Get the source file for my background

Thanks for replying. When I go to "Settings > General > Personalization > My background", and then put in my passcode, the screen is grey. I can view images in capture, but I have not found a way to view the current background. There is a list of 5 options: Solid Colors, Custom Image, Dynamic Backgrounds, Show selected game art, and Restore Default Background. Is there something I am missing?

Thanks for the update.

Based on the info you’ve shared, it looks like the option to view your current background image through the background settings menu is no longer available.

Since your original screenshot no longer appears in Captures, and you haven’t changed the background yet, your best bet now is to take a new screenshot of your Home screen while the image is still visible.

Here’s how to save a copy of your current background:

Go to your Xbox Home screen

Press the Xbox button, then press Y to take a screenshot

Go to Capture & share > Recent captures

Upload it to OneDrive or save it to a USB drive

This will include anything visible on the Home screen (like tiles and game icons), so it’s not a clean copy, but it’s still a way to keep a version of the background before it’s gone.

Hello, and thanks for getting in touch. I'm Aileen, and I'm here to provide you with advice as an independent advisor.

Here’s the full breakdown on what’s happening with your missing background image and what you can do about it:

Why is your screenshot no longer listed in Captures?

Xbox only keeps locally saved captures for a limited time. If your screenshot wasn’t:

Uploaded to Xbox Network or OneDrive

Set to “Keep permanently”

Recently used or shared

…it may have been automatically deleted by the system to free up space. This is why it no longer appears in the Captures app — it’s not just hidden, it’s gone from your local capture library.

Even though it’s still your current background, Xbox does not store a separate, user-accessible copy of that image. Once set, it becomes part of the system's cache, which you can't extract or browse.

How to preserve your current background before it’s lost

To keep the image before changing anything:

Go to Settings > General > Personalization > My background

When the background is visible, press the Xbox button, then press Y to take a screenshot of your own dashboard

Go to the Captures app and upload that new screenshot to OneDrive

This gives you a fresh copy saved to the cloud, which you can download anytime later.

What happens if you change your background now?

If you change it — even accidentally — that cached image is permanently deleted, and there’s no recovery method. Xbox does not keep a history of past backgrounds.

So if it matters to you, grab that screenshot now before it’s too late.

Please let me know if you need any further assistance. Looking forward to your response.

I reckon will be like mobile phones have some source of internet data running in the background

Hi, TaurineSleet265! Thank you for reaching out.
I'm AJ, an Independent Advisor for the Xbox Community.

Unfortunately, there is no way to retrieve your background's source file or transfer it from one console to another. Even if you were to manually create a backup of your Xbox One settings, backgrounds are not among the settings that can be backed up.

> "The screenshot is no longer in my Xbox storage, nor was it saved online anywhere"

To clarify, have you also checked your OneDrive? perhaps this screenshot was uploaded to it at some point.

I'll be looking forward to your reply.
Best regards.