Windows Spotlight STILL won't work

Question

Windows Spotlight STILL won't work

Erin C 20

I have tried every suggested option to get Windows Spotlight (with the info icon) back on my computer - which is mostly telling me to take it off of Spotlight and select either Picture or Slideshow, then log off or restart. Go back to settings and set it back to spotlight and log off or restart and it should work. This never works. Someone suggested to toggle the "fun facts" option while on Picture of Slideshow or toggle the "lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen". This still does not work. I don't want Bing, I want Spotlight back. Does anyone have any other methods that have worked for them. I am not super savvy with computers but I feel like this is a very simple fix that isn't working. I really miss finding out about each daily picture just by hoovering over the icon, or, if I want more details, I can click on the icon (I think it said "learn about this picture".

I don't know which Parent, Child or Child Item to select to get this answered by the correct people. None of the options seem fitting to me so I ended up choosing Microsoft 365 Insider and then Other.

Felix T 0 Reputation points

2026-03-09T22:00:29.5366667+00:00

I was having trouble with this, and after downloading Dynamic Theme as Marcelo suggested, the program notified me that I was on a "limited connection." Sure enough when I switched off my wifi to my hotspot, spotlight started working. In my case I am using my university's wifi which migh be the issue, though I'm not sure. Maybe someone knows how to permamnently get around this.
Zanot Alberto 20 Reputation points

2026-03-17T16:57:40.6166667+00:00

No one knows why Spotlight breaks. Not even @ Microsoft.

None, i repeat NONE, of the suggestions around the web work.

I tried every single of them.
Hwoarang45 0 Reputation points

2026-06-11T02:56:30.9566667+00:00

Yup tried everything non works , even Microsoft doesnt know whats going on, clueless deer, upgraded 2 pc one working fine , another suddenly spotlight dies. Both on same updates. Its a mystery how ms stuff works or not works. And they expect everyone to move on to win11???
Alberto Zanot 0 Reputation points

2026-06-11T07:49:39.91+00:00

After months of trial and error i can firmly say that you cannot do nothing about it. It is just microsoft side, some days it works, some other don't. Simple as that.
Hwoarang45 0 Reputation points

2026-09-10T04:16:04.7166667+00:00
MS is useless, they dont care, zero support , i finally solve my issues by using this method, but it need admin right even u are admin user, u need to add current log in admin to the folder to delete those files.

Reset Lock Screen Background Image Settings

Corrupted background image files might prevent the lock screen from showing correctly.

Open File Explorer: Press Windows + E.

Navigate to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\SystemData.

Inside the folder, there should be several subfolders. These contain cached lock screen images.

Delete or move the SystemData folder and restart your PC. This should reset your lock screen background to the default settings.

Note: You may need administrator rights to access and modify this folder.

9 answers

Your answer

Felix T 0 Reputation points

2026-03-09T22:00:29.5366667+00:00

I was having trouble with this, and after downloading Dynamic Theme as Marcelo suggested, the program notified me that I was on a "limited connection." Sure enough when I switched off my wifi to my hotspot, spotlight started working. In my case I am using my university's wifi which migh be the issue, though I'm not sure. Maybe someone knows how to permamnently get around this.
Zanot Alberto 20 Reputation points

2026-03-17T16:57:40.6166667+00:00

No one knows why Spotlight breaks. Not even @ Microsoft.

None, i repeat NONE, of the suggestions around the web work.

I tried every single of them.
Hwoarang45 0 Reputation points

2026-06-11T02:56:30.9566667+00:00

Yup tried everything non works , even Microsoft doesnt know whats going on, clueless deer, upgraded 2 pc one working fine , another suddenly spotlight dies. Both on same updates. Its a mystery how ms stuff works or not works. And they expect everyone to move on to win11???
Alberto Zanot 0 Reputation points

2026-06-11T07:49:39.91+00:00

After months of trial and error i can firmly say that you cannot do nothing about it. It is just microsoft side, some days it works, some other don't. Simple as that.
Hwoarang45 0 Reputation points

2026-09-10T04:16:04.7166667+00:00

MS is useless, they dont care, zero support , i finally solve my issues by using this method, but it need admin right even u are admin user, u need to add current log in admin to the folder to delete those files.

Reset Lock Screen Background Image Settings

Corrupted background image files might prevent the lock screen from showing correctly.

Open File Explorer: Press Windows + E.

Navigate to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\SystemData.

Inside the folder, there should be several subfolders. These contain cached lock screen images.

Delete or move the SystemData folder and restart your PC. This should reset your lock screen background to the default settings.

Note: You may need administrator rights to access and modify this folder.

