Win 11 spotlight doesn't work

Question

Win 11 spotlight doesn't work

Richard Dungan 0

Win 11 spotlight isn't working. It is selected under personalized but still doesn't work.

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7 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Try these steps to get Windows Spotlight working again on Windows 11:

Confirm Spotlight is enabled in both places
- Open Settings > Personalization > Background.
  - Under Personalize your background, select Windows spotlight.
- Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
  - Under Personalize your lock screen, select Windows spotlight.
Make sure Spotlight is allowed by policy (work/school devices)
- On organization-managed devices, Spotlight can be disabled by policy (for example via the AllowWindowsSpotlight or ConfigureWindowsSpotlightOnLockScreen settings). If this is a work or school PC and Spotlight never changes images, contact the administrator to confirm these policies are not set to block Spotlight.
Re-register the Spotlight content delivery component
- If Spotlight is selected but stuck on one image or not updating at all, re-register the Content Delivery Manager package:
  1. Open PowerShell as administrator.
  2. Run:
```
        Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers ContentDeliveryManager | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
```
  3. Restart the PC and leave it connected to the internet for a while so Spotlight can download new images.
If using a custom lock screen or background
- A custom lock screen or background image configured by an organization (via policy or management tools) replaces Spotlight images. In that case, only suggestions, tips, or organizational messages appear, not Spotlight pictures. To see Spotlight images, remove or change any enforced custom background configuration.

If Spotlight still does not work after these steps, check for Windows Updates and install any pending updates, then restart and test again.

References:

Answer 2

DaveM121 928.6K Independent Advisor

Go into the Settings App - Personalisation - LockScreen

Set Background to Picture and choose one

CLo9se the Settings App

Then open Windows File Explorer.

Paste this into the Address bar in File Explorer and press Enter, delete everything in the resulting folder

%USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets

Paste this into the Address bar in File Explorer and press Enter, delete everything in the resulting folder

%USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Settings

Close File Explorer.

Then right click your Start Button, choose Powershell (admin)

Run (Copy and Paste) this command and press Enter

Get-AppxPackage -allusers *ContentDeliveryManager* | foreach {Add-AppxPackage "$($_.InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode -register }

Restart (not shut down) your PC when thta command completes.

Go into the Settings App - Personalisation - LockScreen

Set Background back to Windows Spotlight, that wait a while to see if Windows Spotlight is working.

Richard Dungan 0 Reputation points

2026-05-04T21:25:16.17+00:00

Those folders aren't available. I get "No items match your search."
Richard Dungan 0 Reputation points

2026-05-04T21:29:02.6866667+00:00

I've tried this. The command doesn't do anything.
DaveM121 928.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-05-05T05:12:07.3566667+00:00

If that process did not resolve the Spotlight problem, then the best option is to perform an in-place repair with the Windows 11 ISO.

Please ensure you download the ISO in the same language as you use for the Windows UI, follow the steps, this is then not like re-installing Windows, it is just like an update and your personal files, settings and installed software will not be affected.

Click this link:

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

to download the Windows 11 ISO

When the ISO file completes downloading

Disconnect from the Internet

Disconnect all external devices with the exception of a mouse or keyboard.

Temporarily disable any 3rd party Anti-virus you may have installed

Then, in Windows File Explorer, double click the ISO and then run Setup.exe and select the Install option.

Very Important - ensure you select the option to keep your files and apps.

Answer 3

Kapil Arya 38,361 Volunteer Moderator

I recommend to install latest updates, see if that helps.

If not, try re-register Windows Spotlight.

LOQ17IRR9 20 Reputation points

2026-05-05T13:50:53.4833333+00:00

Same issue here. I think it's a Microsoft bug. On 3 different pcs after Fresh install, same issue. Hopefully Microsoft is aware. I left feedback in feedback hub.

Answer 4

Hi Richard Dungan,

Please try performing an In-place upgrade.

Disclaimer: Let’s try performing an in-place install or in-place upgrade which will refresh your Windows files and operating system without removing files or applications. That being said, we always recommend that if you have important data, you should back it up before making large system changes. If you want to back up your data first, please do so. Once you are done backing up, you can follow the steps in the following guides: How to run In-place upgrade in Windows 11 - Microsoft Community

If you have further information, please feel free to let me know.

Answer 5

Richard Dungan 0

I've done the repair install, the repair upgrade, so far nothing has worked. I guess it's going to take a complete fresh install.

Lucus-V 12,535 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-07T16:38:33.27+00:00

Hi Richard Dungan,

If you're able to do so, then a clean install is a good choice.

Disclaimer: At this point, we have exhausted all troubleshooting and I recommend that we try to perform a clean install to get your computer back into a working condition. Please ensure that you backup any important data, including Documents, Pictures, Videos, and more.
Windows 11 Clean Installation Process

If you have further information, please feel free to let me know.
Lucus-V 12,535 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-10T15:23:20.33+00:00

Hi Richard Dungan,

I hope everything is going well on your end. Just wanted to check in and see how things are going for you lately, anything you'd like to share or discuss?
Richard Dungan 0 Reputation points

2026-05-10T19:15:25.6533333+00:00

Windows spotlight still does not work. I've done the repair and the upgrade, and the reinstall.
LOQ17IRR9 20 Reputation points

2026-05-11T04:23:40.93+00:00

Hi Richard same here. You are not alone. I am facing same issues after repair, upgrade and reinstall. I think Windows 11 is broken for Windows spotlight. Hopefully Microsoft is aware.
Lucus-V 12,535 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-11T16:46:59.42+00:00

Hi Richard Dungan,

If you encounter the problem even after a fresh install, please consider Send feedback to Microsoft with the Feedback Hub app.

Your feedback matters to us and supports our ongoing improvements.
LOQ17IRR9 20 Reputation points

2026-05-15T06:15:54.1833333+00:00

I have also submitted feedback to feedback hub after fresh installs on 3 different PCs and Windows spotlight not downloading images to assets folder. Even after installing may 2026 updates issue still not resolved. Obviously this is a Bug and I hope Microsoft is working on a fix. Seems to be many people facing same issues. All my devices are Lenovo. 2 IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7 and 1 LOQ Tower 17IRR9. All running Intel processors.
Anonimous 30 Reputation points

2026-05-17T10:43:29.5333333+00:00

Do you use a local account in Windows? Then it's certainly a (known) bug.
Richard Dungan 0 Reputation points

2026-05-17T13:04:15.47+00:00

I use Microsoft account.