• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Technipages

Tutorials and fixes for smartphone, gadget, and computer problems

  • Topics
    • Android
    • Gaming
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • iOS
    • MacOS
    • Office
    • Software
    • Windows
    • Definitions
  • Product Reviews
  • Downloads
  • About Technipages
Fix Windows Spotlight Lock Screen Picture Not Changing

Fix Windows Spotlight Lock Screen Picture Not Changing

By Madalina Dinita 24 Comments

Windows Spotlight is a Windows 10 feature that displays various images on your screen after locking your computer. The images are automatically downloaded from Bing.

You can mark whether you like a particular image or not. Depending on your preferences, Windows Spotlight will show you more or fewer images of that kind.

Sometimes, the Windows Spotlight lock screen gets stuck on the same picture. Even if you reboot your computer multiple times, Windows Spotlight fails to replace the existing image with a new one.

My Windows Spotlight Lock Screen Image Won’t Change

Let Apps Run in the Background

Before trying any complicated methods, make sure your computer lets apps run in the background.

  1. Go to Settings → Privacy.
  2. Then scroll down to Background apps (left-hand pane).
  3. Turn on the option that lets apps run in the background.let-apps-run-in-the-background-windows-10
  4. Next, go to Settings → Personalization.
  5. Select Lock screen and enable Windows Spotlight.enable-windows-spotlight-lock-screen
  6. Lock your computer and check if the lock screen is still stuck on the same image.

Disable Metered Internet Connections

If your Internet connection is configured as metered, Windows Spotlight won’t download the images from Bing. That might explain why the lock screen is stuck on the same picture.

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Then select Network and Internet.
  3. Select your network and scroll down to Metered connection.
  4. Disable this option and restart your computer.disable metered connection windows 10
  5. Then lock your screen to check if this method solved the problem.

Reset Windows Spotlight

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Navigate to Personalization.
  3. Click on the Lock screen option.
  4. Locate the Background option.
  5. If Windows Spotlight is selected, change the settings and select Picture or Slideshow instead. change lock screen background windows 10
  6. Then, press the Windows and R keys simultaneously.
  7. In the new Run window, enter this path:
    • %USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assetsopen localstates assets
  8. Delete all the files stored in that folder. These are old lock screen images.delete localstate assets windows 10
  9. Next, open your Windows Spotlight settings by entering this path in a new Run window:
    • %USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Settings
  10. Locate and right-click on the following settings: settings.dat and roaming.lock. Rename both these files to settings.dat.bak and roaming.lock.bak, respectively.backup windows spotlight settings
  11. After you did that, reboot your machine.
  12. Go back to Settings → Personalization → Lock screen.
  13. Enable Windows Spotlight.
  14. Lock your screen and check if Windows Spotlight is now displaying new images.

Note: Be patient; wait 10 or 30 minutes before jumping to the next solution. It may take up to 30 minutes for the Assets folder to repopulate.

Reset Spotlight Settings Using PowerShell

If the previous method did not yield positive results, try resetting your Windows Spotlight settings using Powershell.

  1. The first step is to go to Settings → Personalization → Lock screen.
  2. Then enable Windows Spotlight.
  3. Next, launch PowerShell (administrator).
  4. Enter the following command:
    • Get-AppxPackage -allusers *ContentDeliveryManager* | foreach {Add-AppxPackage “$($_.InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml” -DisableDevelopmentMode -register }reset windows spotlight powershell
  5. After resetting ContentDelivery, reboot your computer.
  6. Lock your device and check if the Spotlight image is different now.

Notes:

Some users suggested that changing the region settings to the United States may fix this problem.

Other users managed to fix this issue by installing .NET Framework 3.5. To do this, go to the Start menu and search for ‘Turn Windows features on or off.’ Check the NET Framework 3.5 checkbox.enable net framework 3.5

Did you manage to fix Windows Spotlight? Let us know in the comments below.

You Might Also Like

  • 4 Ways to Lock the Screen in Windows 10
    4 Ways to Lock the Screen in Windows 10
  • Fix: Windows 11 Is Not Showing the Lock Screen
    Fix: Windows 11 Is Not Showing the Lock Screen
  • How to Turn Off Cortana Lock Screen in Windows 10
    How to Turn Off Cortana Lock Screen in Windows 10
  • Get Rid Of Microsoft's Annoying Ads On The Windows 10 Lock Screen
    Get Rid Of Microsoft's Annoying Ads On The Windows 10 Lock…
  • How to Automatically Lock Your Windows PC Using Dynamic Lock
    How to Automatically Lock Your Windows PC Using Dynamic Lock
  • Changing Mouse Image in Windows 10
    Changing Mouse Image in Windows 10
  • How to Use Screen Lock in Netflix
    How to Use Screen Lock in Netflix
  • Options for Screen Lock on Samsung S20
    Options for Screen Lock on Samsung S20
  • Forgot Android Screen Lock Password
    Forgot Android Screen Lock Password

Filed Under: Windows Tagged With: Windows 10

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Neil says

    April 18, 2022 at 3:30 pm

    Sorted Thank you so much I had been missing the different pictures

  2. Darline says

    April 14, 2022 at 7:01 am

    Not working for me. it won’t let me delete the files. to do the next step. Just asks me what I want to open them with

  3. Shrey Mourya says

    March 19, 2022 at 9:20 pm

    Worked like a charm. Thanks a ton!