Answer 1

Since the July/August 2026 Windows 11 (Dutch) system update Spotlight (in Windows lock-screen) works again. Note: I did not test the Windows background and I expect Microsoft not to fix this bug in Windows 10.

So it wasn't the use of a local account, nor corruption of an account nor several other things and steps in these posts. In short: It wasn't us. It was indeed a bug in Microsoft's programming and they finally fixed it!

Thanks for non-acknowledging this @Microsoft and all the help and suggestions of everyone else here!

Answer 2

Greetings, friends. Afer many months trying to solve the issue of Windows Spotlight not working on the lockscreen, and trying literally everything covered in dozens of forums, and even contacting Microsoft Support at least 3 times, I managed to resolve the problem as follows:

First of all, in my case, I had a Microsoft account, and I use it to log into Windows. I did not have a local account.
To solve the problem with Spotlight, I had to convert my Microsoft account into a local account. To do this on Windows 11, how can get guides on the web, but it is a very straightforward process.
Once I converted my account into a local Windows account, I used the following command in Windows Powershell as a admin to reset the Windows Spotlight. You will need to reboot so Windows can recreate the appropriate folder:
Get-AppxPackage ContentDeliveryManager | Reset-AppxPackage
After the reboot, I used the good old Windows Powershell command to register Windows Spotlight once again:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers ContentDeliveryManager | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppxManifest.xml"}
And... after waiting for about 10 or 15 mins, issue was solved! the assets folder showed new files (it used to be empty) and FINALLY the Windows Spotlight on the lockscreen returned, after being MIA for months and months on my computer!

As a final observation, this worked for me, and my hope is that it will work for anyone else being bugged by this Windows Spotlight not working on the lockscreen issue. Hopefully Microsoft can look into what may cause the feature to break if a Windows account is used on the computer. That's it, folks! let me know if my solution works for you too! hopefully it will! Cheers!

Kavindra Nethsingha 5 Reputation points

2026-07-22T01:51:46.53+00:00

Done that many times - nothing happened.
Patrick Engel 0 Reputation points

2026-08-15T15:28:48.73+00:00

Thanks so much, this solution worked for me but I had to wait much longer than 10-15 minutes.

Answer 3

Anonimous 30

User Danilo Bonamoneta says the problem is related to the use of a local account in Windows with Onedrive and Windows Spotlight. I think he's right:

'I discovered that the problem is related to logging into OneDrive. If you delete your Microsoft account credentials from the Credential Manager, and also delete all the cache files in this path "%localappdata%\Microsoft\TokenBroker\Cache", Spotlight starts working again, but OneDrive, if it is still connected, will work for a few hours after which it will ask you to re-enter your credentials, creating the block again. The alternative is to enter the credentials into the Windows account, since the problem only occurs if the Windows user is a local account. Has Microsoft decided to block the functionality for those who do not use a Microsoft account in Windows? They have been pushing for a long time to prevent the use of local accounts.'

Marcelo Tadeu 20 Reputation points

2026-04-09T15:45:27.1+00:00

If you keep switching between your Microsoft account and a local account and then back to your Microsoft account, eventually the image will change. It doesn't necessarily need to go through OneDrive, but if you're using a local account, Spotlight will stop working, like many other apps, with daily use. The issue here is that even when logged into a Microsoft account, Spotlight doesn't work.
Anonimous 30 Reputation points

2026-04-09T19:02:56.5666667+00:00

Thank you very much for your response. Constantly switching between a local account and a Microsoft account in Windows is indeed not advisable, and it is certainly not a good practice. I think the user, Danilo Bonamoneta, simply wanted to illustrate the scenario and circumstances under which the bug occurs.

However, there is indeed a bug, and it occurs in the following scenario. The starting point is a clean install of Windows with a local account (as you may know, this requires a small workaround these days). In Windows with a local account, Windows Spotlight Lock Screen works perfectly. However, as soon as you log in with your Microsoft account in the OneDrive desktop app (so not in Windows, but only in the OneDrive app), Spotlight Lock Screen suddenly stops working. Previously (before the 24h2 Windows Update in September 2025), Spotlight did work with both a local account and the logged-in OneDrive desktop app. My setup has always been like this without any issues. Microsoft officials have since confirmed to me that this is a bug in this specific scenario, but I haven’t heard any further updates on the matter.

If you’re using a Microsoft account in Windows and Spotlight isn’t working, try the following command: Get-AppxPackage *ContentDeliveryManager* | Reset-AppxPackage I found this after searching online for a long time, and it seems to work well when Windows is set up with a Microsoft account. You’ll need to be patient for a while (24–48 hours) before Spotlight starts working again.
Marcelo Tadeu 20 Reputation points

2026-04-09T21:08:07.4733333+00:00

Okay, thank you for the reply, it's understood.

