My Windows Spotlight isn't working

Question

My Windows Spotlight isn't working

AdaXrsh 35

Hello, I can't change my Windows spotlight images. It was earlier stuck on the default blue windows 11 image and now it is all black + it doesn't load when I try switching the pictures to windows spotlight in Lockscreen settings. Pls help I have been getting this error for the previous 3-4 months. I tried everything, searched it on youtube, visited multiple sites (Microsoft too). I ran all the commands that were listed by some of microsoft's own staff. Please reply ASAP. I'll attach the images I am seeing while changing it to windows spotlight. Screenshot 2025-11-30 231734

Thank You!

Moved from: Sysinternals

Anonymous

2025-12-02T20:28:30.7966667+00:00

Same problem here!
C. Denninger 5 Reputation points

2026-02-17T17:12:01.5233333+00:00

Oké, I just repeated the steps I did on December 20th. Still without a working result.

I also found out there are a lot of messages in Microsoft's feedback-hub. Maybe Microsoft will look into this bug if we all upvote them?

Here are al the feedback I could find, maybe there are more...
https://aka.ms/AA8iflt | https://aka.ms/AAt4ceb | https://aka.ms/AAaslmf | https://aka.ms/AAz1ary | https://aka.ms/AAzt31k | https://aka.ms/AAztamk | https://aka.ms/AAzt31p | https://aka.ms/AAzt31t | https://aka.ms/AAztic7 | https://aka.ms/AAztamr | https://aka.ms/AAzticc

Note: you have to open them in Feedback-hub in Windows (the browser will ask you to).

9 answers

Your answer

Anonymous

2025-12-02T20:28:30.7966667+00:00

Same problem here!
C. Denninger 5 Reputation points

2026-02-17T17:12:01.5233333+00:00

Oké, I just repeated the steps I did on December 20th. Still without a working result.

I also found out there are a lot of messages in Microsoft's feedback-hub. Maybe Microsoft will look into this bug if we all upvote them?

Here are al the feedback I could find, maybe there are more...
https://aka.ms/AA8iflt | https://aka.ms/AAt4ceb | https://aka.ms/AAaslmf | https://aka.ms/AAz1ary | https://aka.ms/AAzt31k | https://aka.ms/AAztamk | https://aka.ms/AAzt31p | https://aka.ms/AAzt31t | https://aka.ms/AAztic7 | https://aka.ms/AAztamr | https://aka.ms/AAzticc

Note: you have to open them in Feedback-hub in Windows (the browser will ask you to).

Answer 1

Ivan B 121.9K Independent Advisor

Hi ,

Go to Start Menu > Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen > Change Windows Spotlight to Photos.

Remove the Weather Widget

Go to the folder: C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets, delete everything in that folder, and also delete C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Settings from that folder.

After deleting everything, open Windows PowerShell and enter the following commands: Get-AppxPackage -allusers ContentDeliveryManager | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -register "$($_.InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode} , restart your computer.

Open the command prompt (admin) and run the commands: sfc /scannow and dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth, wait for the process to finish and restart the computer.

Open Microsoft Store > Library > Get Updates, wait for the entire process to finish and restart the PC. Then, go back to Settings and change the photo lock screen to Windows Spotlight. Without the Weather widget enabled.

Give feedback if the information was useful or not.

Thanks

AdaXrsh 35 Reputation points

2025-12-03T08:06:26.7466667+00:00

Its still not working. Pls provide another fix. Its at the same screen. I even waited for like 7-8 hrs. Kept my laptop on all night, still it does not show up the images. It keeps changing to the Picture option automatically. I restarted my laptop a few times then. The issue is still not resolved. I had done all the steps told me to do one-by-one. Pls reply ASAP.
Ivan B 121.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-12-03T09:30:08.6033333+00:00

Hi,

Which version of Windows 11 are you using, 24h2 or 25h2?

Thanks.
C. Denninger 5 Reputation points

2025-12-20T17:18:43.32+00:00
For me this is not working, my two (Dutch) Windows 11 (25H2, build 26200.7171) are still stuck in the 'blue wave'-screen. Indeed for months now.

What I did thusfar:

I changed Lock Screen (Vergrendelingsscherm), Windows Spotlight in Photos (Diavoorstelling).

Removed the Weather (Weer) widget.

Deleted the contents of folders:
%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets
and
%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Settings

Executed the following command in Terminal (Administrator mode):
Get-AppxPackage -allusers ContentDeliveryManager | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -register "$($_.InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode}

Rebooted my system.

Executed the following commands in DOS-prompt (Administrator mode):
SFC /scannow DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

Rebooted my system.

Updated all installed apps in Microsoft Store > Library (Downloads) > Get Updates (Alles updaten).

Rebooted my system.

I changed Lock Screen (Vergrendelingsscherm), again to Windows Spotlight, without the Weather (Weer) widget.

Rebooted my system.

Executed the following command from @Kapil Arya in Terminal (both in User and Administrator mode):
Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose}

Rebooted my system.

Got struk in the 'blue wave'-screen again...
C. Denninger 5 Reputation points

2025-12-20T17:24:13.5766667+00:00

I don't know why my comment was deleted? Ther was no forbidden language in it.

In short: I did everything mentioned here on my two Dutch pc's even the code als metioned by @Kapil Arya .
My two pc's are still struck for months now in a 'blue wave' logonscreen. Both running Windows 11 (25H2, latest builds).

@Erland Sommarskog Thanks for undeleting my previous message, I understand the action when there is a spamwave ;o)
Erland Sommarskog 137.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2025-12-20T18:36:53.67+00:00

I don't know why my comment was deleted? Ther was no forbidden language in it.

I've undeleted your post. There has been a wave of spam the last few days, so it seems they have lowered the bar were the spam filter triggers.
C. Denninger 5 Reputation points

2026-01-30T08:35:20.51+00:00

Almost two months further in time and still no workable solution. Is there any news on this issue?

Maybe some Microsoft engineer who can fix this bug?

Answer 2

AdaXrsh 35

Its been a week now, still its not fixed. Please give me more solutions to fix the problem of windows spotlight.

0 comments

Answer 3

AdaXrsh 35

It still does not work

carlo ballauri 40 Reputation points

2025-12-09T16:32:40.8733333+00:00

Same here, nothing works tried every solution possible found on the internet

Answer 4

Kapil Arya 38,266 Volunteer Moderator

Try to re-register Windows Spotlight.

Open Terminal > Windows PowerShell.

Paste this command:

Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose}

Once command executed successfully, restart your system.

AdaXrsh 35 Reputation points

2025-12-05T20:19:28.3666667+00:00

It still does not work

Answer 5

AdaXrsh 35

Its still not working. Anymore fixes?

AdaXrsh 35 Reputation points

2025-12-02T22:32:27.6666667+00:00

and its also going back to Pictures option again and again without clicking it.
Ivan B 121.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-12-02T22:48:13.65+00:00

Hi,

Which version of Windows 11 are you using, 24h2 or 25h2?

Do you have any school or work accounts configured on your Windows?

Check Start Menu > Settings > Accounts > Work or School accounts?

Start Menu > Settings > System > About.

Thanks.