Last updated on March 24th, 2024 at 05:53 pm

Back in 2017, when Microsoft launched the Windows Spotlight feature for Windows 10 and 11 users, it’s, in my opinion, an innovative feature that allows users to set a dynamic and beautiful wallpaper on the lock screen. The pictures that you see on your lock screen if this feature is enabled are carefully curated by Microsoft to give the users a premium experience.

Moreover, if your device is connected to the internet, then using Bing keep changing the breathtaking images by downloading fresh and trendy artistic images.

Even though it’s a great feature it won’t comes with free of issues. Yes, many users reported various issues with it. But, not to worry, we have some fixes for Windows 10/11 that you can try in order to resolve the Windows Spotlight not working issue. So, let’s check out the fixes.

What is Windows Spotlight?

It is basically a feature that was introduced to Windows 10 users and continues its legacy to Windows 11, which allows users to enhance the user’s lock screen experience. If you use this feature, then you may already know that it will show you an appealing slideshow of images that is both dynamic and visually good. However, the images on your lock screen contain landscapes, nature, architecture, and more instead of a static image or plain Background. Moreover, it is often composed of professional photographs, stunning landscapes, and artwork created by professional photographers.

What Causes Windows Spotlight Not Working Issue on Windows 10/11 PC?

Here are some common reasons why you might encounter the Windows Spotlight not working problem on your Windows 10/11 PC:

1. Internet Connectivity Issues
2. Corrupted Spotlight Cache
3. Third-party antivirus or Firewall Interference
4. Outdated System Files or Software
5. Regional Settings and Language Preferences
6. Corrupted User Profiles or System Files
7. Windows Store Cache Issues

How to Fix Windows Spotlight Not Working Issue

So, here are some reliable troubleshooting fixes that will surely help you fix the Windows Spotlight not working problem:

Fix 1: Disable Spotlight And Enable it Again

As a Windows guide expert, I would suggest you try disabling and enabling the Spotlight feature on your device. Yes, I know it might sound strange, but trust me, it will be worth trying. So, you must first turn it off and turn it on again. To do so, perform these steps:

1. On the desktop, right-click and select Personalize.
2. Click on the Lock Screen tab.
3. To change the background, click on a Picture or Slideshow under Windows Spotlight.
   
   
4. Afterwards, click OK to close the window.
5. It’s now time to log off and log in.
6. Then, navigate to the Lock screen and enable Windows Spotlight again to fix if it is not working.

Fix 2: Reset Windows Spotlight Settings

The second fix that I will tell you to try is reset the Windows Spotlight settings. Yes, there are many users who reported the same. So, to resolve if the Windows Spotlight is not working on your Windows 11 or 10 PC, you must perform these steps to reset the settings:

1. Initially, open Settings by pressing Windows + I, then click Personalization > Lock screen. Under the Background option, click Picture or Slideshow.
   
   
2. Type the following into the Run dialog box and click OK. %USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets
3. Using Ctrl + A, select all the files, then press the Delete key.
4. Then press Windows + R again and type the path below into Windows Run. %USERPROFILE%/AppData/Local\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Settings
5. Make a right-click and rename the settings.dat file to settings.dat.bak. Also, do the same with roaming.lock file and rename it to roaming.lock.bak.
6. Once that is done, restart your Windows 10/11 computer.
7. Afterwards, press Windows + I to open Settings, then click Personalization > Lock screen to lock the screen. Under Background, select Windows Spotlight. Now, check if the Windows Spotlight not working issue gets resolved or not.

Fix 3: Create a New User Account

There are possibilities that the user’s account that you are logged into might be corrupted, due to which your Windows Spotlight is not working or has stopped working. So, you must try creating a new user account on your Windows 10/11 PC using the steps mentioned below:

1. Using the Settings app, find the Accounts section.
2. On the left pane, click Family.
3. On the right, click Add Someone.
   
   
4. Choose I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
5. Afterwards, choose the Add a user without a Microsoft account option.
6. Please enter the username you wish to use and click Next.

Once you create a new users account, you must have to choose/switch to a new user account. In case the issue is resolved, you may need to switch to the new user account and use it rather than your old account.

Fix 4: Check Regional Settings

If you are still in the same boat and facing the same issue with Windows Spotlight, then there are possibilities that your regional settings may be misconfigured, due to which you are facing this problem. However, most of the time, I have seen that in other cases it is difficult to display localized content or to fetch new images when it is set to the wrong region. So, let’s check out how you can easily check your regional settings and fix it:

1. To open Settings directly, press the Windows key + I.
2. Select Time & Language from the Settings window.
3. Select Language & Region in the left sidebar. Verify that the region you selected is correct. It is also a good idea to verify that your settings for Regional format and Languages are set appropriately.
   
   
4. Thereafter, to ensure your settings are accurate, double-check your settings in the Time & Language section. Now, you will see that the Windows 11/10 Windows Spotlight is not working problem.

Fix 5: Reset Windows Spotlight with PowerShell

If you are still facing the Windows Spotlight not working issue or it doesn’t display anything on your lock screen, then re-registering the Windows Spotlight may help you. However, although there are various methods available to reset this, here I’ve mentioned the easiest way, i.e., using PowerShell. So, let’s check out the steps:

1. Firstly, simply right-click on the Start button and choose Windows PowerShell from the menu.
2. You must enter a specific command once PowerShell opens to re-register Windows Spotlight. Type or copy and paste the following command into the PowerShell window:
   Get-AppxPackage -allusers ContentDeliveryManager | foreach {Add-AppxPackage “$($_.InstallLocation)appxmanifest.xml” -DisableDevelopmentMode -register }
   
   

Fix 6: Reset Windows Store Cache

Deleting or resetting the Windows Store Cache also helped sometime to fix the Windows Spotlight issue. Therefore, you must also try this out and check if it works for you:

• To retrieve new images for Windows Spotlight, it relies on the Microsoft Store. If the Windows Store is not functioning properly, resetting the cache can provide solutions.
• Run Command Prompt as an administrator.
• Then type wsreset.exe and press Enter. By doing this, the cache for Windows Store will be cleared.
  
  
• You can check if Windows Spotlight functions again by restarting your computer.

Fix 7: Disable Proxy Settings

In many cases, disabling the proxy settings also helped many users to resolve if the Windows Spotlight is not working. This always helps only if it is configured incorrectly to connect to the internet, and when you disable it, it won’t block any Windows feature to use the internet. So, let’s see how:

1. Firstly, open the Settings app and choose Network & Internet.
2. On the left, click Proxy. Uncheck all options in the right pane.
   
   

Once that is done, you will be able to use Microsoft Spotlight again after your proxy is disabled. It might be a good idea to use a VPN if you’re concerned that disabling your proxy will compromise your online privacy.

Also Read: 

1. How to Fix Discord Javascript Error in Windows 11
2. How to Repair Corrupted ZIP Files Windows 11/10 PC
3. Fix: Microsoft Teams Camera Not Working on Windows 11
4. How to Stop Ransomware on Windows 10/11 PC
5. How to Fix Keyboard Typing Wrong Characters in Windows 10/11

So, that’s all we have for you on how to fix the Windows Spotlight Not Working Issue. It’s my hope that this troubleshooting guide has helped you. In addition, if you need any more information, please comment below.

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