You have a specific case involving OneDrive. Our searches are for different bugs. I want Windows Spotlight working both on the lock screen and in the background, and I can get the native Windows Spotlight to do this without using a program, but for that it's necessary to modify the Windows activation. It's not very orthodox and only works for Enterprise and Education, that's the truth, but it works. Ideally, it should work with OEM activation. I use Windows 11 Education. If you're interested, the link below proves it. Thank you!

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/windows-spotlight/?pivots=windows-11
Erin C 20 Reputation points

2026-06-11T14:34:32.8766667+00:00

If it is related to being logged into OneDrive then why does it still work for several of my co-workers? We are all using OneDrive.
Anonimous 30 Reputation points

2026-06-11T16:38:41.23+00:00

The bug I mentioned is not related to (only) being logged into OneDrive, it's related to using a local account in Windows and being logged into OneDrive.

Answer 4

Amith Ganesan 0

My issue was that I background apps were disabled. Turned it back on and it started rotating the photos again.

Nelson I. Oller 5 Reputation points

2026-04-18T21:22:50.2+00:00
Greetings, friends. Afer many months trying to solve the issue of Windows Spotlight not working on the lockscreen, and trying literally everything covered in dozens of forums, and even contacting Microsoft Support at least 3 times, I managed to resolve the problem as follows:

First of all, in my case, I had a Microsoft account, and I use it to log into Windows. I did not have a local account.

To solve the problem with Spotlight, I had to convert my Microsoft account into a local account. To do this on Windows 11, how can get guides on the web, but it is a very straightforward process.

Once I converted my account into a local Windows account, I used the following command in Windows Powershell as a admin to reset the Windows Spotlight. You will need to reboot so Windows can recreate the appropriate folder:

Get-AppxPackage ContentDeliveryManager | Reset-AppxPackage

After the reboot, I used the good old Windows Powershell command to register Windows Spotlight once again:

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers ContentDeliveryManager | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppxManifest.xml"}

And... after waiting for about 10 or 15 mins, issue was solved! the assets folder showed new files (it used to be empty) and FINALLY the Windows Spotlight on the lockscreen returned, after being MIA for months and months on my computer!

As a final observation, this worked for me, and my hope is that it will work for anyone else being bugged by this Windows Spotlight not working on the lockscreen issue. Hopefully Microsoft can look into what may cause the feature to break if a Windows account is used on the computer. That's it, folks! let me know if my solution works for you too! hopefully it will! Cheers!

Answer 5

Sathyme 25

Well - It appears as we figured - Windows Spotlight is back - as of today for me - 3/18/26 - There are 6 assets in the asset folder as usual (If you collect them - 2 are Portrait/Landscape) duplicates from 10/5/25) - but they are back - Check your asset folder and go to Settings - Personalization - Lockscreen - and you should see - if you have it on Windows Spotlight - NOT the Blue pix but a new image - (see attached) I don't know if it reached everyone, but I have it as of today - and Yes, I checked EVERY DAY!

!Windows Spotlight 3-18-26.jpg

Marcelo Tadeu 20 Reputation points

2026-03-18T21:42:21.71+00:00

And did the background also revert, or was it only for the lock screen as you showed?
Sathyme 25 Reputation points

2026-03-18T22:42:38.2033333+00:00

Again - Not sure what you mean by Background - If you mean Desktop - I don't use pix for my desktop - just Black - I am referring to the Spotlight pix when you log in. Spotlight should be back for you - when you open your laptop or desktop (Login) - You should see the Spotlight pix - The screengrab I attached showed WHAT you should see in your Settings - as another "clue or confirmation" that you have Spotlight Pix back when you open your computer. Otherwise - as you must know by now - You only see the BLUE pix that is the basic one that you get when you first set-up your computer etc. - So I am not sure how to be clearer - but Spotlight is back - and If you did any "downloads or fixing/manuvering" in the interim to get pix on your screen - that MAY be why - if you don't see it as normal on your computer or you don't have it back yet - Check your assets folder - You should have 6 pix in there w/today's date. (See attached) If not, and you did some other things to get pix in the interim while Spotlight was "down" - See if you can revert back - but your assets folder should have 6 pix - and Spotlight is back.