  4. pmilin says

    March 16, 2022 at 1:17 pm

    Nothing worked for me. In fact now I don’t see a thumbnail image in the lock screen settings anymore. It is just blank. The lock screen still shows the last image that it changed to before it broke..

  5. G says

    March 15, 2022 at 1:39 pm

    Yes! thank you so much. Idk why it was bothering me so much, I never thought I would miss the login picture changing every time I restart. For me, it was the RESET WINDOWS SPOTLIGHT option that did the trick. Thanks again!

  6. Lavender says

    March 5, 2022 at 4:54 pm

    It might help to go directly to Microsoft’s Spotlight Page and download it again:
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/spotlight-wallpapers/9n8f961bk1hc#activetab=pivot:overviewtab

  7. fruscuit says

    March 3, 2022 at 5:24 pm

    unfortunately nothing worked for me, even after deleting all the assets I still get the same spotlight image, no idea where it’s being stored

  8. Santiago says

    January 21, 2022 at 6:47 pm

    Thank you, my solution was “Reset Windows Spotlight” you’re awesome : )

  9. Dipy says

    January 15, 2022 at 5:26 am

    Reset Windows Spotlight works! Thanks!

  10. Jeri says

    December 29, 2021 at 8:15 am

    Option 1 worked like a charm! Thank you! Your step by step instructions were clear, concise and never once did I have to wonder if I was on the right screen or doing the right thing.

  11. Fritz says

    December 24, 2021 at 10:06 pm

    Resetting Windows Spotlight worked. Thanks!

  12. HDung says

    December 22, 2021 at 2:16 pm

    It worked for me! The “reset windows spotlight” works like a charm, it didn’t change for the first few seconds and I was frustrated but then I noticed the changes. Thanks !

  13. Isy says

    December 17, 2021 at 8:45 pm

    It works. I followed all the steps, rebooted, changed to Sporlight and did NOT see any change. I read your note about changing the Region and it immediately changed ( i mean, when jumped back to Settings-> lock screen) i noticed a new Spotlight picture! Tnx.

  14. D says

    November 17, 2021 at 9:41 am

    Nothing worked…

  15. Ray says

    November 12, 2021 at 10:55 am

    No joy after trying all of the proposed solutions. Strange that it just stopped working for no apparent reason.

  16. Lindsey says

    October 14, 2021 at 4:11 am

    My lock screen hasn’t changed for months now. I’ve had this problem in the past but using some of these fixes has helped, now nothing will. No idea what the issue is; I’ve restarted multiple times and done everything shown here, and I still have a picture from August. Usually Power Shell helped for me before, I have an HP laptop.

  17. Navid Anwar says

    October 8, 2021 at 10:33 pm

    Yeah it solved the problem with options above the script of power shell. Rebooted and wow !!!
    Great !!!

  18. Lise says

    October 1, 2021 at 5:47 pm

    nope still having a fixed picture (bummer)

  19. Paul Omorogbe says

    September 26, 2021 at 10:09 am

    It worked!!!!
    I had tried to fix it before when I went to a website that said it can be solved by copying code. That did not work.
    But the simple 14 steps you gave in OPtion 1 worked!!!

  20. Caroline says

    September 20, 2021 at 2:15 pm

    Tried everything and followed ALL instructions. None of them worked — except from the last one, “windows features”. I’ll change back to my original language and time zone now and see if it stays so.

  21. Diab says

    August 17, 2021 at 3:04 am

    It’s really frustrating! None of the suggested solutions worked for me! :(

  22. carol says

    July 29, 2021 at 12:07 pm

    Awesome easy tutorial. Fixed me right up so now I can enjoy new pictures! Thanksx10!

  23. Annonymous says

    July 4, 2021 at 4:41 pm

    Changing the Region worked really fast

  24. Shourya Sinha says

    June 29, 2021 at 12:06 am

    Worked like a charm. Thanks a ton!

Did this help? Let us know!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Windows 11: How to Add Clocks with Different Time Zones
  • Google Assistant: How to Never Miss a Birthday
  • Windows 11: How to Disable Notifications and Ads
  • How to Use Oculus Quest 2 Air Link
  • How to Create an Avatar in the Oculus Quest 2
  • 5 Free and Fun Math Apps for Kids
  • Windows 11: How to Discover What Graphics Card You’re Using
  • How to Change Display Resolution on Windows 10 and 11

Who’s Behind Technipages?

Baby and Daddy My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

You May Also Like

  • Screen Font
  • Screen Saver
  • Windows 95/98
  • Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Windows Media Player (WMP)
  • Top 8 Itunes Alternatives for Windows

© Copyright 2022 Technipages · All Rights Reserved · Privacy