3 Ways to Enable or Disable the Windows Spotlight Images on the Lock Screen

Windows Spotlight brings fresh, high-quality images to your lock screen—sometimes it’s stunning, sometimes you want it gone. Whether you want to enjoy these daily visuals or turn them off for something more consistent, here are three straightforward ways to enable or disable Windows Spotlight on your lock screen.

1. Use the Windows Settings App

The easiest and fastest way.

To Enable Windows Spotlight:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Personalization > Lock screen.
3. Under the Background drop-down, select Windows Spotlight.

To Disable Windows Spotlight:

1. Follow the same steps as above.
2. Under the Background drop-down, select either Picture or Slideshow instead.

Done. Your lock screen will now show either Windows Spotlight images or your own chosen pictures.

2. Tweak It with Group Policy Editor (Windows Pro/Enterprise)

If you’re on Windows 10/11 Pro or Enterprise, this method gives you more control—especially on shared or work devices.

To Disable Windows Spotlight:

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, hit Enter.
2. Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Cloud Content.
3. Double-click Do not use Windows Spotlight on the lock screen.
4. Select Enabled to turn it off. Click Apply, then OK.

To Enable Windows Spotlight:
Set the above option to Not Configured or Disabled.

3. Edit the Windows Registry (Advanced Users)

If you’re comfortable editing the registry, you can enable or disable Spotlight even on Windows Home. Be careful—making mistakes here can affect your system.

To Disable Windows Spotlight:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, press Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CloudContent
3. If CloudContent doesn’t exist, right-click Windows, select New > Key, and name it CloudContent.
4. Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it DisableWindowsSpotlightFeatures.
5. Double-click it and set the value to 1.
6. Restart your PC.

To Enable Windows Spotlight:
Set DisableWindowsSpotlightFeatures to 0 or delete the value.

Final Tips

• Windows Spotlight not working? Try toggling it off and back on in Settings, or check your internet connection.
• For most users, the Settings method is fastest and safest.
• Always back up your system before editing the Registry.

Have questions or want more Windows tips? Leave a comment below!

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Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!