This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the Learn about this background or Explore background desktop context menu when using Windows Spotlight as your desktop background for your account or all users in Windows 11.
Starting with Windows 11 build 26100.7309 (24H2) and build 26200.7309 (25H2), Microsoft is trying out a change that adds “Learn more about this background” and “Next desktop background” to the context menu when you right click on your desktop if you have Windows Spotlight chosen as your desktop background.
The “Learn more about this background” context menu opens the Microsoft Bing spotlight page in Microsoft Edge to see information about the current Windows Spotlight picture on your desktop background.
If wanted, you can remove the Learn about this background or Explore background desktop context menu and still use Windows Spotlight as your desktop background.
Contents
- Option One: Add or Remove "Explore background" Desktop context menu for Current User
- Option Two: Add or Remove "Explore background" Desktop context menu for All Users
EXAMPLE: "Learn about this background" or "Explore background" desktop context menu
1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.
2 Add "Explore background" Context Menu for Current User
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Add_Explore_background_context-menu_for_current_user.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\DesktopBackground\shell\.SpotlightLearnMore]
"ProgrammaticAccessOnly"=-3 Remove "Explore background" Context Menu for Current User
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Remove_Explore_background_context-menu_for_current_user.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\DesktopBackground\shell\.SpotlightLearnMore]
"ProgrammaticAccessOnly"=""4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 If changes are not applied immediately, then either restart explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.
2. Add "Explore background" Desktop context menu for All Users
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Add_Explore_background_context-menu_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\.SpotlightLearnMore]
"CommandStateSync"=""
"ExplorerCommandHandler"="{5C6B744C-4CD1-5EA7-BDC6-0E6679A956BF}"
"Position"="Bottom"B) Save the .reg file to your desktop.
C) If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
D) Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
E) When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
F) You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
3. Remove "Explore background" Desktop context menu for All Users
A) Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe).
B) Navigate to the registry key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\.SpotlightLearnMore
C) Change the owner of the .SpotlightLearnMore key to be Administrators, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
D) Change the permissions of the .SpotlightLearnMore key to "Allow" Administrators "Full Control", and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
E) You can now close Registry Editor if you like.
F) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Remove_Explore_background_context-menu_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\.SpotlightLearnMore]G) Save the .reg file to your desktop.
H) If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
I) Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
J) When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
This REG file will not be allowed to merge unless you did steps 3C and 3D first.
K) You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
