runs every boot, or even configure it to display as the background for the logon screen.
Because BGInfo simply writes a new desktop bitmap and exits, you don't have to worry about it consuming system resources or interfering with other applications.
By placing BGInfo in your Startup folder, you can ensure that the system information being displayed is up to date each time you boot. Once you've settled on the information to be displayed, use the command-line option /timer:0 to update the display without showing the dialog box.
You can also use the Windows Scheduler to run BGInfo on a regular basis to ensure long-running systems are kept up to date.
Publisher’s description
What is BGInfo?
BGInfo by Sysinternals is proprietary Windows software in the customisation category. It ranks 30th by popularity among customisation in this catalogue.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides Portable installers for 64-bit and 32-bit Windows. The main installer is 2.4 MB. It runs without installation (portable).
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 1,668,760 times. Similar programs include Scribus, Mattermost and Rainmeter.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Portable: runs without installation
- Small download (2.4 MB)
- Large user base
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- No native ARM64 build
- No update for more than a year
In short: BGInfo is a customisation tool for 64-bit and 32-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down.
Is BGInfo safe to download?
- The file is served by download.sysinternals.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
9D77550FCAA92691872C218BD196C1F84534419058BCBF0E837FCCCF1D97B78D· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 1 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.33Latest | February 13, 2025 | 2.4 MB | 64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Microsoft.Sysinternals.BGInfo -echoco install bginfo -yProgram files (.exe): bginfo.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Sysinternals
- Category
- Customisation
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, 32-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 4.33
- Released
- February 13, 2025
- Added to the catalogue
- February 14, 2025
- Versions listed
- 1
- Chocolatey downloads
- 1,668,760
- Website
- learn.microsoft.com
- winget ID
- Microsoft.Sysinternals.BGInfo
- Chocolatey package
- bginfo
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to BGInfo
See all ›-
Open source110.1K ↓ -
Open source201.8K ↓ -
Open source77.9K ↓ -
Lively Wallpaper2.2.1.0Free and open-source software that allows users to set animated desktop wallpapers and screensavers.Open source19.4K ↓ -
IPFS Desktop0.50.1An unobtrusive and user-friendly desktop application for IPFS on Windows, Mac and Linux.Open source22.8K ↓ -
TranslucentTB2026.2.0.0A lightweight utility that makes the Windows taskbar translucent/transparent.Open source55K ↓ -
AltSnap1.68Easily drag windows when pressing the alt key. Unofficial fork of AltDrag from Stefan Sundin.Open source10.1K ↓ -
Open source8K ↓
Frequently asked questions
Is BGInfo free?
BGInfo is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is BGInfo safe to download?
The download comes from download.sysinternals.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install BGInfo with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does BGInfo run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit and 32-bit version through emulation.
Can I use BGInfo without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to BGInfo?
Scribus, Mattermost, Rainmeter, Lively Wallpaper and IPFS Desktop. The alternatives page compares them.
