Windows 11 Hack Unlocks Animated Profile Pictures

A clever hack has been discovered that allows users to set animated profile pictures on Windows 11. Normally, the OS turns profile pictures into static copies, but by redirecting registry entries, users can keep their original GIF files intact.

This means that users can upload transparent PNGs or animated GIFs with a transparent background to their profile picture. The hack was discovered in the AccountPicture registry keys and allows users to bypass Microsoft's policy of only supporting static images.

Microsoft has not officially supported animated avatars, but the account-picture system in Windows 11 still reads whatever file path is given to it. This means that users can set their profile pictures to any type of image they want, as long as they follow the correct steps.