Personalization Reset and Re-register Windows Spotlight in Windows 11

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brink
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Windows_Spotlight-new_header.webp

This tutorial will show you how to reset and re-register Windows Spotlight for your account in Windows 11.

In Windows 11, you can have Windows Spotlight as a theme and display different background images on your desktop and lock screen, and occasionally offers suggestions on the lock screen.

If Windows Spotlights stops working and/or stops changing the background image, you can reset and re-register Windows Spotlight to fix it.


Windows Spotlight will not work while connected to a metered network (ethernet or wireless), or in Battery Saver mode.

Windows Spotlight requires Background Apps to be turned on.

Country or region and Device setup region must be the same for Spotlight to work.

Region.webp


Sometimes it may take 24 to 48 hours after resetting for Windows Spotlight to sync again.


Another option is to use the Windows spotlight, dynamic images theme.

OR:



EXAMPLE: Windows Spotlight on Desktop and Lock screen

Windows_Spotlight_desktop_background.jpg
Windows_Spotlight_lock_screen.jpg



Here's How:

1 Change your desktop background to something other than Windows Spotlight. (see screenshot below)


Windows_Spotlight_desktop_background-1.png

2 Change your lock screen background to something other than Windows Spotlight. (see screenshot below)


Windows_Spotlight_lock_screen_background-1.png

3 Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.

Reset_and_re-register_Windows_Spotlight.zip


(Contents of BAT file for reference)
Code:
:: Turn on background apps
reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BackgroundAccessApplications" /v GlobalUserDisabled /f
reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" /v BackgroundAppGlobalToggle /f

:: Reset Windows Spotlight
DEL /F /S /Q /A "%USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalCache\Microsoft\IrisService"
DEL /F /S /Q /A "%USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalCache\Microsoft\IrisService"
DEL /F /S /Q /A "%USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets"
DEL /F /S /Q /A "%USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Settings"

:: Re-register Windows Spotlight
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager* | Reset-AppxPackage"
PowerShell -Command "Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS* | Reset-AppxPackage"

PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage *ContentDeliveryManager*).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage *MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS*).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}"

4 Save the ZIP file to your desktop.

5 Unblock the ZIP file.

6 Extract the BAT file from the ZIP file.

7 Run the BAT file.

8 Restart the computer to apply.

9 After you sign in, you can change your desktop background back to Windows Spotlight if wanted. (see screenshot below)


Windows_Spotlight_desktop_background-2.png

10 Change your lock screen background back to Windows Spotlight if wanted. (see screenshot below)


Windows_Spotlight_lock_screen_background-2.png


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

Attachments

Last edited:
MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS is for desktop Spotlight.
Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager is for lockscreen Spotlight.

Normally, you should only use the command targeting the module that is acting wayward (in my case, ContentDeliveryManager, and in @HHH03's case, Client.CBS) on your computer, but it isn't decisively known whether these two ping one another when they fetch content from Microsoft's servers or if they're fully independent. However, it won't cost you anything to run the full front-page script (which targets both modules) even if it resets the Spotlight type that does work for you.

We're just stabbing in the dark, that's all----keeping an ear out for something that cries back.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 25H2 ProAMD Ryzen 7 9700X32GB Crucial Pro DDR5-6000-CL36 UDIMM OC Gami...ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC
OS
Windows 11 25H2 Pro
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Custom
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
Motherboard
Asus ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming Wifi7 NEO
Memory
32GB Crucial Pro DDR5-6000-CL36 UDIMM OC Gaming Memory (2 x CP16G60C36U5B), CL36-38-38-80
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC
Monitor(s) Displays
LG UltraGear 27GS85Q-B/EU 27'' Fast IPS
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1 Kingston Fury Renegade (gen4) 1TB + 1 Kingston Fury Renegade G5 2TB + 1 WD_Black SN850X 1TB + 1 Samsung 870 EVO 1TB + 3 x Western Digital Green 2TB
PSU
Be Quiet! Pure Power 12M 850W + Be Quiet! 12V-2X6/12VHPWR 90° Reversed cable
Case
Lian Li Lancool III Black
Cooling
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ARGB
Keyboard
Logitech Deluxe 250
Mouse
Logitech G502X Black
Other Info
Work in progress. Hoping to upgrade to a Zen 7 and 60/70-series GPU in the future...if either scenario ever eventuates.
Okay, so I created a second account on my PC and within a minute, lockscreen had new images ready. Desktop didn't, but I may have been a bit too impatient.
Is it possible ContentDeliveryManager is borked at a very low level for my main account? Or could it be another module in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\?

I will proceed with a small experiment: overwriting my main account's CDM folder AND the registry folders for IrisService, LockScreen and CDM with their counterparts from this guest account. Let's see if it changes something.
 
Last edited:

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 25H2 ProAMD Ryzen 7 9700X32GB Crucial Pro DDR5-6000-CL36 UDIMM OC Gami...ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC
OS
Windows 11 25H2 Pro
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Custom
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
Motherboard
Asus ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming Wifi7 NEO
Memory
32GB Crucial Pro DDR5-6000-CL36 UDIMM OC Gaming Memory (2 x CP16G60C36U5B), CL36-38-38-80
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC
Monitor(s) Displays
LG UltraGear 27GS85Q-B/EU 27'' Fast IPS
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1 Kingston Fury Renegade (gen4) 1TB + 1 Kingston Fury Renegade G5 2TB + 1 WD_Black SN850X 1TB + 1 Samsung 870 EVO 1TB + 3 x Western Digital Green 2TB
PSU
Be Quiet! Pure Power 12M 850W + Be Quiet! 12V-2X6/12VHPWR 90° Reversed cable
Case
Lian Li Lancool III Black
Cooling
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ARGB
Keyboard
Logitech Deluxe 250
Mouse
Logitech G502X Black
Other Info
Work in progress. Hoping to upgrade to a Zen 7 and 60/70-series GPU in the future...if either scenario ever eventuates.

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