Windows Spotlight 2 _3-18-26.jpg

Also - I saw somewhere in this thread - Someone said it was the same as Windows 10 - I have a Windows 10 laptop as well - and THIS didn't happen with that laptop - I didn't lose Spotlight pix on login at all - everything was normal - BUT that is b/c they don't issue updates for Win 10 anymore - so - Windows Spotlight wasn't affected AT ALL by this latest "outage" so to speak on Windows 10.
Marcelo Tadeu 20 Reputation points

2026-03-19T09:00:39+00:00

Spotlight works in two ways: on the lock screen (log-in) and also on the desktop background. I suggest you remove your "black screen" from the background and see if a Spotlight image appears, just to test something other than the four native images from the Windows 11 installation. I'm the one who commented on Windows 10 because I used it for years, and yes, the same problem with Windows 10 happened in 11. So please test it by replacing the black screen you use with a Spotlight image, but remember to check if a different image appears than the four native ones from the installation. I think you'll be disappointed, understand? Thank you.
Marcelo Tadeu 20 Reputation points

2026-03-19T09:56:18.2766667+00:00

This is the spotlight image for today using the dynamic theme. It should also look like this for the original native spotlight, but it doesn't work.
Kunisagi Yuna 0 Reputation points

2026-04-06T09:12:14.5866667+00:00

how did you fix it? did you do anything or it just came back like usual, nothing happens? please tell more specific, because i've stucked in the blue screen since Feb or March :((
Anonimous 30 Reputation points

2026-04-06T09:32:33.7633333+00:00

Kunisagi Yuna, do you use a local account and OneDrive? Then it's probably a known bug that Microsoft has to fix. If you use a Microsoft account to login in Windows you can try the command: Get-AppxPackage *ContentDeliveryManager* | Reset-AppxPackage

It rebuilds the Windows Spotlight Lock Screen feature (folders and files).
Marcelo Tadeu 20 Reputation points

2026-04-06T09:55:27.81+00:00

The Windows Spotlight is still malfunctioning, only working on the lock screen and taking many days to change the image. The background is still not working. I recommend everyone install the Microsoft Dynamic Theme App, which resolves the issues.
Erin C 20 Reputation points

2026-04-06T23:48:13.0666667+00:00

Marcelo, I have downloaded the Microsoft Dynamic Theme App twice but for some reason it keeps disappearing. Any idea why it would be doing that? If it is downloaded, should it just automatically open up when I start my computer each day?
Marcelo Tadeu 20 Reputation points

2026-04-07T15:04:20.86+00:00

Once installed, it doesn't open the graphical interface; it runs in the background, changing your background and lock screen approximately once every 24 hours. You only open the interface to adjust your preferences: Spotlight, Bing, or fixed image. No one has ever reported anything like this to me. If you only use Spotlight on the lock screen, it's possible to fix the original Spotlight, but not the background yet. If you want, I can show you the steps.
Erin C 20 Reputation points

2026-04-09T16:22:44.6166667+00:00

It has worked in the past and showed the option on the drop down within either the lock screen or background (one, but not both). Right now my background dropdown has 4 options - picture (which it is set on now and shows a couple word description of what the picture is along with the photographers name), Solid color, Slideshow or Windows Spotlight - which has doesn't seem to change but does have "learn about this picture" that when clicked, brings me to a bing page. I would be ok to have spotlight on my lockscreen if it also has the little info icon (which mine currently does not have).

As for the lock screen, it has 3 options within the dropdown - Picture, Slideshow or Windows Spotlight (which it is set to and for some reason today it finally changed from the flamingos to a tower or castle in the distance surrounded by trees - but it has no description or option to see what/where the picture is).

This is frustrating but really trivial. It is taking up too much time for something that isn't important but I really like the old way with Windows spotlight that automatically changed pictures each day and had a little icon on the screen which, when you hovered over it, it gave a brief description of the photo or you could click on it and a new window would open with more detailed info of the photo.

I am not good with the details of computers and what's going on in the background. I just know surface level stuff/basic stuff so when you say "If you keep switching between your Microsoft account and a local account and then back to your Microsoft account, eventually the image will change. It doesn't necessarily need to go through OneDrive". I don't really understand about the switching back and forth part. I just log into my computer each morning but we do use One Drive. I actually just thought that One Drive was what enabled us to be cloud based an no longer need a server. Ugh, sorry for sounding so dumb.
Erin C 20 Reputation points

2026-04-09T16:27:03.9033333+00:00

This is my background pic today. I can't take a screenshot of my lock screen with the tower/castle amongst the trees because it makes me sign in and then the lock screen is gone.
Marcelo Tadeu 20 Reputation points

2026-04-09T18:04:45.3266667+00:00

You don't need to apologize, you're right, Spotlight is very unimportant. The intention is to have a little fun fixing this thing, and you're not dumb, you're here with us being a part of this, trying to get your computer working correctly. Regarding the local and Microsoft accounts, it was feedback for "Anonymous" that brought up that account information; you can read it later. And about the old Spotlight feature, I remember it was as you described, but the updates moved it, and now it's in the expanded context menu when you click on it, but without a photo. Your computer is normalizing with today's photo; that means you're doing a good job.