Solved Windows Spotlight stopped working, anyone else?

NeX_25 · Sep 25, 2023

Interesting it just refuses to work for me, on both of my machines. It all started after updating to August update. On my main PC that is on Windows 11 and other that is on Windows 10 it doesn't work. Windows 10 machine was on July update and it worked fine, after updating it stopped working.

Firas · Sep 25, 2023

Turn on or off Windows Spotlight using Registry or Group Policy Editor on Windows 11/10

Turn on or off Windows Spotlight using Registry or Group Policy Editor on Windows 11/10

Learn how to enable or disable all Windows Spotlight features on Windows 10 using Local Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor.

www.thewindowsclub.com

NeX_25 · Sep 25, 2023

Firas said:
Turn on or off Windows Spotlight using Registry or Group Policy Editor on Windows 11/10

Turn on or off Windows Spotlight using Registry or Group Policy Editor on Windows 11/10

Learn how to enable or disable all Windows Spotlight features on Windows 10 using Local Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor.

www.thewindowsclub.com

Should I just turn it off and then turn it back on ?

Firas · Sep 25, 2023

NeX_25 said:
Should I just turn it off and then turn it back on ?

Disabling it is what I do, but I'm not sure if you need it or not.

NeX_25 · Sep 25, 2023

I have been thinking but wouldn't disabling in gpedit well disable it as a whole ? I think there is some issue trying to connect to microsoft server ?
This may sound dumb but when it stopped working around time when (i think at that time august update was in preview) I switched my network from adsl to optic and it was around that time it stopped working on my main PC but on other it was working until updating to August update, so I have been thinking maybe something is blocking my pc from connecting to spotlight servers

fg2001gf11F · Sep 25, 2023

NeX_25 said:
I have been thinking but wouldn't disabling in gpedit well disable it as a whole ? I think there is some issue trying to connect to microsoft server ?
This may sound dumb but when it stopped working around time when (i think at that time august update was in preview) I switched my network from adsl to optic and it was around that time it stopped working on my main PC but on other it was working until updating to August update, so I have been thinking maybe something is blocking my pc from connecting to spotlight servers

Make sure you don't have metered connection turned on by mistake. That would also prevent spotlight picture from being downloaded.

NeX_25 · Sep 25, 2023

It is off, I will check maybe with tomorrow's big update it will get fixed, if not just gonna use that app from store

fg2001gf11F · Sep 25, 2023

NeX_25 said:
It is off, I will check maybe with tomorrow's big update it will get fixed, if not just gonna use that app from store

Which Build are you currently on?
It was not working on public build for a few days in August, but then MS fixed it.
When I had issues with Spotlight, I always managed to fix the problems.
Procedures to delete the settings and the assets folder content are described in many links on the web, after turning off Spotlight both for Lock screen and Background pictures. After deleting and rebooting Spotlight can be turned on again and it will populate with new pictures after some time.

Windows Spotlight Image Not Changing? Here's How to Fix it

Windows Spotlight works best when it's dynamically changing. If it gets stuck in a location, here's how to get it traveling again.

www.makeuseof.com

How to reset Windows Spotlight feature in Windows 11/10

If Windows Spotlight is not working properly, then you can clean, reset & re-register Windows Spotlight feature in Windows 11/10. Learn how!

www.thewindowsclub.com

NeX_25 · Sep 25, 2023

Here is my build, i have done fresh install week ago, tried all of those methods with resetting spotlight but it just refuses to work

fg2001gf11F · Sep 25, 2023

NeX_25 said:
Here is my build, i have done fresh install week ago, tried all of those methods with resetting spotlight but it just refuses to work

That is the current public Build 22621.2283, I have it on several machines and it works fine for me.
As I said I had the problems for a few days at the end of Aug on some machines, MS had a server issue, but it was fixed on Sept 4 for US and Canada.

Redirecting

Where are you located?

NeX_25 · Sep 26, 2023

Europe

fg2001gf11F · Sep 26, 2023

NeX_25 said:
Europe

If you specify the exact location, I can try connecting with VPN to see if there is any regional issue.

NeX_25 · Sep 26, 2023

Updated to the Moment 4 update and now it works finally, at least on desktop I am going to wait and see for lockscreen.
Anyway exact country I am in is Serbia

Firas · Sep 26, 2023

NeX_25 said:
Updated to the Moment 4 update and now it works finally, at least on desktop I am going to wait and see for lockscreen.
Anyway exact country I am in is Serbia

I'm pleased to hear that

greenjaguar · Monday at 5:56 AM

Is this not working again? I have the same goddamn monkeys picking fleas for months.. had to change to manual

FatherTime · Wednesday at 8:29 AM

Had this problem earlier in the year, and it came back. Also came on other PC, but other PC fixed within a few days and the PC I'm on now hasn't been fixed yet. I think it's a server issue.