Personalization Enable or Disable Windows Spotlight on Desktop Background in Windows 11


Windows_Spotlight-new_header.webp

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Windows Spotlight on the desktop background for your account, specific users, or all users in Windows 11.

You can have Windows Spotlight as a theme and display different background images on your desktop and lock screen in Windows 11.

If wanted, you can enable or disable the ability to set Windows Spotlight as the desktop background using the group policy in this tutorial.

Reference:
learn.microsoft.com

Configure Windows spotlight

Learn how to configure Windows spotlight using Group Policy and mobile device management (MDM) settings.
learn.microsoft.com

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Windows Spotlight on the desktop background.




Contents

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Windows Spotlight on Desktop Background for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Windows Spotlight on Desktop Background for Current User using REG file


EXAMPLE: Windows Spotlight on desktop background enabled and disabled

Windows_Spotlight_on_desktop_background-Enabled.png
Windows_Spotlight_on_desktop_background-Disabled.png





Option One

Enable or Disable Windows Spotlight on Desktop Background for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor


The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two to configure the same policy.


1 Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Cloud Content​

Windows_Spotlight_on_desktop_background_gpedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of Cloud Content in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Turn off Spotlight collection on Desktop policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.

5 Enable Windows Spotlight on Desktop Background

This is the default setting.


A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7.​

Windows_Spotlight_on_desktop_background_gpedit-2.png

6 Disable Windows Spotlight on Desktop Background

A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7.​

Windows_Spotlight_on_desktop_background_gpedit-3.png

7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.




Option Two

Enable or Disable Windows Spotlight on Desktop Background for Current User using REG file


1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.

2 Enable Windows Spotlight on Desktop Background 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.​

Enable_Windows_Spotlight_on_desktop_background_for_current_user.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent]
"DisableSpotlightCollectionOnDesktop"=-
"DisableWindowsSpotlightFeatures"=-

3 Disable Windows Spotlight on Desktop Background for Current User

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Disable_Windows_Spotlight_on_desktop_background_for_current_user.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent]
"DisableSpotlightCollectionOnDesktop"=dword:00000001
"DisableWindowsSpotlightFeatures"=-

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 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 

Attachments

Last edited:
Click to expand...
Brink said:
It works for me, but Windows Spotlight seems to break easily and often takes time for it to fix itself. :(
Click to expand...
strange, because i make fresh install ..and you are stuck on these 4 images?

spotlight.jpg


...
you see this ?
learn.microsoft.com

Configure Windows spotlight

Learn how to configure Windows spotlight using Group Policy and mobile device management (MDM) settings.
learn.microsoft.com
"Windows spotlight is available on Windows Enterprise and Education editions only." ???
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win11Pro Dev 25H2 26220.6972
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Screen Resolution
    4k
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge Beta
    Antivirus
    Eset Smart Security Premium

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10/11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
now, fresh install 22631.4391, in settings, country us, sync time, spotlight background-lockscreen, nothing, spotlight work only for lockscreen !
i'm tired, I tried everything I found on the net, maybe you can make a tutorial with all your settings, let me see if I missed something
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win11Pro Dev 25H2 26220.6972
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Screen Resolution
    4k
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge Beta
    Antivirus
    Eset Smart Security Premium
HodorongTronc said:
strange, because i make fresh install ..and you are stuck on these 4 images?

View attachment 113300

...
you see this ?
learn.microsoft.com

Configure Windows spotlight

Learn how to configure Windows spotlight using Group Policy and mobile device management (MDM) settings.
learn.microsoft.com
"Windows spotlight is available on Windows Enterprise and Education editions only." ???
Click to expand...
After a clean install it uses the 4 default background pictures that you show.
It takes 48 hours or more before it downloads a new set in this folder:

C:\Users\userid\AppData\Local\Packages\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalCache\Microsoft\IrisService
1737238709924.webp

1737238746172.webp



the default pictures are in this other folder:

C:\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\DesktopSpotlight\Assets\Images
1737238623022.webp
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8930
    CPU
    Intel I9-9900K
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA RTX 2060
    Sound Card
    NVIDIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4k Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB NVMe, ADATA SU 800, 2TB HDD
Not work in latest stable build 26100.3915 !!!
Huooooo m_i-c-r-o-$-oft !!!!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win11Pro Dev 25H2 26220.6972
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Screen Resolution
    4k
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge Beta
    Antivirus
    Eset Smart Security Premium
HodorongTronc said:
Not work in latest stable build 26100.3915 !!!
Huooooo m_i-c-r-o-$-oft !!!!
Click to expand...

Hello mate, :alien:

The tutorial still works to disable and remove the Windows Spotlight option for desktop background for me on this latest build.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Amazon Basics Wired Full Keyboard MD005
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 4
    Internet Speed
    2 Gbps Download and 100 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
Brink said:
Hello mate, :alien:

The tutorial still works to disable and remove the Windows Spotlight option for desktop background for me on this latest build.
Click to expand...
Windows Spotlight not work for me in latest build, i tried to reset, no, not work !!!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win11Pro Dev 25H2 26220.6972
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Screen Resolution
    4k
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge Beta
    Antivirus
    Eset Smart Security Premium
HodorongTronc said:
Windows Spotlight not work for me in latest build, i tried to reset, no, not work !!!
Click to expand...

This tutorial will not fix Spotlight. Only to enable or disable the feature.

Resetting Spotlight can sometimes take a day or so, but Spotlight can be buggy at times.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Amazon Basics Wired Full Keyboard MD005
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 4
    Internet Speed
    2 Gbps Download and 100 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
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