Windows 10: Issues with Windows Spotlight - does not update / change picture

I've been having this issue with Windows Spotlight for about a week or so. I have two Windows 11 PC's and I first noticed when I was working on the secondary one. My primary PC has been stuck on the same photo with two monkeys, while cute I thought it would be nice for a change.After a few days of no change, I searched online and started on some of the suggestions enabling Windows Spotlight on and off again, going through folders in the AppData folders and deleting some settings and stored picture files, even an SFC scan and fix and still nothing.The primary PC is at a point where Windows Sp

:)

 

Windows Spotlight Not Working/ Changing Back to "Picture" Setting

Hi Zach,

I appreciate you for trying some steps in order to get the issue fixed.

The above issue might occur if you have any corrupted/missing app files & folders conflicting with the system Settings on the computer.



I suggest you to follow the steps below and check if the issue is resolved.

• Press Windows logo key on the keyboard, type Settings and select the top most search result.
• Select Personalization and click on Lock screen from the left side panel of the window.
• From the dropdown bar under Background, select
  Picture and wait for the picture preview to be shown under Preview on the same window.
• From the same dropdown bar, select Windows Spotlight and wait for the preview picture to be shown under
  Preview.
• Lock the screen by pressing Windows logo + L keys on the keyboard and check if the changes are effective.

Please revert if you face any issues with Windows Spotlight in future.

Thank you.

 

WIndows Spotlight Picture struck in one picture

Hi Alok,

There are various reasons why Windows Spotlight wallpaper is not changing or fetching a new wallpaper from Bing.

As an initial troubleshooting step, we suggest resetting Windows Spotlight preference by following the steps below:

• Create a system restore point.
  
• Once done, press Windows key + I to open Settings..
• Select Personalization.
• Click Lock Screen.
• Under Background option, select Picture.
• Set a picture as a default lock screen background.
• Locate to: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_<characters>\Settings.
  
  Note: Make sure to unhide all hidden folders on Windows 10.
• In this folder, delete these: roaming.lock and settings.dat.
• Repeat steps 2-4.
• Under Background option, select Windows spotlight.
• See if the issue will persist.

If the issue still persist, re-register Windows Spotlight:

• Press Windows key + S.
• Type powershell.
• Select Windows PowerShell.
• On the PowerShell window, type: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager -allusers | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -register "$($_.InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode}
• Press Enter.
• See if your wallpaper will change.

Update us with the outcome so we can provide further assistance.

 

Windows10 Spotlight Not Updating Picture

Dell i7 Laptop upgraded from Win7 64bit to Windows10 Pro 64bit (early 2016) - Version 1607 – OS Build 14393.1593

Apologies for adding more to this subject which already has many articles on the web; yet none seem to answer why Spotlight doesn’t work…

Spotlight works if WindowsKey +L pressed; but, Not on Sign-In screen..?

Personalisation/LockScreen/Background set to WINDOWS SPOTLIGHT

Personalisation/LockScreen/Show lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen set to ‘ON’

I have tried changing Personalisation/LockScreen/Background by setting to PICTURE, then rebooting, then reset Personalisation/LockScreen/Background to Windows Spotlight – At that time I see the Preview is Grey for a few seconds followed by a new Windows
Spotlight Picture; this does not change status, Windows Spotlight still does not work on Sign-In screen.

I have investigated via DISM and System File Checker (sfc); no fault reported.

Of the many suggested fixes found on the web the only ‘fix’ that works (partially) is to periodically clear all files from the folder: Users/[Username]/AppData/Local/Packages/MicrosoftWindowsContentDeliveryManager-<Package
ID>/localState/Assets.

I have to wait a day or so for the folder to repopulate before Spotlight will work again (running Update doesn’t populate the Windows Spotlight picture folder) at which time Windows Spotlight will work on the Sign-In screen; however, I notice the Windows
Spotlight Picture never changes on the Sign-In screen, the picture will remain the same for months; yet, if I hold the WindowsKey and press ‘L’ I see a different Picture which suggests the folder holding Windows Spotlight pictures (path above) has updated
yet the Windows Spotlight App has not picked up the new picture.

Further; at the time I periodically clear the Windows Spotlight pictures folder (Path above) I see only one picture file and many other files which suggests the Windows Spotlight Pictures folder has not updated the Picture after clearing and updating
on the previous occasion…

Reasoning this thro’ it seems I have two separate problems:

1) The Windows Spotlight picture will not change if there is no update in the Windows Spotlight Picture Folder - In that the OS is a Microsoft Validated Upgrade I had thought Windows Spotlight would update periodically in a similar manner to the
OS Updates; but, this does not seem to be the case…

2) Even though I can see the (new) Windows Spotlight Picture by holding the WindowsKey and pressing ‘L’ the Windows Spotlight picture does not update on the Sign-In screen - The Sign-In screen shows only the picture installed at time of clearing and
repopulating the Windows Spotlight picture folder…

Thank you for reading this - Any assistance greatly appreciated…

C