Setting the System Masterpage in SharePoint Foundation 2013

Question

I want to set the Masterpage for System pages (eg, /_layouts/15/Settings.aspx) on a SharePoint Foundation 2013 site to a masterpage that is different than the default masterpage being used by the normal site pages.

I have set the MasterpageUrl property on the SiteCollection but that has made this masterpage also apply to System pages.

This is a SharePoint Foundation 2013 site, so I do not have access to Publishing Features or other Server specific features. I do have access to PowerShell and/or creating custom solutions.

Answer 1

You can change the masterpages with Powershell. Taken from this link:

All pages, except for publishing pages (which you do not have in Foundation) uses the system master.

For system master page:

$web = Get-SPWeb http://localhost/ 
$web.MasterUrl = "/_catalogs/masterpage/mymasterpagename.master" 
$web.Update()  

For publishing pages master page:

Site Master page

This master page is used by all publishing pages in a site, so when we are working with publishing pages update this master pages.This is available as a property of the object SPWeb , you could access like SPWeb.CustomMasterUrl

$web = Get-SPWeb http://localhost 
$web.CustomMasterUrl = "/_catalogs/masterpage/mymasterpagename.master" 
$web.Update()

Just make sure that the paths to your masterpage is entered correct